How to Crochet Mesh Stitch (Easy Lacy Stitch Tutorial + VIDEO)

The crochet mesh stitch creates lightweight open crochet fabric using chain spaces and basic crochet stitches arranged in a grid or net-like pattern. This beginner-friendly stitch is popular for market bags, shawls, summer garments, scarves, and filet crochet because it creates breathable airy texture without complicated stitches. This tutorial will show you how to crochet mesh stitch step-by-step.

What is Mesh Stitch?

The crochet mesh stitch is an openwork crochet pattern made from chain spaces separated by crochet stitches, creating a net or grid effect. The crochet mesh stitch pattern is frequently used in a wide variety of projects, including scarves, shawls, blankets, crochet market bags, and other articles of clothing, such as tops and cardigans.

Discover more openwork and textured patterns in the complete crochet stitches guide.

In this article, I will show you how to crochet the mesh stitch in a square (filet) pattern, as well as the diamond mesh stitch. I will also show you how to crochet mesh stitches in the round, which can be used for doilies and the bases of bags. Learning how to crochet mesh stitch is easy enough for beginners, but it also gives more experienced crocheters a chance to show off their creative skills.

Types of Crochet Mesh Stitch

There are several popular variations of the crochet mesh stitch, including:

• square mesh stitch
• diamond mesh stitch
• filet crochet mesh
• mesh stitch worked in the round

Each variation creates a slightly different openwork effect and fabric texture.

Mesh Stitch Crochet Pattern (Step by Step)

The mesh stitch design can be crocheted with any yarn weight and a crochet hook size for that yarn. If you want your mesh to be light and airy, a thinner yarn will work well. For a sample swatch, try a worsted weight yarn with a 5 mm crochet hook. You will also need to have a pair of scissors and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Best yarn for mesh stitch: Lightweight cotton and medium-weight yarns work especially well because they create crisp open stitch definition while keeping the fabric breathable.

Here are the written instructions for how to crochet mesh stitch. This first mesh pattern is a square mesh crochet stitch.

1. Starting Mesh Stitch

• Foundation row: Chain an even number of stitches.
• Do 1 double crochet into the 6^th chain from the hook.

2. First Mesh Stitch

• Chain 1, skip a stitch, double crochet into the next stitch.

3. Crochet to End of Chain

• Repeat step 3 to the end of the row.

4. More Rows

• Turn and chain 4. (This counts as dc +ch1.)
• Double crochet into the top of the second double crochet along from the previous row.

7. * Chain 1, dc into each dc across the row, chain 1, skip a stitch.
8. Repeat from * to the end of the row.
9. The final dc is worked into the 3^rd chain of your turning chain.

10. Repeat row from step 5 until the work is the required size.

How to Increase Mesh Stitch

Work your mesh stitch up to the point where you wish to increase.

1. Crochet your turning chain (3 ch), then work another dc into the first stitch.
2. Continue with ch1, sk next ch, dc into top of next dc. Carry on to the end of the row.
3. When you get to the last turning ch, work 2 dc into that last stitch.
4. Turn, ch3, dc into first dc, ch1, dc into the very next dc right next to the first one. Continue with pattern as normal.
5. At the end of the row, dc into 2^nd last dc, ch1, dc into last stitch.

Carry on in this way until you have increased enough stitches.

How to Decrease Mesh Stitch

Decreasing in crochet mesh stitch is worked over 2 rows. Work your mesh stitch up to the point where you wish to decrease.

• Decrease Row 1: Crochet your turning ch (3ch) work dc into the 2nd dc.  This will narrow the width of your row. Work across the row to your last 2 dc sts. 1 dc into second last st, 1 dc into last st. (No ch1 in between).
• Decrease Row 2: Turn, ch3 turning ch. Skip the next dc, ch1, dc into next dc. Continue across the row to the last 2 dc sts. Skip that second last dc st, ch1, dc into last turning ch st.

Continue until you have decreased as many times as needed.

Mesh Stitch Variations

Mesh Stitch in the Round

You can also work mesh stitch in a circle to create items such as doilies, water bottle covers, or round placemats.

• ROUND 1: Start with chain 5, and join into a ring with slip stitch. Chain 3 (counts as 1st dc), work 11 dc into the ring. (12 stitches) Join the round with a slip stitch.
• ROUND 2: Chain 3, 1 dc in-between each dc of the first round, ch1 between each dc. End with slip stitch into the 2^nd of the 3 chains. Slip stitch to the next space.
• ROUND 3: Chain 3, 2 dc into each chain space, chain1 between each dc. Chain 1, slip stitch to 2^nd of the 3 chains, slip stitch to next space.
• ROUND 4: (Ch3, 1 dc) into the same space. (Ch1, dc) into the next space. (Ch 1, 2dc) into the next space with chain 1 in between. Continue alternating between 1 dc and 2 dc in each space around. Join with slip stitch as before.
• ROUND 5: (Ch 3, 1 dc) into the same space. Then 2 dc into each space, with chain 1 in between.

If your circle starts to ruffle a little at this stage, don’t worry, it will improve as your circle gets larger.

This gradual and uniform increase in each row prevents the circle from curling up into a cup shape. Make your circle as large as desired, increasing with each round. Remember to chain 1 between each double crochet.

Crochet Diamond Mesh Stitch

This is just as easy as regular crochet mesh stitch, but has a slightly different appearance, and is more stretchy than conventional mesh stitch. It uses single crochet instead of double crochet, and is not at all related to filet crochet!

1. Foundation Chain: Make a chain with a multiple of 4 + 3 links.
2. Row 1: Skip 1 chain, single crochet in the next stitch, chain 5, skip 3, single crochet in the next stitch across row, repeat across row, turn.

3. Row 2: Chain 5, sc in each chain-5 gap across row to final loop, turn.

4. Row 3: *Chain 5, sc in each chain-5 space across row, repeat from *.
5. Row 3 should be repeated for the rest of the pattern. Check that you have the same number of loops in each row!

This stitch is perfect for making market bags, as it is so very stretchy!

Diamond Mesh Stitch in the Round

If you plan to make some kind of market bag or beach bag, you will need to work your crochet mesh stitch in the round. You will need the base of the bag to be a crochet flat circle. Then to work up the sides, you will be working a tube of mesh stitch. Here is how to do this:

This makes the base of a bag, a mandala, or a doily if you would like to make something along those lines.

• To begin, chain 4 and sl st into the first chain to form a ring.
• Round 1: chain 2, (counts as 1 dc), 15 dc into ring, sl st into top of 3 chain to join. (16 stitches)
• Round 2: Chain 6, sc into the next stitch, *chain 5, sc into the next stitch. Repeat from * until the final stitch 14 times. Chain 3, then sc into the third stitch of the initial 8 chain. (16 loops)

• Round 3: Chain 5, sc into the middle of round 2’s first loop. Repeat until you have 15 loops total, then chain 3 and sc into the top of the final sc from round 2.  
• Repeat the third round in round 4. Continue in this way until your circle/ base is large enough.

Uses of the Mesh Stitch

Whether you’re making a delicate lace blanket, a light summer cover-up, or a useful market bag, the crochet mesh stitch gives your projects a touch of elegance and lets them breathe. It’s a method that can be used to make both useful and artistic things, letting you show off your own style and tastes.

If you want to make a doily or a mandala, crochet a circle using the diamond mesh stitch in the round. You could mount this mandala as a crochet wall hanging in a hoop; it could also be a coaster, table mat, or just a standard doily.

If you are making a bag with crochet mesh stitch, you need to continue working up the sides in a tube shape.

Crochet Mesh Stitch vs Filet Crochet

Basic mesh stitch uses repeating open-chain spaces, while filet crochet combines open-mesh blocks with filled blocks to create pictures and geometric designs. Mesh stitch forms the foundation for many filet crochet patterns.

Crochet Mesh Stitch FAQs

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Conclusion

The crochet mesh stitch is a versatile openwork crochet technique that creates breathable, lightweight fabric using simple chain spaces and crochet stitches. Because the stitch is easy to customize and works with many yarn types, it is suitable for everything from market bags and shawls to filet crochet and summer garments. Once you learn the basic mesh structure, you can experiment with different stitch heights, spacing, and shapes to create unique crochet mesh projects.

More popular crochet stitches:

• Arcade Stitch
• Paris Stitch
• Iris Stitch
• Primrose Stitch