How to Crochet the Grit Stitch
This post may contain referral/affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Oh how I love beautiful texture in crochet! Take this crochet grit stitch. Simple, basic stitches combined into something beautiful! 
Perfect for a dishcloth, an afghan, a pillow.. you name it. This dense bumpy texture is delicious! The crochet grit stitch is so fun and easy to memorize. If you want to get really technical about it, the stacking of the alternating single and double crochet stitches is same as for the Lemon Peel Stitch.
If you’d like to see it in action, check out the Lemon Peel Soup Mug Cozy. The stitch also looks really nice as an all-over baby afghan (and you all know how I love those mindless crochet makes you can do while watching TV in the evening!)
Want a bit of amazingness? How about a free printable for making your OWN Stitch Dictionary?! 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.
Crochet Grit Stitch Tutorial
This lovely bit of texture is about easy as it gets! The basic pattern is an alternating single crochet and double crochet. In the next row, the double crochet goes over the single crochet in the prior row and the single crochet goes over the prior row’s double crochet.
It might sound a little confusing, but it’s an easy pattern to memorize and pretty soon you’ll be a grit stitch crochet expert! You might even want to use this pattern ALL THE TIME!
Grit Stitch
Here is what you will need:
- Any size hook. I used US H8/5 mm crochet hook (Check out my favorite hooks here)
- A yarn weight that works with your hook size. I used worsted weight yarn.
- tapestry needle and scissors
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 Abbreviations, US 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.
Foundation:
Chain a multiple of 2 + 1, plus 2 for the foundation ch (for information on what this means, please read How to Swatch)
Pattern:
R1: Skip first 2 ch (counts as a sc), dc in next ch, *skip next ch, work 1 sc and 1 dc in the next st*, repeat * to * across to last 2 ch. Skip the next ch, sc in the last ch, turn.
R2: ch 1 (counts as a sc), 1 dc in 1st st, *skip next dc, work 1 sc and 1 dc in the next sc*, repeat * to * across to last 2 st, skip next dc, sc in turning ch, turn.
Repeat row 2 for pattern.
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!
I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making one of my patterns I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo. If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
How do you decrease the grit stitch ? DO YOU have a video? Or tutorial?
Thank you
I’m glad to hear you like the grit stitch! As far as decreasing goes, if you are working a flat piece, work the decreases on the sides so as not to disrupt the grit stitch appearance. In the round, it would be more difficult, because you’d basically need to skip over (or decrease) 2 stitches at once to maintain the 2-stitch pattern. If it were me, I would make a practice swatch and see if I like how it looks. Hope that helps
Cheryl, I just want you to know how much enjoy your emails! I am a long time crocheter and knitter and your patterns are always fun. I love your stories about the pups. I am excited about the stitch dictionary because I have been thinking of doing this with all my little scraps of paper I have written down stitches on and I really need to organize. Thank you for your inspiration and fun emails!!
I’m so glad you are enjoying everything! I’m excited about the Stitch Dictionary too for the same reasons! It’s going to feel great to get everything all in one spot!
I love the Grit Stitch! I made 3 sets of hats, scarve and fingerless mitts for my sister for this past Christmas using this stitch, and several more pairs fingerless mitts because I had left over yarn that I loved working with, so why not!
That’s great! Glad you enjoyed it!
I absolutely ADORE your emails and patterns! Love the “pup” stories too! I always eagerly anticipate your Wednesday and Saturday emails.
Your stitch binder is a stroke of genius! I’m a HOT MESS myself.