How to Crochet Crab Stitch Edging | Video Tutorial for Beginners
What if I told you there is an easy way to finish off your crochet projects? If you’re familiar with basic crochet stitches, you’ll learn how to make a crab stitch edging in no time. You can finish off blankets, coasters, or any designs that need a great border stitch. Are you ready to read more about it?
FAQ
What is crab stitch?
It’s a decorative but simple technique, very similar to a regular single crochet stitch. It’s called crab stitch because we work it in the opposite direction – backwards. To make a crab stitch, we stay on the right side of the work and crochet in the stitch to the right, instead of turning your work. Follow my video tutorials and written instructions to learn how to do it!
Is reverse single crochet the same as crab stitch?
Yes, the crab stitch is also known as the reverse single crochet stitch.
Is crab stitch hard to learn?
Not at all! If you know how to crochet normal single crochet, you will learn this stitch in no time. The only difference is that we are working left to right instead of working right to left like we normally would. However, you may need to practice keeping the right tension and pulling the yarn through the twisted loops.
What yarn and hook should I use?
You can use any crochet hook and type of yarn you want. To get the best results, use the same yarn and hook you used for the main project.
What is the stitch similar to the crab stitch?
Let me lead you step by step through the whole process, whether you use your right or left hand to crochet.
Crab Stitch Video Tutorial (Reverse Single Crochet)
Learn how to crochet crab stitch border with this video. Let me lead you step by step through the whole process, whether you use your right or left hand to crochet.
Video for Right-Handed Crocheters
See how do you do the crab stitch if you are right handed.
Video for Left-Handed Crocheters
Learn how to crochet crab stitch left handed.
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How to Crochet Crab Stitch Edging
Gather materials
- a swatch, a square, or a finished project
- yarn and hook – the same as you used for the main project
- scissors
Start
Attach the yarn wherever you want, preferably in the corner.
Step 1
Chain 1. Do not turn your work. Instead, insert your hook in the previous stitch (on your right). It may be a bit awkward at first because such movement requires unnatural twisting.
Step 2
Grab the yarn and pull up a loop – you now have two loops on your hook. Now grab the yarn again and pull through both loops, like in a normal single crochet. It may be a bit tricky because the loops are twisted, but be patient.
Step 3
Repeat – insert the hook into the next stitch and work one reverse single crochet in each stitch. Work backwards until you reach the end of the row or round.
Corners
You can easily increase with this stitch, so work two or more crab stitches in each corner or tip. This will help you create nice rounded edges.
My Projects Using Crab Stitch
I love using crab stitches to finish off my projects. Here are some examples of free crochet patterns from my library.
Try this one if you want to learn this crochet border stitch, but worked in the round:
This shawl pattern uses crab stitch on the diagonal edges:
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If you happen to make this project, I would love to see it, so don’t hesitate to contact me! Feel free to share the results with me in the comments or on social media. Of course, if you find any mistakes in the pattern or find it hard to understand, please let me know, so I can learn and improve!
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