Do you love the look of textured crochet, but don’t know where to start? Do the complex stitches appear too daunting? Don’t fret–in crochet, there is always something for everyone to try!

Whether you’re looking to create a huge statement with your textures or something quiet and subtle, this round-up will have a list of different types of easy textured stitches. These stitches can be used for the entire item or as an accessory for it, such as a border.

Most textured stitches are considered intermediate, but that does not mean they are overly complicated! It just means they are not something a just-starting beginner should try and are best for anyone who has experience (even if it’s just a little).

This round-up will consider ‘textured’ stitches as tactile stitches, or any stitch that is raised up and is easily felt when running your hand across it.

Not all textured stitches are created equal. Some are double sided, but some have a ‘right side’ and a ‘wrong side.’ If you’re worried how it may look on the back (the wrong side), you may want to try out a small swatch before committing to a larger project.

Note: some stitches may be called by other names beyond what this roundup refers to them as. Some stitches may also have different techniques/variations for the same stitch.

Front Loop & Back Loop

The easiest way to create a textured design is using only the front or back loops. Instead of using both loops, you only crochet through the front or back loop.

It’s a very simple stitch that doesn’t involve much change in your technique and can be used with any stitch. Not only does this stitch give items a simple yet lovely texture, it also adds some extra stretchiness to it, which can be used for wearables that might need some stretch.

Photo instructions: Crochet Concupiscence

Front Post & Back Post

The most common base of any textured stitch involves using the post of the stitch. Instead of crocheting into the top of the stitch, a post stitch involves wrapping the yarn around the entire stitch, creating a raised appearance.

Front post and back post stitches can be crocheted around any stitch and is most commonly created using double crochets. This is one of the basic stitches I recommend all beginners learn, especially if they’re looking to add some more pizazz to their items!

Video instructions: Heart Hook Home

Bobble

The bobble stitch creates such a cute, bumpy stitch that’s great for anything that needs a little textured pop! It’s beginner friendly, too, as it mainly consists of five double crochets in the same stitch.

Essentially, this stitch is just an increase of five double crochets. Some people put their own spin on the bobble stitch, but it will always be groups of crochets put into one stitch.

Photo instructions: Dream A Little Bigger

Variations: Puff & Popcorn

The puff and popcorn stitches are just like the bobble as in they are all groups of stitches crocheted into one stitch. The details are the main difference between the three of them.

The puff stitch is essentially double sided bobbles, usually made with half double crochets. For this stitch, you simply insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, and repeat until you are satisfied with the puffiness of the stitch, then pull through all loops on your hook.

The popcorn stitch has an extra step when compared to the bobble or puff stitch. You will work five double crochets in the same stitch, but you will remove your hook, insert it into the very first double crochet, hook your active loop, pull it through the first stitch, then chain one to secure it.

Textured Wave

This stitch is exactly how it sounds: a textured version of the wave stitch. It uses the back loops to create borders on the waves.

Using only the back loops, you will work the wave stitch, which consists of groups of slip, single, and half double crochets. Unlike the wave stitch, it is not double-sided, so keep that in mind when choosing this for a project.

Written instructions: B. Hooked Crochet

Leafhopper

Just like most textured stitches that work around the posts of previous stitches, the leafhopper stitch works around two different posts to create the leafhopper cluster stitch. The leafhopper cluster stitch creates a raised v, kind of similar to the wings of a little bug. Cute, right?

The leafhopper cluster is made up of crocheting around the post of the previous row stitch, skipping a stitch, then creating a second cluster on the next post to finish the v shape. The rest of the pattern is less complex, as it only involves double crochets to fill up the rest of the rows.

Video instructions: Hooked by Robin

Waffle

This stitch is one of those that looks exactly like its name. Not only does it look exactly like your typical waffle, but it also is about as squishy as a fresh made one.

This stitch is a two-row repeat of front post stitches and double crochet stitches. It’s not a reversible stitch (unlike an actual waffle), and it tends to shrink after a few rows, so keep those in mind when choosing this for your item!

Photo instructions: Sarah Maker

Variation: Windowpane

The windowpane stitch uses post stitches in a similar fashion as the waffle stitch does in order to create the square designs on the fabric. However, instead of using double crochets for your post stitches, you will be using the single crochet front post stitch to create smaller squares and double crochets to create the rest of the fabric.

Alpine

This tree-esque stitch pops out the best in items that have multiple colors. It would look gorgeous in a gradient or bold colored stripes!

To build the foundation, there are a few rows of single and double crochets. After the beginning rows, the stitch is worked with double crochets and front post stitches with one single crochet row to break up the alternating pattern.

Written instructions: The Spruce Crafts

Crossed Double Crochet

This stitch is just double crochets but with a few extra steps to create the crossed look. It’s perfect to add as an extra embellishment to something, or to create it as the entire design.

It’s a bit of an awkward stitch to get the hang of at first, as you work backwards for every other stitch. It involves only double crochets, but you will skip a stitch, work a double crochet, then work into the previously skipped stitch to create the crossed look.

Photo instructions: Rich Textures Crochet

Mountain Ridge

There are different techniques and stitches known as a ‘mountain ridge,’ but the one highlighted in this roundup utilizes post stitches to create a hilly design on the fabric. While it was designed specifically for afghans in mind, it can be used for much more.

As stated above, this stitch involves front post and back posts to raise up the fabric. Instead of the usual front/back post double crochet, it is front/back post treble crochets with double crochets sprinkled in to make the meat of the fabric.

Written instructions: Ambassador Crochet

3D Cluster

This double-sided stitch really pops when you use two different colors! When using different colors, it allows the 3D-ness of the design to showcase itself.

This two-row repeat pattern involves switching colors (if you decide to have more than one color) on every row. You will skip stitches, front post crochet in groups, and double crochet to finish off the row.

Video instructions: Crafting Happiness

Arruga

This reversible stitch is a little more subtle than some textured stitches (especially if you use one color), but it doesn’t mean it is any less fantastic. It works up into a thick, cozy fabric.

This stitch is a repeat of double crochets on one row then alternating front post and back post crochets to create a reversible design. It’s the perfect stitch if you want to practice your post stitching.

Written instructions: New Stitch A Day

Bullion

Also known as the roll stitch, this unique stitch uses wrapping around the hook to create a beautiful design. I would recommend using this stitch as an accent or decoration on an item, but if you’re up for the challenge, you could crochet your entire item with it!

To begin this stitch, wrap your yarn around your hook a number of times, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull your yarn through every loop on your hook. The height of this stitch is dependent on how many times you wrap your yarn around your hook.

Video instructions: naztazia

Feather

This stitch creates a beautifully complex feather-like design and a thick fabric that looks great with variegated yarns. Since this is a stitch that is a little complicated, it would be best to attempt it after you have mastered a few simpler stitches, but feel free to challenge yourself!

Once the foundation chains and rows have been created, the stitch itself is just a one-row repeat. The foundation chain varies from creator to creator.

The feather stitch involves wrapping your yarn around your hook, inserting it into the indicated stitch (which often is a stitch that is lower than the next one!), yarning over, pulling up a loop, and repeating that two times until there are seven loops on your hook before completing the stitch.

Video instructions: Hooked by Robin

Diamond

Sometimes called the diamond waffle or the sideways waffle, this stitch may seem daunting with its four-row repeat, but it is fairly simple once you get the hang of it. It only uses three different stitches: single, double, and treble.

It’s a simple repeat of a single and double crochet base paired with treble crochet post stitches. By offsetting the post stitches, they create a lovely diamond effect.

Written instructions: The Hook Nook Life

Basketweave

This stitch is yet another stitch that is aptly named. It’s perfect for adding that woven straw look to any item that might need it.

The basketweave stitch uses alternating front post and back post stitches to appear as if the fabric is ‘weaved’ together, much like a traditional straw basket would. It’s perfect for all kinds of flat items.

Written instructions: Daisy Farm Crafts

Variation: Triplets

The triplets stitch is exactly like the basketweave stitch with one difference: it uses groups of three post stitches instead of four. It’s just as easy as the basket weave stitch, so if you’re looking for a tighter or smaller woven look, the triplets stitch is the way to go.

Written instructions: Nine Inspired

Cobblestone

This stitch has such a whimsical, cottage-esque feel to it. It perfectly captures the spirit of a mossy cobblestone path up to a cozy cottage somewhere in the woods. There are different variations, so keep that in mind.

While it is a four-row repeat, it’s much easier than it appears! It’s simply a repeat of treble cluster stitches broken up by a row of single crochets.

Written instructions: Stitch Berry

Bean

The bean stitch is a super cute stitch that is very similar to the puff stitch. Unlike the puff stitch, the bean stitch does not have that initial yarn over when you start the stitch.

If you forget that first yarn over when doing a puff stitch, you’ve done the bean stitch! You will insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull up three times or until you have six loops on your hook, then you will pull through all the loops to complete the stitch.

Written instructions: love. life. yarn.

Bonus: Crocodile

If you are eying this stitch, and before I go into detail about it, I must warn you that this stitch eats up yarn like there’s no tomorrow. It’s great for decreasing stashes of yarn, but beware!

This stitch is not for beginners. It is such a uniquely textured stitch that I just had to add it to this list, but it is definitely an advanced stitch.

The stitches are not difficult, as it is mainly made up of double crochets, but the techniques that go into creating this stitch are not your usual crochet rows. Since this is not a reversible stitch, as you turn your work, you must switch your techniques.

If you’re up for a challenge, I definitely recommend this stitch!

Photo instructions: The Spruce Crafts

Video instructions: B.Hooked Crochet