Crochet Star Stitch

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Meet my new love: the crochet star stitch!  She’s a fancy girl with a symmetrical vibe that gets me every time.  It’s the kind of stitch that makes me dream of all the possibilities–a sweet bag, cozy hat, a full of texture blanket and really anything that needs a little pop of gorgeous.

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with pink yarn

To be honest, I always thought the star stitch pattern was probably super complicated so I never quite got around to learning it.  Those beautiful spikes that leave you scratching your head wondering if you will ever understand the instructions.

Maybe you feel this way too.  Well, my friends, buckle up…because this sweet crochet star stitch that we’re drooling over?  It’s really not that difficult to learn at all!  And we’re going to learn how step by step right to the last stitch.  And just like that, you’ll be rocking your own star stitch!

Wouldn’t it be fun to have full size printables of all your favorite stitches?  Well I’ve got you covered with THAT too!  Grab a binder and print off your free Stitch Dictionary Cover, binder spine along with printable versions of my stitch tutorials!  All your crochet goodness in one place!  Sweet, right?!  Get all the details here.

Before moving over to my awesome new Stitch Dictionary Binder, I used to attach hang tags to my swatches.  To learn more or to learn about stitch swatching in general please visit my post about stitch swatching here.

Star Stitch Crochet Tutorial

Though it might look complicated, the star stitch is really easy to work and after a few, you will be making them really fast, just like any other stitch combination.  The secret is where you place your hook for each loop.  Let’s go over it in this step by step star stitch tutorial:

In this photo, I’ve crocheted several rows in the pattern and we’re ready to make our next star stitch.  I find it easiest to teach the stitch at this point because this is how you will see your crochet before you make almost every star stitch.  The first row on the foundation chain is worked in a very similar manner.

Each star stitch row is separated by a row of single crochet, so the star stitch is always worked on the “odd” numbered row.  It’s important to note that this is a stitch that has a “right” side and a wrong side.  Odd number rows are the “right” side.   In this example, I’m on row 9, working my 5th row of star stitches.

Note that just under the working loop on the hook there is a little “hole” formed at the end of the prior star stitch.  This little hole is called the “eye” of the crochet start stitch.  You will be working into this hole first.

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with coral colored yarn

Star Stitch Step 1:

Put your hook into the eye of the last star stitch and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook)

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with coral colored yarn

Star Stitch Step 2:

Put your hook into the back of the last loop of star just worked yarn over (YO) to pull up a loop.  In my opinion, this is the trickiest part of the entire stitch.  The easiest way I’ve found to do this is too look at the star just made and then look just behind that and work into THAT loop.  Look carefully at where this loop is in the below picture and zoom in if you need to.  There are now 3 loops on the hook.

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with coral colored yarn

Star Stitch Step 3:

Now put your hook into the same stitch that the last star was worked into and pull up a loop.  At this point, you’ve now draw up loops basically around the top and left side of the last star and there are 4 loops on the hook.

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with coral colored yarn

Star Stitch Step 4:

Insert your hook into the next stitch (which is a single crochet from the row before) and pull up  loop.  (5 loops on hook)

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with coral colored yarn

Star Stitch Step 5:

Insert your hook into the next stitch and pull up  loop.  (6 loops on hook)

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with coral colored yarn

Star Stitch Step 6:

Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops on hook.

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with coral colored yarn

Star Stitch Step 7:

To lock the star stitch in, chain one.  This forms the “eye” of the star stitch.

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with pink yarn

Now you simply repeat the star process across the row.

The stitch sample pattern below fills out the rest of the details… how you work into the starting chain.  The differences at the beginning and ends of the row (to form nice neat edges) and how to work the even number rows (between the star stitch rows).  Note that I prefer the look of a single crochet row as a “separator”.  Other designers use a half double crochet for this row instead. Use the stitch that gives you the desired result for your piece.

close up coral color yarn in crochet star stitch

Star Stitch Crochet

Here is what you will need:

Remember, you can make your swatch with any size hook and yarn weight.  Read all about How to Swatch Here.

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet AbbreviationsUS to UK Crochet Conversion Chart.  Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.

Close up view of how to make a crochet star stitch with pink yarn

How to Crochet a Star Stitch

Multiple of 2 + 1 (for information on what this means, please read How to Swatch)

Crochet Pattern:

Ch 27 (or to desired length)

R1:  Insert hook and pull up a loop in second ch and in each of next 4 ch (6 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all loops on hook, ch 1 to lock in stitch (eye of star made), *insert hook in the eye of last star and pull up a loop, insert hook into the back of last loop of previous star and pull up a loop, insert hook through same ch as last loop of previous star and pull up a loop, pull up a loop in each of the next 2 chains (6 loops on hook).  Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops, ch 1 to lock in the stitch (eye made). Repeat from * across.  Work 1 hdc in last ch (same ch as last loop of last star), turn.

R2: Ch 1, sc in hdc, sc in eye of first star stitch.  Now work 2 sc in eye of each remaining star stitch across the row.  At end of the row, work 1 sc in top of turning ch, turn.

R3: Ch 2, insert hook in the front strand of 2nd ch from hook and pull up a loop.  Then insert hook into the BACK strand of same chain and pull up a loop, pull up a loop in each of the next 3 st (6 loops on hook), yarn over and pull yarn through all 6 loops, ch 1 to lock in the stitch (eye made), *insert hook in the eye of last star and pull up a loop, insert hook into the back of last loop of previous star and pull up a loop, insert hook through same st as last loop of previous star and pull up a loop, pull up a loop in each of next 2 st (6 loops on hook).  Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops, ch 1 to lock in the stitch (eye made). Repeat from * across.  Work 1 hdc in last st (same st as last loop of last star), turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have reached your desired length.

Want to see even MORE Crochet Stitches?

I’ve gathered up my absolute favorites from all over the net into one amazing Crochet Stitches collection!  Be sure to check them out!

Did you enjoy learning how to crochet the star stitch?  I love to see your creations!  Please share your star stitch crochet projects with me on Facebook or tag me on Instagram.  To learn more stitch patterns, please visit our Crochet Stitch Dictionary.

Pinterest pin with same of crochet star stitch

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2 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for both the visual and written instructions! I tried the 27 stitch swatch and came out with less than 27 stitches. Was that supposed to happen?

    1. I would guess that you probably have looser grip that Cheryl does. Try going down a hook size and seeing if that solves the problem. Happy crocheting!