How to crochet star stitch (written, video & photo tutorial)

Star stitch is a beautifully patterned crochet stitch which creates a thick, cosy and squishy crochet fabric. It’s a yarn eater without doubt, but totally worth it!

When designing my recent Gift Hat pattern, I went looking for a tutorial to refresh my memory on how to crochet star stitch, but I struggled to find a tutorial which matched my learning style.

I prefer to read written instructions for stitch patterns as I find it quicker to ingest than watching a video.

There were plenty of video tutorials out there, but I really struggled to find written instructions which tackled the stitch it in a simple way. Once you get used to working star stitch, it’s fairly easy to crochet, but it’s kind of tricky to explain.

I also wasn’t satisfied with the way that some of the tutorials finished a row as it just seemed a little clumsy or unnecessary. So I took some time out and decided to create my own tutorial using my own technique. Though there are many different ways to work this stitch with different multiples (see 2021 update below) and different pattern contexts.

Below you’ll find the written instructions for my version of star stitch, then a video tutorial (left and right handed), and finally a step by step photo tutorial. Hopefully one of these options will work for all your learning style!

An overview of Star Stitch

Before I start the actual tutorial, it will be useful for you to understand how star stitch constructed before you start.

Start Stitch – row and stitch multiples

Star stitch is a 2 row pattern repeat, using a multiple of 2+2 stitches on the foundation row (see notes below about using an odd numbered stitch multiple).

The first row – the star row – creates the ‘stars’, which are essentially made up of a single crochet 5 together (sc5tog) (UK double crochet 5 together) – one for each point I guess – followed by a chain 1, which creates the ‘eye’ or centre of the star.

The second row – the hdc row – consists only of half double crochet (hdc) (UK half trebles). You work 1hdc in the first st, then two in each of the star’s ‘eyes’ you made from the chain 1 in the previous row, then 1 last hdc to finish the row.

I want to quickly dig a little into the stitch multiple of- 2+2.

Each ‘star’ essentially takes up 2 stitches (the sc5tog and chain 1 on the star row then 2hdc on the hdc row) and each row has a kind of half star on the ends (which is the plus 2). You can learn more about stitch multiples here.

So if you want 10 star stitches, you’ll need a foundation row of (10*2)+2 = 22. If you’re starting with a foundation chain, you’ll need to add another 2 to the chain to get your 10 sts.

Okay, with that context in mind, lets get to it!

Stitches and Abbreviations: US terms

• ch = chain
• hdc = half double crochet (UK half treble)
• sc5tog = single crochet 5 together (UK double crochet 5 together)
• yo – yarn over
• Beg Star St = beginning star stitch (the first stitch of each star row)
• Star St = Star Stitch
• End Star St = End star stitch (the last stitch of each star row

Pattern notes

• Note that instructions in [square brackets] should be repeated the exact number of times specified
• Turning chains do not count as stitches in this pattern
• There is a right and wrong side to the pattern – the star stitch row is the right side and the hdc row is the wrong side

Crochet Star Stitch: Written Instructions

Each row of star stitches, starts with ‘beginning star stitch’, works star stitches all the way across to 1 stitch from the end, then works an ‘end star stitch’ to finish the row.

Row 1 (right side): Star Stitch Foundation Row

This is for working into a chain, if you’re working into an existing project, then you’ll begin at Row 3.

Make a foundation chain of 2+2 stitches (see explanation of stitch multiples above)

Start with a beginning star st

Beginning Star St (beg star st):

• Insert hook into second ch from hook, yo pull up a loop (2 loops on hook)
• [insert hook into next ch, yo, pull up a loop] 4 times (6 loops on hook)
• yo, pull through all 6 loops (this completes your sc5tog)
• ch1 (which creates the ‘eye’ or centre of the star)

That is your beginning star stitch made

next make a star st;

Star St:

• insert hook into ch1 / ‘eye’ of the previous star, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook)
• insert hook into the ‘leg’ of the last loop you pulled up on the previous stitch (this is where the pictures / video may help you), yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)
• insert hook into the same st as the last part of the previous stitch, yo, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook)
• insert hook into the next unworked st, yo pull up a loop (5 loops on hook)
• insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop (6 loops on hook)
• yo, pull through all 6 loops
• ch1 to complete the st

Repeat the star stitch all along the foundation row until you have 1 ch left unworked, then work an end star st;

End Star St:

The end star stitch is like a partial star stitch, working until you just have 5 loops on the hook instead of 6.

• insert hook into ch1 / ‘eye’ you just made, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook)
• insert hook into the ‘leg’ of the last loop you pulled up on the previous stitch (this is where the pictures / video may help you), yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)
• insert hook into the same st as the last part of the previous stitch, yo, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook)
• insert hook into the last st of the row, yo pull up a loop (5 loops on hook)
• yo, pull through all 5 loops
• ch1
• turn your work

Row 2 (wrong side): hdc row

Row 2 is your half double crochet (hdc) row. You’ll start it with just 1 chain because the chain made to close the ‘end star st’ actually counts as part of the turning chain.

Ch1, 1hdc in the top of the end star st, *2hdc in the eye of the next star st; rep from * up to (and including) the last eye, then work 1hdc in the top of the ch of the beg star st from the previous row.

When working the last hdc, you’ll essentially be working it into the second chain from the beg star st. Alternatively, you can work it into the space created when you skipped the first ch right at the start. Either will work, so have a play and see what you prefer and find easiest!

Turn your work.

Row 3 (right side): Star St Pattern Row

This row is worked like the foundation row, with a slight alteration at the start;

Ch3, starting in the second ch from hook, make a beg star st; so you’ll work into 2 chains, and the first 3 sts on the row (that’s the last 3 hdc from the previous row) to get your 6 loops on your hook.

Work Star Sts along the row until you have 1 st left unworked, make an end star st to finish the row.

Turn your work.

For pattern, repeat rows 2 and 3 and finish on a row 2 repeat

And that’s it. It’s a lot simpler to work than to learn – if that makes sense!

Crocheting Star Stitch with an odd numbered stitch multiple (2021 update)

If you are working with an odd number of stitches rather than an even stitch multiple, as described above, you can use the same instructions (above) but add the following modification

• Work star stitches all the way across your row to the end and replace the end star st with a normal star and turn
• When starting your hdc row; ch1 (does not count as a st), work 2hdc into the eye of the last star stitch from the previous row instead of working 1hdc into the top of the star, then work 2hdc in each eye across and 1hdc into the chain of the beg-star st as previously described.

Crochet Star Stitch: Video Tutorial

Below is the right handed star stitch video tutorial

Click here to play in youtube instead of on page (or if you have any playback issues). You can click here for a left handed tutorial.

Crochet Star Stitch: Picture Tutorial

Note that I am left handed and all of these images are taken crocheting left handed. If you’re right handed, you’ll see a mirror image!

Make a foundation chain of 2+2 stitches (see explanation of stitch multiples above). Here I have made a ch of 22.

Star Stitch Foundation Row: Row 1 (right side)

Beg star st:

Start with a beginning star st, made as follows;

That is your beginning star stitch made, next make a star st;

Star St:

Then, insert hook into the ‘leg’ of the last loop you pulled up on the previous stitch, this bit can be a bit fiddly – I insert the hook through both loops as in the picture below, but one will work too.

Yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook) .

Insert hook into the same st as the last part of the previous stitch, yo, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook).

Next, insert hook into the next unworked st, yo pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop (6 loops on hook).

Yo, pull through all 6 loops and chain 1 to complete your star stitch.

Repeat the star stitch all along the foundation row until you have 1 unworked chain left.

Next you’ll work an ‘end star st’ to finish the first row;

End Star St:

The end star stitch is like a partial star stitch, working until you just have 5 loops on the hook instead of 6.

• insert hook into ch1 or the ‘eye’ you just made, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook)
• insert hook into the ‘leg’ of the last loop you pulled up on the previous stitch (this is where the pictures / video may help you), yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)
• insert hook into the same st as the last part of the previous stitch, yo, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook)
• insert hook into the last st of the row, yo pull up a loop (5 loops on hook)
• yo, pull through all 5 loops
• ch1 to complete the stitch (and make the first turning chain)
• turn your work

You’ll note that for this image of the end star stitch, I have hopped a row ahead. On the first row of the swatch, I worked a half double crochet in the last stitch. This is what I was referring to when I mentioned that other tutorials have a different way of ending the row. I felt like it left a gap and just looked a little jarring. This is why I decided to create the ‘end star stitch’ method instead.

I decided to leave the hdc option in the swatch so that you could see the difference.

Okay, back to the end of row 1. It will look like the image below. It’s normal to see a bit of a curl on this first row. It will straighten out as you work.

Hdc row: Row 2 (wrong side)

Row 2 is your half double crochet (hdc) row. You’ll start it with just 1 chain because the chain made to close the ‘end star st’ actually counts as part of the turning chain.

Ch1, 1hdc in the top of the end star st, *2hdc in the eye of the next star st; rep from * until you have worked into the last eye, then work 1hdc in the top of the beg star st from the previous round.

When working the last hdc, you’ll essentially be working it into the second chain of the beg star st. If you prefer you can work into the ch you skipped when working into the second ch from hook in the beg star st.

You can see then the image below that the back of the work already looks quite different!

Turn your work.

Star Stitch Pattern Row: Row 3 (right side):

This row is worked like the foundation row, with a slight alteration at the start:

Ch3, starting in the second ch from hook, make a beg star st; so you’ll work into 2 chains, and the first 3 sts on the row (that’s the last 3hdc from the previous row).

Work Star Sts along the row until you have 1 st left unworked, make an end star st to finish the row.

The image above at the end of the first row will illustrate the end star st. Below you’ll see what the end of Row 3 looks like.

Turn your work.

Row 4 (wrong side): As Row 2

For Row 4, you will repeat Row 2. Below you can see the difference between the wrong (first image) and right (second image) sides after 4 rows.

• 

• 

To continue with the star stitch pattern, you will simply repeat Rows 2 and 3 and make sure you finish on a Row 2 repeat.

Your finished swatch will look something like this!

I hope you find this tutorial useful. Star Stitch creates such a beautiful warm and cosy texture, I’m really happy to be able to finally share it with you! I hope you’ll share it with your friends too!

Happy Hooking

Dx

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