Alpine Stitch Crochet, Made Easy for Beginners

Alpine Stitch is an increasingly popular stitch in the crochet world, and it is easy to see why! The crochet alpine stitch can be used for so many different projects; it has a wonderful texture, and it looks good in either a single solid color or in multiple colors.

Alpine Stitch Crochet Tutorial

If you've never heard of this technique or just never had the chance to try it, you've come to the right place because this is where you will start learning. Allow me to transport you to the magnificent land of the alpine stitch! You'll soon have a fantastic new crochet trick under your sleeve.

I really love the texture of this stitch; it's very rich and elegant, and I think it would look great on cardigans, sweaters, baby blankets, fall jackets, cushion covers, or as a border on your next project.

What is Aline Stitch?

Apline stitch is a crochet stitch comprised of 4 repeating rows. It uses double crochet and front post double crochet stitches interlocked and alternated with rows of single crochet. It produces a textured pattern on the top.

Materials to Crochet Alpine Stitch

• Yarn and a crochet hook that is suitable for that yarn.

For an alpine stitch swatch, I would suggest a DK yarn or worsted weight yarn and a 4-4,5 mm (G-6 US size, Imperial UK size 7) hook for this stitch. But you can work it in any yarn weight you wish! Acrylic is cheap and easy to crochet.

Abbreviations for Alpine Crochet Stitch

All instructions are written in US terms.

• ch = chain stitch
• sc = single crochet stitch
• dc = double crochet stitch
• fpdc = front post double crochet
• hdc = half double crochet

Reasons for Choosing Alpine Stitch

Pattern and Depth: The alpine stitch generates a three-dimensional pattern with alternating ridges and valleys, giving your crochet products a distinct and eye-catching appearance.

Versatility: The alpine stitch is versatile since it can be done with any type of yarn and hook size, making it suitable for a wide range of crochet patterns.

Simple Repeat: The stitch pattern is created by repeating a precise sequence of basic crochet stitches such as single crochet, double crochet, and front post double crochet. Once you've mastered it, it's a simple and enjoyable stitch to work with.

Warmth and insulation: The alpine stitch generates a dense fabric with a raised structure that provides warmth and insulation. This makes it ideal for projects such as blankets or winter accessories.

How to Crochet Alpine Stitch, Step by Step Pattern Directions

Here are the written instructions and step-by-step photo tutorial:

Row 1:

1. Crochet an even number of stitches in chain stitch loosely. Or work a row of foundation double crochet (See here) and skip row 1.
2. Chain 2, 1 dc on the third chain of the hook, dc to the end of the row. This row needs to be fairly loose.

Row 2:

1. Chain 1 and sc in each stitch. These are the base rows to work your alpine stitch onto.

Row 3:

1. Chain 2, 1 fpdc in the first dc of row 1; (you will skip over the sc row). 1dc, into the sc row,
2. *1fpdc, 1dc*; repeat from* to end of row.

(Each fpdc goes down into the dc row, and you will skip a dc in between each one. So your fpdc goes into every 2^nd dc of the first row. Your dc goes into every 2^nd sc of that row.)

3. End with a fpdc into the ch2 you did right at the beginning.

Row 4:

1. Chain 1, sc in each stitch of the previous row.

Row 5:

1. Chain 2;(acts as first dc)
2. *1 fpdc, 1 dc*; repeat from *to end of row. (The fpdc will be worked into the previous regular dc, the dc will be worked into the sc from row 4.  This gives you alternating “longer” stitches.)

More Rows:

Repeat rows 2 -5 until your crochet piece is the desired length.

Tips for Crochet Alpine Stitch

• Make sure to leave out the unused single crochet after the fpdc.
• Never stitch the fpdc into the single crochet rows; instead, work it into the double crochet below the single crochet row.

Crochet Alpine Stitch in the Round

Every fpdc is worked around the double crochets from the previous two rounds. Every regular double crochet is done in the single crochet stitches from the previous round.

When crocheting the standard double crochet stitches, make sure you haven't skipped one single crochet stitch from the previous round, or you'll mistakenly change your stitch count!

Alpine Stitch Pattern

If you want to make a beanie using Alpine Stitch, this is how you would go about it:

• Create a magic ring
• Round 1:Work 1 ch,8 sc going into ring (9 st) on Round 1.  Do not join.  Continue working in rounds.
• Round 2: 2sc in each stitch around (18 stitches).  Slip stitch to the next stitch at the end of the round.  The remaining rounds are joined rounds.
• Round 3: ch 2 (this does NOT count as a hdc)  2hdc into each sc all the way around.  Sl st to first stitch in row (36 sts) Your circle will be very “full” and may look a bit wavy at this stage. Don’t worry, this is correct, as you will not be increasing in the next round.
• Round 4: ch 3 (counts as first st), fpdc around each stitch (36 stitches).  Sl st to the top of the beginning chain.
• Round 5: This is an increase row, so now you will increase in every stitch in the next row by working a front post double crochet over the next stitch, then a dc in the top of the same stitch previously worked: Ch1, fpdc around ch 3 from previous round, dc in top of starting ch, *fpdc around next st, dc in top of same stitch. Repeat from * until the end.  Slip stitch to first stitch on top. (72 st)
• Round 6: (No increases any more, as the crown of the beanie has been worked, and now you will be working a tube shape for the rest of the hat.) Ch3 (counts as first stitch), *fpdc around next st, dc in next st. Repeat from * until the end, finishing with an fpdc.  Sl st to top of first chain 3. (72 sts)

As before, when you were working this stitch back and forth, be sure to work the fpdc into an ordinary dc, and the ordinary dc’s into the fpdc’s. This alternate stitching is what gives you that fabulous texture.

• Round 7: ch1, fpdc around previous round's ch 3, dc in next fpdc st, *fpdc around next dc st, dc into top of next stitch.  Repeat from * until the end.  Slip stitch to first stitch on top. (72 sts)
• More Rows: Be sure to keep the same side facing you all the time.
  Rows 6 and 7 should be repeated until your beanie is the desired length.

When you reach that length, you can finish the hat off with a few rounds of single crochet, to give it a nice edging. And possibly even add a pompom!

Multi-color Alpine Stitch

If you work your Alpine stitch in shades of a single color, you can create a beautiful ombre look because of the slight overlap of stitches.

If you want to create a “tweedy” look, simply change colors every second row. The colors will appear to interlock very attractively.

Alpine Stitch FAQs

Is Alpine Stitch beginner friendly?

I would class it as an intermediate stitch. You do need to know how to work all the basic crochet stitches, as well as be able to work a front post double crochet stitch.

Is Alpine Stitch a Yarn Eater?

It is! Any stitch which uses front post or back post stitches will be a yarn eater, including the crochet alpine stitch.

Does Alpine Stitch Curl?

If you carefully bring your front post double crochet stitches up to the height of the row you're working, this crochet stitch will lie pretty flat. It does not have the same tendency to curl on the sides as an ordinary single crochet.

Are There Other Names for the Alpine Stitch?

This stitch is also known as the raised ripple stitch, as well as the alternating double crochet and front post stitch. However, the crochet Alpine Stitch is the most common name for it.

What Can I Use Alpine Stitch For?

It is an extremely versatile stitch that can be used as a base fabric for absolutely anything you wish to crochet. It can be used for:

• Scarves and cowls
• Shawls
• Cushions
• Blankets
• Table runners
• Accessories
• Cardigans or Sweaters.

Alpine Stitch - In Conclusion

The Alpine stitch is a beautiful crochet stitch that can be used for a wide range of projects. Crocheters who want to add a touch of elegance to their work frequently use it because of its distinct texture and appearance.

In this article, I have shown you how to crochet the Alpine stitch step by step. I hope this guide was helpful and that it makes you want to try this beautiful stitch for yourself.