How to Crochet -- Woven stitch

The crocheted Woven Stitch is one of my favorites to use for baby blankets and afghans since it is easy to stitch, using only chain stitch and single crochet, and it works up quickly into a nice single thickness lightweight blanket. It can be worked in one solid color, in a variegated yarn or in stripes and each combination looks great.

Here's how it works:

Start out with a beginning chain in multiples of 3, plus 2 extra. For the first row, skip the first 2 chains and work a single crochet into the third chain. Then chain 1, skip 1 chain, work 1 single crochet, as shown above. Do this (chain 1, skip 1, 1 single crochet) all the way across to the last chain stitch where you will work your last single crochet of the row.

This is what your piece will look like after finishing the first row.

Work 2 chain stitches and turn your work. Work 1 single crochet into the first chain space of the previous row as shown above. Chain 1 and work 1 single crochet into the next chain space. Continue working 1 chain and 1 single crochet into the next chain space all the way across, working the last single crochet into the space made by the turning chain of the previous row.

This is what your piece will look like after the second row is complete.

Continue as before with chain 2, turn, single crochet into first chain space. Chain 1 and single crochet into next chain space across. Finish each row by working the last single crochet into the turning chain space of the previous row. This is what your piece will look like after completing 9 rows.

This is a side view of the sample piece showing that there is not much in the way of texture or layering with this stitch. It makes a pretty flat piece which is nice when you want something a little lighter weight.

This is a close-up of the sample piece showing how the stitch gives the appearance of being woven. I think this stitch is so easy because the single crochet stitches are always worked in the chain spaces and never in the stitches themselves so you don't have to worry about finding the right stitch or if you should be using the front or back loops. It's one of those stitches that requires little thinking once you get the hang of it, which is probably why I like it so much!

If you want a piece that is not quite so closely woven, you could always use a bigger hook than what is recommended for the weight yarn you are using. You could also use half double crochet stitches instead of single, or even double instead of single. I'm sure that would work up into a nice loose weave, lightweight blanket too.

I have made many full size afghans and baby blankets using this stitch and have taught many people to use this stitch to make their own. In the next post I will show you pictures of some of these pieces so you can get an idea of some different ways to use the woven stitch.

Happy Stitching!

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