How To Crochet A Triangle - 5 Easiest Ways

Anyone who has knowledge of basic crochet stitches can make a square or a rectangle. In fact, that is probably how you learned to crochet originally, by making squares or rectangles of basic stitches! Learning how to crochet a triangle is just as easy, with just a few increases or decreases thrown into the mix! There are 3 ways to make crochet triangles- working from side to side, in the round, and also ‘granny triangles”.

How to Crochet a Triangle Tutorial

Crochet triangles can be used for shawls and wraps, bikini tops, bags and shaping in clothing. Which method of crocheting a triangle will depend on your purpose. Granny triangles for example make wonderful crochet shawls.

Crochet Triangle Materials

• Yarn weight of your choice. (I used worsted weight yarn for my samples.)
• Hook suitable for that yarn. (5 mm hook size for worsted yarn)
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends.

Crochet Triangle Pattern Abbreviations

This article is all written in US terminology.

• Ch - chain stitch crochet
• Sc - single crochet
• Sl st - slip stitch crochet
• St(s) - stitch(es)
• Dc - double crochet

How to Crochet a Triangle for Beginners - 5 Ways

This tutorial will show you how to crochet triangles in 5 different ways.

1. Crocheted from base to tip.
2. Crocheted from tip to base.
3. Crochet triangle in the round.
4. Granny crochet triangle.
5. Another version of a granny triangle commonly used for shawls.

Style 1 - How to Crochet a Simple Triangle

This is probably the easiest method. You can choose to work from the base of the triangle up to the point, or vice versa. If you know exactly the size of your triangle, you can work from the base up and decrease as you go. This style of triangle uses single crochet to give a dense look, but you could opt for a lacier look by using double crochet (dc) or treble (tr).

Step 1 - First Row of Triangle

Foundation chain: Ch 14.

• Sc into first ch from hook, then work 1 sc into each ch. (13 stitches)
• Ch 1, turn.

Step 2 - Second Row of Triangle

Now you will start your decreasing to make the angled sides. To decrease, you simply skip one stitch and work your next stitch into the following stitch.

• Sc 2 sts together, sc into next 9 sts, sc 2 together. (11 stitches)

TIP: While working on either of the side-to-side triangles, be sure to insert your hook into the very last single crochet of the row. It likes to hide! Keep counting your stitches.

Step 3- More Rows

• Ch 1, turn. This counts as your first sc. Sc into each st from previous row. (Still 11 stitches)
• Ch 1, turn, Sc 2 together, sc into next 7 sts, sc 2 together. (9 stitches)
• Sc into each st from previous row. (9 stitches)

• Ch 1, turn. Sc 2 together, sc into next 5 sts, sc 2 together.  (7 stitches)
• Ch1, turn. Sc into each st along the row. (Still 7 stitches)
• Ch 1, turn. Sc 2 together, sc into next 3 sts, sc 2 together. (5 stitches)
• Ch1, turn. Sc into each st along the row. (Still 5 stitches)

• Ch 1, turn. Sc 2 together, sc into next st, sc 2 together. (3 stitches)
• Ch 1, turn. Sc all 3 stitches together.

• End off yarn by cutting and pulling tail through the final loop.

Formula for Crocheting Triangles:

You will see that you only decrease crochet every second row. When you want a bigger triangle, start off with more chain stitches for the base.

For uneven sides, work a row of sc all around the triangle, as a border. If you intend to join all your triangles together to make a larger project, don’t worry about uneven sides, they will get hidden when you join the triangles together.

Style 2 - How to Crochet a Wide Triangle

If you want to make a large triangle, start at the tip, and increase as you go until your triangle is the size you want. It is very similar to working from the base except we will be increasing at the ends of every second row.

• Ch 1. Work 2 single crochet into that chain.
• To increase, you will work 2 sts into one stitch from the previous row. Ch 1, turn. 2sc into next st, 2 sc into next st. (4 stitches)

• Ch 1, turn. Work 1 sc into each st. (Still 4 stitches)
• Ch1, turn. 2sc into same st, 1 sc into each of next 2 sts, 2 sc into last st. (6 stitches)
• Ch 1, turn. Work 1 sc into each st. (Still 6 stitches)
• Ch1, turn, 2sc into same st. 1 sc into each of next 4 sts, 2 sc into last st. (8 stitches)

• Continue in this way, increasing at the ends of every alternate row, until your triangle is the size you require.                                                       

• End off by cutting the yarn and pulling it firmly through the last loop on your hook. Weave in your ends.

They actually end up looking pretty similar, whichever way you choose to crochet these triangles!

Style 3 - How to Crochet a Triangle In The Round

This makes a slightly more rounded edge triangle.

Round 1:

• Start with 4 ch, sl st to make a ring (OR start with a magic ring.)
• Ch1, 5 sc into ring. sl st to close.

Round 2:

• Ch1, 2 sc into same st. Sc into next st.
• *3 sc into next st. (This will form one point of your triangle.) Sc into next st. 
• Repeat from* twice.
• Sl st into first sc to join.

Round 3:

• Ch 1, 2 sc into same st. Sc into next 3 sts.
• * 3 sc into next st, sc into next 3 sts.
• Repeat from* twice.
• Sl st into first sc to join.

Round 4:

• Ch 1. 2 sc into same st. Sc into next 5 sts.
• * 3 sc into next st, sc into next 5 sts.
• Repeat from * twice, join with a sl st.

Round 5:

• Ch 1. 2 sc into same st. Sc into next 7sts.
• * 3 sc into next st, sc into next 7 sts.
• Repeat from * twice, join with a sl st.

Continue in this way, crocheting 3 stitches into each point of the triangle, and increasing your number of sc stitches by 2 for each side on each round. When your triangle reaches the size you require, cut the yarn and end it off by pulling it through the last loop on your hook. Weave in your ends.

With both of these triangles, you can work in dc if you prefer, but your triangle will not be as firm and sturdy.

Style 4 - How to Crochet a Triangle Granny Square

This one works up really quickly.

Foundation:

• Ch 4, sl st closed to make a ring. OR use a magic ring to start.
• Ch 6. (This is your first point of the triangle. It is equal to 1 dc plus 3 ch.)

Round 1:

• Make 3 dc into ring.
• Ch 3, 2 dc into ring. Ch3, 2 dc into ring.
• Sl st to first ch of the 6 ch you made at the beginning of the round.

Round 2:

• (Ch3, 3 dc, ch3, 3 dc) all into first 3 ch space. (Each chain 3 makes a point of your triangle.)
• * Ch 1, (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc).
• Repeat this into next 2 points.
• Ch 1, sl st to top of first ch 3 of this round.

Round 3:

• Ch 3, 2 dc into next space. (This is equal to 1 granny cluster.)
• (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc) into first ch 3 space from previous round.          
• * Ch1, 3 dc into ch1 sp.
• Repeat from *until next corner. (3 dc, ch3, 3 dc )into ch 3 space.
• Repeat twice.
• Ch 1, 3dc into ch 1 space, ch1.
• Sl st into top of ch 3 from previous round. Your final cluster for each round is 2 dc, then sl st into 3^rd ch of ch4. 

More Rounds:

Continue in this way, with one more ‘granny cluster’ on each side, between each corner, as you increase in size. When your triangle is as large as you want it to be, cut the yarn and end it off by pulling it through the last loop on your hook. Weave in your ends.

Style 5 - How to Crochet a Triangle Shawl

While we are chatting about crochet triangles, how about a really large triangle, to make a shawl? Shawls are not just for grannies! (In spite of the name of the one we are about to discuss!) Shawls make cozy wraps for cold weather, and are wonderful for keeping warm while reading or watching TV! Shawls also make beautiful blankets!

This is a very quick shawl to make, with a simple pattern repeat. It is very effective made with a ‘yarn cake’ which is a yarn that is wound into a flat ‘cake’ shape and is usually made in a blended variety of colors. This gives your shawl an automatic ombre effect, without having any ends to weave in!

To make this shawl, you will be using ‘granny clusters’, but working from side to side instead of in the round.

Row 1:

• Ch3 (counts as 1 dc).
• In 3^rd ch from hook, dc 2 times, ch2, dc 3 times in same st, turn. (6 stiches)

Row 2:

• Ch3, 2 dc in first st. Skip 2 sts, ch1, dc 3 into 2 ch sp.
• Ch2, dc3 in same ch sp, ch1, skip 2.
• End with 3 dc in last st.
• Turn. (12 stitches)

Row 3:

• Ch 3, dc 2 into first st.
• Ch1, dc3 in next ch sp. Ch1, dc 3 into next ch 2 sp.
• Ch2, dc 3 times into same space. (This makes the lower point of your triangle.)
• Ch1, dc 3 into next ch space, ch1, skip 2,  3 dc in last st.
• Turn. (18 stitches)

Row 4:

• Ch3, 2 dc in first st.
• Ch1, dc3 into next ch1 space. Ch1, 3 dc into next ch space.
• Ch2, dc 3 into same space, ch 1, dc3 into next ch1 space, ch1, skip 2 sts, dc 3 in last st.
• Turn. (24 stitches)

Next Rows:

• Repeat row 4, increasing the number of granny clusters between the point of the triangle and the edges of the shawl by one on each side, each row.
• Continue until the shawl is the right size for you.

How to Crochet a Triangle for Projects

How to Crochet a Triangle Top

The best way to crochet a triangle for a top is to use style 2 or 3. A wide triangle method can be used when you are not sure how big you want the triangle to be. Using this method lets you try on the top and keep crocheting until it is the correct size. Method 2 of making a crochet triangle in the round also can be used and gives a nice edge as well as a dense look that won't be transparent.

How to Crochet a Triangle Scarf

Triangle scarves are typically a little lacy-looking rather than dense and thick. The best method to use is style 4 or 5. A granny square triangle is easy to make and looks beautiful for a scarf. My preference is style 5 as it is easier to control the width.

How to Crochet a Triangle Blanket

Any of the 5 styles can be used to crochet a triangle blanket. Your choice will depend on how thick and dense you want your blanket to be. If you want a heavy winter blanket, try the crochet in the round method (style 3). For a lighter summer blanket, use the style 5 with a granny stitch. Use contrasting colors for the different rows for a unique and beautiful blanket.

How to Crochet a Triangle - In Conclusion

Crochet triangles can be used in many different projects. The final project you choose will determine the style and size of your triangles. You can make tiny triangles as beaks or ears for amigurumi, medium-sized ones to make decorative bunting, and larger ones to make triangle-shaped cushions.

You can join loads of triangles together to make an interesting blanket or even a crochet scarf pattern. Enjoy experimenting with the different types of triangles in different yarns and colors.