The crab stitch is one of my favorite finishing stitches! If you are looking for a simple way to give your project a polished look, check out this tutorial and learn how to add the crab stitch to your work.
Sometimes when I get to the end of a project and I fasten off the yarn, I feel underwhelmed by the finished product. I look at my work and I just feel like something is missing. It’s usually at this point that I decide to add some finishing stitches.
If I am working on a basket, washcloth, or even a hat, the crab stitch is my go-to finishing stitch. It’s easy to make but gives whatever you’re making a very unique-looking finish.
Grab your hook and let’s stitch!
What is a Crab Stitch?
In short, the crab stitch is making single crochets in the opposite direction. Like a crab crawls backward, so does the crocheted crab stitch. Unlike regular single crochet that moves right to left, the crab stitch moves from left to right.
Sound complicated? It’s not!
To get started, insert your hook in the stitch to the right of the last stitch you completed. If you are adding a crab stitch to a completed project, start with a slip stitch and a chain at the end of the stitching, not the beginning, because you will be working backward, from left to right.
Once you have inserted your hook into the stitch to the right of the last stitch, pull up a loop. There will be two loops on your hook.
Then yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. Easy!
Continue by inserting your hook into the next stitch to the right, completing the single crochet, and working in each stitch to the end.
**Crab stitches tend to be a little tight. You can work the loop a little looser at the end of the single crochet if needed.
Finishing
If you are working on a straight edge, fasten off after the last stitch and use a yarn needle to weave in the end of the yarn, just like you would do after a single crochet.
If you are working in the round, join into the first crab stitch with a slip stitch and fasten off the yarn. Then weave in the end of the yarn as you would normally do.
That’s It!!
Super simple, and it looks so cool!
This basket is my favorite, and the finished crab stitch edge makes it look handwoven and very polished.
You can click here to get the pattern to make your very own nested baskets with a fancy crab stitch finish.
If you would like more inspiration, you can hop over to the Solo Stitching Shop and if you would like more tutorials, check out this video, “How To Make a Mock Rib Stitch”.
I know you love Pinterest like I do, so make sure to follow me on Pinterest.
Happy Stitching!
xo — Lavena
