In this crochet stitch tutorial, we will take a deep dive into the crochet shell stitch – a wonderful stitch for a blanket, scarf, beanie, shawl and more!
The shell stitch is a very popular crochet stitch and it’s easy to see why. This basic stitch uses simple single crochet and double crochet stitches to create a wonderful shell pattern.
Common Questions about the Crochet Shell Stitch
A shell stitch is really a combination of a single crochet stitch and a “shell” of several double crochet stitches, usually 5. The shell and the single crochets alternate, creating a fan appearance.
The border is worked similarly to a single shell stitch row, in that you will work a single crochet and then a double crochet shell. Typically you will work a shell to turn the corner as well.
A half shell is often used to start the corner of a blanket border that uses the shell stitch. You will chain 3, then work 2 double crochet into the same space or stitch. In a border, you would end the round with another 2 double crochet in the same stitch or space (the chain 3 would count as a dc).
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How to Crochet the Shell Stitch (Photo Tutorial)
This stitch can be worked with any weight of yarn and a crochet hook appropriate for the yarn weight.
For my photo and video tutorials I used Paintbox Simply Chunky yarn with a size K (6.50mm) Clover Amour crochet hook.
Row One:
Step One: Chain a multiple of six plus one for the starting chain
Step Two: Single crochet in the second chain from the hook
Step Three: Skip 2 chains, double crochet 5 in the next chain.
Step Four: Skip 2 chains, single crochet in next chain, skip 2 chains, double crochet 5 in next chain. Repeat to last 3 sts, skip 2 chains, single crochet in last chain. Turn.
This is the method you would use to work a crochet shell border, working the shell of dc in each corner. This alone can be a wonderful finish to a blanket, as seen in my Hydrangea Baby Blanket crochet pattern (which is a free crochet pattern here on the blog, find the written pattern and video tutorial by clicking the image below):
Row Two:
This is a row that will be repeated for the stitch pattern. This row is very similar to row one in that you will still work single crochets and shells, but you begin this row with a half shell and we will work the shells into the single crochets from row one.
Note: If you are changing colors as I am doing, end the last stitch of row one with 2 loops still on the hook, then draw the new color through and continue on. (Repeat this for every color change).
Step One: Chain 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in first sc
Step Two: Single crochet in center double crochet stitch of next shell
Step Three: Work 5 double crochet in next sc
Repeat steps two and three to last sc, work 3 dc in last sc of previous row. Turn.
Row Three:
This is also a repeat row, and these two rows together will form our stitch pattern.
Step One: Chain one, sc in first dc
Step Two: Work 5 dc in next sc
Step Three: Sc in center double crochet stitch of next shell
Repeat steps two and three to end, working the last sc in the turning chain.
Repeat rows two and three for pattern!
Video Tutorial
Types of Crochet Shell Stitches
There are many variations of the shell stitch. Let’s look at a few here.
The fantail shell stitch is quite different in that it also uses half double crochet (hdc) and a shell of 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc.
Traditional 5 stitch shell with different stitches
You can also vary how you work a shell stitch by working the shell portion of the stitch pattern with a stitch of a different height: such as a half double or even treble crochet stitches.
Open Shell Stitch
This is similar to the traditional shell stitch we see in this tutorial, but you would swap out the 5 dc shell for a 2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc shell, giving it an opening in the middle of the shell with a chain stitch, which is where you would work the single crochet into on the next round.
Common Problems
My shell doesn’t lie flat. This is usually due to the stitches being too close together. It often happens on the starting chain, so be sure that there are two chains in between each single crochet stitch and each shell.
My shell looks pulled too wide. This is usually due to there being too much space between the single crochets and the shells. This also often happens on the first row, so again, be careful to only skip two chains between each single crochet stitch and each shell.
Free patterns that use this stitch:
That’s it! Today we learned how to work basic shell stitch crochet, which can be worked in one color for a beautiful textured look, or in different color rows for a fun visual stitch.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial!
Happy crocheting!
Amanda
How to Crochet the Shell Stitch
In this crochet stitch tutorial, we will take a deep dive into the crochet shell stitch – a wonderful stitch for a blanket, scarf, beanie, shawl and more!
Materials
- Yarn
Tools
- Crochet hook appropriate for yarn weight
Instructions
Row One:
- Chain a multiple of six plus one for the starting chain
- Single crochet in the second chain from the hook
- Skip 2 chains, dc 5 in next ch
- Skip 2 chains, single crochet in next chain, skip 2 chains, double crochet 5 in next chain. Repeat to last 3 sts, skip 2 chains, single crochet in last chain. Turn.
Row Two:
- Chain 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in first sc
- Single crochet in center double crochet stitch of next shell
- Work 5 double crochet in next sc
Repeat steps two and three to last sc, work 3 dc in last sc of previous row. Turn.
Row Three:
- Chain one, sc in first dc
- Work 5 dc in next sc
- Sc in center double crochet stitch of next shell
Repeat steps two and three to end, working the last sc in the turning chain.
Repeat rows two and three for pattern!
Notes
Can be worked in a single color for a wonderful textured stitch pattern, or in multiple colors as seen in this tutorial.