Herringbone Crochet Stitch -Made Easy!

The herringbone crochet stitch is a popular crochet stitch pattern that produces a textured, diagonal design that looks like the bones of a herring fish, hence the name. This tutorial will lead you step by step with detailed instructions on how to crochet herringbone stitch.

At first appearance, the herringbone single crochet stitch appears to be a little difficult. But don't worry; once you figure out where to put your hook, it's actually fairly simple! Similar to the standard single crochet, the only difference is the manner in which the hook is inserted into the stitch.

Herringbone Crochet Stitch Tutorial

What is Herringbone Crochet Stitch?

The herringbone single crochet stitch offers a lovely braided texture and is suitable for both beginners and advanced crocheters. It is commonly crocheted using a single crochet stitch with the hook inserted in different directions in order to give this unique texture.

The crochet herringbone stitch is frequently used to provide pleasing richness and depth to crochet objects like scarves, baby blankets, and clothing. It actually looks very similar to a knitted herringbone stitch, but is quicker to work!

The first time the herringbone pattern was used was in the Ancient Roman Empire, where it was mostly used to build roads. The form and patterns of herring fish gave the ancient Romans ideas for their art.

Now the herringbone pattern is used in woven fabrics as well as in embroidery, knitting, and crochet.

Supplies to Crochet Herringbone

You can use any yarn with a crochet hook suitable for that yarn. However, thicker yarns do tend to emphasize the texture of this stitch! For this sample, I used an extra chunky (20ply) yarn with a 9mm hook. When learning use a hook one size larger than your yarn label recommends.

A smooth yarn will allow the diagonal stitches to show up nicely and will be more effective than a textured yarn.

As always, you will need scissors to cut your yarn, and a yarn needle for weaving in the ends.

Abbreviations Used in Crochet Herringbone Stitch

This herringbone stitch pattern is written using US terms.

• ch = chain stitch
• sc = single crochet
• dc = double crochet
• st = stitch
• YO = yarn over
• rs = right side
• ws = wrong side
• hsc = herringbone single crochet

Skill Level

Crochet herringbone patterns are for intermediate or advanced beginners.

What Crochet Techniques Do I Need to Know?

The herringbone single crochet stitch is fairly simple to master. However, there are a few crochet techniques you should be familiar with before you begin:

• Single Crochet: Insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and bring up a loop in single crochet. Yarn over and pull the hook through both loops. See, it is easy!

Single Crochet Herringbone Stitch - Step by Step

The beautiful free herringbone crochet pattern is created by working single crochet stitches in a unique method. I will mention that the herringbone crochet stitch takes concentration and effort at first, but if you practice with small swatches until you are ready to tackle your first pattern, you will find the process much easier.

I'll show you how to crochet herringbone stitch in rows back and forth in this tutorial. It's a two-row repeat, so after you get a few rows in, it's quite easy to remember.

Continue reading to discover how to crochet herringbone stitch in single crochet and add it to your crochet repertoire!

Step 1 - Row 1, Right Side

1. Begin with a chain of any length. (My swatch started with 11 chains)
2. Work the initial single crochet in the second chain from the hook, working in the chain's back bump.

3. Insert your hook into the left leg of the single crochet you just created. The needle is demonstrating the correct position.

4. Insert the hook into the next chain's back bump and pull up a loop. (3 loops on hook)

5. Yarn over and pull through all three loops on the hook.

6. Work herringbone single crochet to the end. (ie. Insert your hook into the left leg of the previous stitch, then into the rear bump of the next chain. Pull up a loop on the hook, yarn over, and pull through all three loops on the hook.)

Step 2 - Row 2: Wrong Side

1. Turn. Chain 1 (this is a turning chain and does not count as a stitch).
2. Single crochet in the first stitch, inserting hook through both loops from back to the front.

3. Bring the yarn to the front of your work.
4. To work the next stitch, flip your work over.
5. Insert the hook into the previous stitch's left strand (from right to left).
6. Flip it back. And then, insert into the following stitch (both top loops), going from back to front. YO, draw a loop up. (3 loops on hook).
7. Yarn over, and draw through all three loops on the hook.

8. Repeat in this manner until you reach the end of the row.

Step 3 - Row 3: Right Side

1. Chain 1 (this is a turning chain and does not count as a stitch).
2. Single crochet in the first stitch from front to back.
3. To work the next stitch, insert the hook into the previous stitch's left strand (from right to left) and then into the following stitch going from front to back.
4. Draw a loop up, yarn over, and draw through all three loops on the hook.
5. Continue in this manner until you reach the end of the row.

Step 4 - More Rows

1. Repeat this process for Rows 2 and 3.

How To Work Herringbone Double Crochet

Are there any other herringbone crochet stitches?

Yes, other herringbone stitches exist, such as herringbone half double crochet (hdc) and herringbone double crochet. The chevron pattern, however, is not as distinct as it is with the single crochet herringbone stitch.

If you want to use taller stitches, you can use a similar technique to create a double-crochet herringbone stitch. The herringbone effect is not quite as clear and obvious, but it still has that zigzag appearance and will work up faster because of the extra height.

• hhdc = herringbone half double crochet
• hdc = herringbone double crochet

Herringbone Double Crochet Stitch Step by Step

1. Insert hook into stitch and yarn over.
2. YO, draw a loop through the stitch, then repeat with the next loop on the hook (2 loops on the hook).
3. Pull through 1 loop (2 loops on hook) and yarn over.
4. YO and pull through two loops to finish the stitch.

As you can see, the Herringbone double crochet is worked in the same manner as the conventional double crochet, but with a little jiggly bit of a slip stitch when inserting the hook into the stitch at the beginning.

Herringbone Crochet Stitch FAQs

How does crochet herringbone stitch look?

Single crochet herringbone creates a zig-zag pattern of alternating diagonal lines. Turn this stitch on its side to create a chevron or braided pattern.

The herringbone texture truly pops in bulky yarns, roving-style yarns, and other yarns with high stitch definition.

Is it hard to learn crochet herringbone stitch?

Well, it depends. If you're ready to put in the time and effort to learn this stitch, then it's worth it. As I said, the process is a little unusual, because you put your hook into different places than you would for a normal stitch. It also helps to know a bit about how crochet stitches are put together so you know how they work and what you're doing.

When should herringbone single crochet be used?

The soft, squishy texture of herringbone single crochet is ideal for cold-weather accessories like scarves, cowls, and hats. Because it's a dense stitch, I crochet it at a slightly larger-than-normal gauge for better drape.

Is the herringbone single crochet pattern reversible?

The herringbone single crochet stitch cannot be reversed. This stitch design has two sides: the "right side" and the "wrong side." I do think that the "wrong side" has a nice texture as well; it's just not the same as the "right side."

In herringbone single crochet, how do you increase?

Increasing Herringbone stitch is almost the same as normal single crochet. Work a second herringbone stitch into the same stitch, working into the vertical strand of the previous stitch to increase.

In herringbone single crochet, how do you decrease?

Decreasing in herringbone stitch is equivalent to doing a single crochet 2 toghether (sc2tog). Insert your hook through the vertical strand of the previous stitch, then crochet a sc2tog with the next stitch to decrease in herringbone stitch. To finish the decrease, pull through all of the looks on the hook.

How does herringbone single crochet in the round work?

Join each round of herringbone single crochet in the round with a slip stitch, then turn your work to begin the next round. Remember that you need to have a right side and a wrong side for this stitch; this is why you need to turn your work.

Herringbone Crochet Stitch - In Conclusion

In conclusion, the herringbone crochet stitch is a pattern that can be used in many ways and looks good. It gives crochet items texture and visual interest. Its diagonal shape reminds people of the bones of a herring fish, which is how it got its name. By following a few easy steps, you can make this stitch and use it on scarves, pillows, and clothes, among other things.

The distinctive slanted pattern of the herringbone crochet stitch is made by working different yarn overs and loops., and inserting your hook differently. You can change it by using different yarn weights, hook sizes, and color choices to make your projects look different and fit your needs.

Once you know how to do the basic herringbone stitch, you can try variations like the herringbone half double crochet and the herringbone double crochet, which look and feel a little different

Whether you've been crocheting for a long time or just started, the herringbone crochet stitch is a great one to learn. It's a fun and creative way to make your crochet projects look better and make patterns that stand out. So get your yarn and crochet hook and start using the herringbone stitch in your next project!