How to Crochet the Moss Stitch (step-by-step photos!)

The Moss Stitch

The moss stitch is a fun and easy crochet stitch that will add elegance to your crochet projects. It builds on stitches you probably already know—the chain and single crochet—and is very simple to learn, so let’s dive right in with a photo tutorial. If you learn best from videos, there’s a YouTube tutorial linked as well, and at the end of this article you’ll even find three ideas for projects you can make once you’ve mastered the moss stitch!

How to Crochet the Moss Stitch (Photo Tutorial)

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Yarn (I used worsted-weight Soft Classic Solid Yarn by Loops & Threads)
• Corresponding hook (I used a 5.5mm hook)
• Knowledge of these basic stitches:
  • chain (ch)
  • single crochet (sc)
  • sl st (slip stitch)

HOW TO CROCHET THE MOSS STITCH

Starting Chain

Step 1: Make a starting chain with any even number of chains. I did 30.

Row 1

Step 2: Do a single crochet in the 4th chain from the hook.

Step 3: Chain 1

Step 4: Skip a chain and single crochet into the second chain from the hook.

Step 5: Continue this pattern (ch 1, skip a stitch, single crochet) down the row. You will end on a single crochet in the last chain of the starting chain.

Row 2

Step 6: Chain 2 and turn your work.

Step 7: Single crochet into the first chain space. You will be working in the chain spaces from here on out, not into the single crochet stitches.

The chain spaces are the gaps between stitches created by the skip-a-stitch/chain technique we learned above. Here’s what they look like:

And here’s what it looks like to insert your hook into the first chain space:

Here’s what your finished single crochet will look like:

Step 8: Chain 1

Step 9: Skip the next stitch and single crochet into the chain space.

Step 10: Continue this pattern (ch 1, skip a stitch, single crochet into the chain space) down the row. You will end on a single crochet in the turning chains of the previous row. Here’s what it looks like to insert your hook into that spot:

And here’s what the finished row 2 will look like:

Rows 3-21:

Step 11: Repeat the steps for row 2 until your swatch is as big as you want it to be and you feel comfortable with the moss stitch. I did 19 more rows for a total of 21 rows.

Step 12: To finish off, slip stitch into the turning chain, cut your yarn, and pull it through the slip stitch.

You can see from my swatch that I did a few color changes to show you how they look with the moss stitch. At the bottom of the swatch is what it looks like to change colors every other row (a row of color A, then a row of color B, then a row of color A, then a row of color B). In the middle of the swatch is what it looks like to alternate 3 colors (a row of color A, a row of color B, a row of color C, and back to a row of color A). At the top of the swatch is what it looks like to do two rows of color B between rows of color A.

If you’re not sure how to do color changes, check out this video tutorial:

Moss Stitch Video Tutorial

There’s also another way to change colors between rows, which is explained as part of this handy moss stitch video tutorial by Fiber Flux!

Project Ideas for the Moss Stitch

There are so many fun crochet projects you can make now that you know the moss stitch! Let’s check out three of my favorites.

Crochet Rainbow Moss Stitch Blanket

This colorful blanket uses 11 colors of yarn, plus white, to achieve a gorgeous look. Both the body of the blanket and its border are made with the moss stitch, and there’s even a YouTube tutorial, so this project should be super easy!

Moss Stitch Turned Rounds Square Dishcloth

The moss stitch gives this dishcloth a fun look. All you’ll need to make it are worsted-weight cotton yarn in your favorite color and either a 4.5mm or 5mm crochet hook.

The Violeta Scarf

Once you’re comfortable with the standard moss stitch, you can even branch out and try the half-double crochet moss stitch, which is used to create this lovely chunky scarf. The only difference between the standard moss stitch and the hdc moss stitch is that instead of doing single crochets, you do half-double crochets. The rest of the stitch (chaining and working into the chain spaces) is exactly the same.

What will you be making now that you’ve learned the moss stitch? Let us know in the comments!