How To Crochet Seed Stitch (Lemon Peel) Made Easy

The crochet seed stitch creates soft textured crochet fabric using alternating single crochet and double crochet stitches. This beginner-friendly stitch produces small raised bumps across the surface that resemble scattered seeds, giving the stitch its name. Seed stitch is popular for blankets, scarves, dishcloths, garments, and cozy crochet accessories because it creates dense reversible fabric with beautiful texture and drape. This tutorial will show you how to crochet seed stitch step-by-step.

What is Crochet Seed Stitch?

Crochet seed stitch is a pattern using alternating single and double crochet stitches. Seed stitch creates a lovely texture to your fabric and looks a lot more interesting than just single or double crochet by itself! As long as you know how to work a single crochet and double crochet stitch, you can add seed stitch to your repertoire. It is a fun beginner crochet stitch to work with and doesn’t require too much concentration!

Seed stitch is also commonly called:

• lemon peel stitch
• griddle stitch

Although the names vary, the stitch pattern is worked in the same way.

Crochet Seed Stitch (Step By Step)

Here is an easy tutorial on how to crochet the seed stitch for beginners. Cotton yarn creates excellent stitch definition for dishcloths and washcloths, while softer acrylic or wool yarn creates cozy, textured blankets and scarves.

1. First Seed Stitch

• Start with a slip knot.
• Make a starting chain with an even number of stitches.
• Turn and work single crochet into 2^nd chain from hook.

• Work double crochet into the next chain stitch. This combination creates 1 seed stitch.

FORMULA: 1 seed stitch = 1 sc+1 dc

• * Continue with the next stitch by working 1 sc into the next chain. Work 1 dc into the next chain after that.

2. Complete First Row

• Repeat from * all the way to the end of the row of starting chain.
• If you started with an even number of stitches, you should end on single crochet. (Because you used 1 chain as a turning chain.)

3. Second Row

1. Turn, chain 2.
2. Work 1 dc into 1^st sc, then a sc into 1^st dc.
3. Continue in this way across the row.

Be sure that you always crochet double crochet into single crochet of the previous row and single crochet into the double crochet of the previous row.

Rows 3

1. Turn, ch1.
2. Again, alternate between sc and dc across the row.

5. Rows 4+

If your first stitch is double crochet, use chain 2 as your turning chain. If your first stitch of the row is single crochet, use chain 1 as the turning chain.

Crochet Seed Stitch Variation

You may want to make something like a beanie, a coaster, or a round placemat using seed stitch, in which case you will be working in the round.

• FOUNDATION: Start with a magic ring or ch3 and join with a sl st to form the central loop.
• ROUND 1: 6 sc into the central loop. Work sl st into first sc to complete the round. You may want to add a stitch marker here so you can keep track of each round.
• ROUND 2: Now you need to start alternating your sc and dc. Ch1, 1sc, 1 dc into same stitch. Work 1 sc, 1 dc into each sc from first round. (12 sts.) When you reach your marker, sl st into first ch.
• ROUND 3: Ch3 (makes dc.), sc into next st. Work dc + sc into next st, then dc by itself into the following st. Sc + dc into next st, and then sc by itself. Keep alternating stitches, and work *increase, (2 sts into 1) then single st, repeating all the way around. (18 sts). You will have to concentrate and keep counting! Sl st into top of ch3 to close round.

• ROUND 4: Ch1, 1 dc in first st. Then 1 sc by itself, 1 dc by itself. *1 sc, 1 dc into next st, 1 sc by itself, 1 dc by itself. Repeat from * all the way around. (24 sts.)

If you have worked crocheting circles in the round before, you will know that on each round, you need to work 1 more stitch between each increased crochet stitch. Keep this sequence until your circle is the required size.

Moss Stitch vs Crochet Seed Stitch

Although crochet moss stitch is not exactly the same as seed stitch, I have included it here because its appearance is similar to the knitted version. The two are often confused because they are similar. The difference is that where you alternate sc and dc across the row for seed stitch, for crochet moss stitch, you will be alternating 1 single crochet, and 1 chain across the row. It is just as easy to work! They are completely interchangeable.

Seed Stitch Tips

• Count stitches carefully at the row ends.
• Always crochet single crochet into double crochet stitches below.
• Work double crochet into single crochet stitches below.
• Use stitch markers while learning the pattern.
• Keep tension even for balanced texture.

I find seed stitch looks especially beautiful in striped yarn because the alternating stitch heights create subtle color texture.

Crochet Seed Stitch FAQs

Pin for Later

Crochet Seed Stitch – In Conclusion

The crochet seed stitch createstextured crochet fabric using alternating single crochet and double crochet stitches. Although the texture looks decorative and detailed, the stitch pattern is surprisingly easy and quickly becomes relaxing to crochet after a few rows. Because seed stitch creates warm, reversible fabric with beautiful texture and drape, it is especially suitable for blankets, scarves, dishcloths, garments, and cozy crochet projects.