Crocheted Crab Stitch Tutorial

How To Create The Crocheted Crab Stitch

· Crochet Tutorial ·

Date
May, 05, 2022
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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.

Crocheted Crab Stitch Tutorial

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.

Crocheted Crab Stitch Tutorial

**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.

Crocheted Crab Stitch Tutorial

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

Lavena Perry

Hello lovely! Let's get all of the labels out the way so we can talk... I'm a daughter, sister, mother, entrepreneur, writer, podcaster, college graduate, and passionate crafter who has survived raising special needs children, a child with cancer, a heart condition, and becoming a widow at a young age...whew! Made it. But here's the important part... I teach women how to use crochet as a creative outlet for self-care so that they can reduce anxiety and depression, be more mindful and present, and experience joy from their lives. What does that have to do with crafting? EVERYTHING!! Learning creative skills is a great way to care for yourself, activates the creative centers in your brain and lets ideas start to flow, builds self-esteem and confidence, and relieves anxiety and depression symptoms. YEAH, crocheting, knitting, and sewing can do ALL of that! I firmly believe that people WANT to spend time caring for themselves through creativity, but life often gets in the way and the desire to learn gets put on the back burner. Here is your opportunity to finally learn these essential skills and transform your passion into purpose, care for yourself, and feel better! So happy you are here! xo — Lavena

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