How to Crochet a Shell Stitch

How to Crochet a Shell Stitch

With this tutorial, you will learn how to crochet the basic shell stitch worked in rows; each row can be a different color if you like, or you could work in a solid color if you prefer.

There are many different ways you could crochet shell stitches and many different shell stitch variations. There are also many different ways to incorporate shell stitches into your projects. When you've finished with this tutorial, please be sure to check out our other pages about shell stitches too!

• 

  Shell Stitch. Shell Stitch -- Photo © Michael Solovay

  Here we have a picture of how my finished shell stitch sample looks. You can click the photo, or any of the photos in this tutorial, to enlarge it.

  You've probably noticed that my sample is multicolored. If you'd rather work yours all in one color, no problem; just skip the color changes mentioned in the instructions below. If that's the version you are interested in crocheting, you can click here to see a picture of how the solid shell stitch looks.

• Starting Chain for Crocheting Shell Stitch. Starting Chain for Crocheting Shell Stitch. Photo © Michael Solovay

  Using color A, work your starting chain. The starting chain will consist of a series of chain stitches in a multiple of ___.

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  Single Crochet Into Second Chain From Hook. Single Crochet Into Second Chain From Hook -- Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

  If you just want to make a shell stitch trim, that can be sewn to other projects, you would complete the last single crochet stitch as usual, end off, and weave in your ends.

  If you want to continue working in the same color, without doing any color changes, you would complete the single crochet stitch as usual, but do not end off. Skip the color change instructions and then pick up when you get to the turning chain instructions.

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

  For those of you working in more than one color, it's time to mention how important it is to weave your ends in as you go -- at least, it is if you're making an actual project, rather than just a swatch. Otherwise, it'll be an overwhelming task you have to complete before the project is usable.

  I encourage you to cut your old color and weave in the end at this point, along with the end generated at the beginning of the work.

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

  Skip the next 2 double crochet stitches. After that, you'll work a group of five double crochets (another shell) into the next single crochet stitch. (Pictured at left.)

  Repeat these steps over and over again across the row -- single crochet in the middle of the next shell, then work a shell into the next single crochet stitch.

• Photo © Michael Solovay

  When you reach the end of the row, you want to end by working 3 double crochet stitches into the last single crochet. You can skip the turning chain. The photo at left shows how the end of my row looks.

  Work 1 chain stitch for the turning chain.

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• Photo © Michael Solovay

  Repeat this sequence across the row, alternating shells and single crochet stitches all the way across.

  At the end of the row, you'll want to work your last single crochet stitch into the turning chain. Remember to change colors before you finish the last step of the last stitch in the row.

• Photo © Michael Solovay

• 
  Crochet Edgings, Insertions Medallions
  With Illustrations and Instructions by Harry B. Smythe
  Publication date: 1917
  Publisher: Duncan Publishing Company
  St. Louis

  Encyclopedia of Needlework
  Therese De Dillmont​

  Royal Society Crochet Lessons Book No. 9
  Copyright 1917
  By H.E. Verran Company,
  New York​

  Peterson's Magazine, Volumes 35-36
  Publication date: 1855​

  Richardson's Complete Crochet Book,
  Book No 2
  Publication date: 1916
  Published by Richardson's Silk Company​

  The Harmony Guide to Crochet...
  Sylvia Cosh and James Walters
  Publication Date: 1986
  Lyric Books Limited
  ISBN# 0 7111 0028 4

Original article and pictures take www.thespruce.com site