Crochet Spider Stitch Pattern (Easy Beginner Tutorial)

The crochet spider stitch is a textured crochet stitch made from repeating single crochet and chain stitches that create rows of small V-shaped clusters resembling spider legs. This beginner-friendly stitch creates dense, reversible fabric with subtle texture, making it ideal for washcloths, scarves, dishcloths, and cozy crochet accessories. Because the spider stitch crochet pattern uses a simple one-row repeat, it quickly becomes relaxing and easy to memorize. This tutorial will show you how to crochet spider stitch step-by-step.

What is Spider Stitch?

The crochet spider stitch is a dense, textured crochet stitch made from repeating single crochet and chain stitches worked into chain spaces. The stitch creates compact, reversible fabric with a small V-shaped texture, making it especially popular for washcloths, scarves, and durable crochet projects.

Get the full crochet stitch glossary to learn more textured and reversible stitches.

This is a really interesting stitch pattern, so please don’t be put off by the name of this stitch. It is called a spider stitch because it resembles rows of little spider legs. It is absolutely harmless, I promise! No spider bites involved!

How to Crochet Spider Stitch (Step-by-Step)

This spider stitch is rated at an easy level since it just uses single crochet and chains. Use a larger hook than recommended by the yarn label to make it even easier.

When worked in a variegated yarn with rapid color changes, this stitch is very effective because it helps to highlight the many “legs” of these small spiders. You may use a slightly larger crochet hook than suggested on your yarn label if you would like your fabric to have more drape. Additionally, it looks good when worked in stripes of different colors. You can change colors after two rows. This seems to bring out the legs even more! You will just need to weave in a lot of ends!

Spider Stitch Chart Diagram

Here is a visual diagram of the crochet spider stitch. As you can see once you get started, it is just a one row repeat.

1. Crochet a Single Crochet Row

1. You will need to crochet an odd number of ch sts. Make your row of ch sts as long as you require for the width of your fabric.
2. Sc into third ch from the hook.
3. Work 1 sc into each ch across the row.

Make a note of how many sc you have worked, as you will need this number for the final row.

2. Row 2 of Spider Stitch

1. Ch 2 and turn. This counts as a stitch.
2. *Skip a stitch, then (sc, ch1, sc) all into the next st.
3. Continue working from * across the row until you reach the last stitch.
4. Finish the row by inserting 1 sc into your turning chain sp.

3. Row 3 of Interlocking Stitches

1. Ch2 and turn.
2. Work the stitches (sc, ch1, ch1) into the ch 1 sts from the row below. Be careful to work into the ch1 spaces, and not into the small gaps in between the sc stitches!
3. Repeat across the row. Work 1 sc into the turning ch sp from the previous row.

4. Row 4 and Beyond

Repeat row 3 of crochet spider stitch until you have reached the desired length for your project. To finish off, final row:

1. Ch1 , turn your work.
2. Work 1 sc into the sc from the previous row.
3. Slip st into the ch 1 sp.
4. SC into each sc, and slip st into each ch1 space until the end of the row.
5. At the end of the row, work 1 sc into the final turning ch.
6. This will give you a nice neat edge at the top of your crochet fabric.
7. Count your sts again. You should have the same number of sts (counting sc and slip sts) as the number of sc you made in row 1.
8. Finish off your yarn and weave in loose ends.

Tips for Crocheting Spider Stitch

Because this is such a compact stitch, finding the chain 1 gaps to work into can be a little difficult. Take care when finding these small chain 1 spaces. The spiders “legs” seem to conceal them a bit.

The hook and yarn combination you use will affect the ease of working and the final feel and drape of your fabric. If you choose a slightly larger hook than recommended, it will be easier to find the ch spaces and give the final product a softer feel and drape.

It is perfect for creating a fabric without holes, and if you require this, use the hook recommended for your yarn.

Best Projects for Spider Stitch?

The crochet spider stitch is wonderfully versatile. It is very easy to crochet and completely reversible, so you can use it to make anything. However, it is a very firm stitch, so it is not ideal for items that require a soft, flowy fabric.

It also progresses more slowly than most crochet stitches, so it takes more time to complete an item. This is because it comprises relatively “short” single crochet stitches.

For this reason, making smaller items with the crochet spider stitch is advisable. Crochet washcloth patterns would be an excellent way to practice this stitch. Something like a scarf would take a while but would be wonderfully warm! The same would apply to garments. It may not be so suitable for creating a blanket or an Afghan!

Spider Stitch FAQs

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Spider Stitch – In Conclusion

That wraps up our crochet spider stitch tutorial! Use this new crochet stitch to create unusual accessories like washcloths or dishcloths or any small home decor items. Experiment with different yarns, especially variegated ones, for the best effect.