Crochet Diamond Stitch (Waffle) - Easy Tutorial

Are you tired of doing the same old double crochet stitches, or granny squares? How about trying a new and different crochet stitch? The crochet diamond stitch is full of texture and visual appeal! It is also extra thick and warm, as well as being very absorbent if you use it to make dishcloths or face cloths.

Crochet Diamond Stitch (Waffle Stitch)

It is also sometimes called a waffle stitch because its structure looks a bit like the squares on a waffle. The diamond stitch is made up of rows of double crochet alternated with post stitch rows. The post stitches are arranged diagonally and they are what form the diamond shapes.

Please don’t stop reading, in a panic as soon as you read ‘post stitches’! Post stitches are used to create cables, emphasize stitches, or make raised or basketweave patterns. They are similar to traditional crochet stitches; you just work the stitch around the post of the stitch in the previous row rather than in the top of the stitch. The post is the long vertical part of your crochet stitch or the part which gives the stitch its height. So where you would normally work into the top two loops of the stitch below, when working a post stitch you work into the ‘post’ or the tall vertical part of the stitch in the previous row. It really is easy once you give it a try!

The pattern for diamond stitch uses a 4-row repeat. Once you get the feel of these 4 rows, it will be easy to work the pattern without too much concentration.

Materials:

• Yarn in colors of your choice.
• Crochet hook to suit your yarn.

Abbreviations:

All instructions are written in US terminology.

• sc= single crochet
• hdc=half double crochet
• dc= double crochet
• tr=treble crochet
• ch=chain stitch
• sk=skip
• st(s) stitch(es)
• sl st= slip stitch
• tog= together
• yo=yarn over hook
• fptr=front post treble
• fptr2tog= front post treble 2 together

Front Post Treble 2 Together (fptr2tog)

You will need fptr2tog for the crochet diamond stitch. Don’t be intimidated by the sound of it, it really is simple if you just take it slowly, step by step! This stitch has two legs, joined at the top.

• To make the first leg, yo twice.

• Work from front to back, insert the hook around the join of the posts of the stitch 2 rows directly below.

• Pull up a loop. (4 loops on hook) Pull it loosely, to give your stitch lots of height.

• Yo, pull through 2 loops.

• Yo pull through 2 loops again. (2 loops on hook)

• This is the first leg.
• To make the second leg - yo twice.

• Work from front to back around the posts of the next stitch 2 rows below.

• Pull up a loop. (5 sts on hook.)

• Yo, pull through 2 loops, yo pull through 2 loops again.

• Yo, pull through all of the last 3 loops. The ‘legs’ are now joined.

• Now go behind your post st, sk 1 st and work 3 sc into the main fabric of your work.

How To Crochet Diamond Stitch:

Foundation:

• To start, crochet a multiple of 4+3 chain sts.

Row 1:

• Sc into 2^nd ch from hook, and into each ch to the end.

Row 2:

• This is just a row of dc.
• Ch2, dc into each sc to the end.

Row 3:

This is a post stitch row. This first post stitch row is the most difficult because you are working into sc sts, which don’t have very long ‘posts’ at all!

• Ch1, turn.
• Fptr around the 3^rd sc stitch from row 1. (yo twice for treble, insert hook into post of 3^rd sc.)

• Form your tr as normal. Pull these stitches for the tr up loosely, to give enough height.

• Sk 1 st, sc into next 3 sts. You will have to move your hook backwards a little to find the next 3 sts to work your sc into.
• Fptr around same st you have just worked into.

• Fptr into 3^rd sc along from where you just worked your fptr sts.

• Repeat along the row until 2 sts remain.                                                                                                         
• Sc into last st of row.

You should now be able to see a lovely textured zigzag row of post stitches across the front of your work.

Row 4:

• Double crochet row.
• Ch2, turn, work dc into each st across the row. (The post stitches don’t show up at the back of your work.)

Count your dc sts, and make sure you still have the same number of stitches that you started with!                                                                      

Row 5:

This one is almost the same as row 3, but instead of working into sc sts as before, you will be working into fptr sts. They are nice and loose and easy to work into!

• Ch 1, turn, sc into first 2 sts.
• Fptr2tog using first post of row 3. I have inserted the hook into the post stitch where your first fptr will be worked into.

• The 2^nd half of the st is worked into the join of the fptr2tog- so under the point of the upside down V. Insert the hook through both post sts, where they are joined at the top.

• Sk 1, sc3.
• Continue working fptr2tog , sk1,  3 sc until the last 3 sts. Sc into those 3 sts.

Now you can see the diamond shapes!

Row 6:

• Double crochet row. Ch2, turn, dc across the row.

Row 7:

This is the next post stitch row.

• You will start with a fptr instead of 2 sc. This offsets the triangles, forming the diamond shape for which the pattern is named.
• The first fptr goes into the top of the first fptr from row5.

• Sc into next 3 sts.
• Now work fptr2tog. First leg goes into the same place you have just worked into, second leg goes into the top of the previous fptr2 tog.

• Continue to the end of the row, finish with 1 sc.

While you are learning this pattern, keep checking that you have kept the diamond shapes correct by inserting your hook into the right space. It is very easy to skip a point and lose that diagonal line you are aiming for!

Row 8: 

• Ch2, turn, dc across the row.

Row 9:

• Post st row, start with 2 sc.                                                                        

Keep repeating the pattern from rows 4 – 7. (4-row repeat) You will see that your fptr and fptr2tog stitches are worked on top of the basic fabric of the crochet, They themselves do not add any extra height. Just texture! When you work the 3 sc, you are anchoring the fptr2tog to the rest of the fabric.

Crochet Diamond Stitch - In Conclusion

Talking about diamonds…An Irishman, by the name of O'Malley proposed to his girlfriend on St. Patrick's Day. He gave her a ring with a synthetic diamond. The excited young lass showed it to her father, a jeweler. He took one look at it and saw it wasn't real. The young lass on learning it wasn't real returned to her future husband. She protested vehemently about his cheapness.
'It was in honor of St.Patrick's Day, ' he smiled.
'I gave you a sham rock.'

This stitch pattern is not only visually appealing, but it also has wonderful depth and texture. It would make up an amazing, cozy baby blanket! Because of its thickness, it also makes up really nice dishcloths, dish towels, or facecloths. If you are going to use your practice swatch to make a dishcloth or facecloth, work it up in nice thick cotton or bamboo yarn. This is so much more ‘Earth Friendly’ than using disposable cloths! They will wash beautifully and you will be able to use them for a long, long time before they need to be thrown away! Give the Diamond Stitch crochet pattern a try!