Fisherman’s Aran-style Crochet Stitches and Patterns
In this post I want to share a range of crochet stitch tutorials which can be used to make Aran style crochet projects, as well as some inspiration for Fisherman’s style crochet patterns.
From sweaters to blankets, these Aran Style crochet stitch patterns are sometimes called Fisherman stitches (or fisherman core if you use the newspeak) and they don’t have to be made in aran weight yarn.
Aran Yarn Weight vs Aran Crochet Stitches
The term Aran, when it comes to crochet stitch patterns is different to the term aran when it comes to yarn weights.
The yarn weight category ‘aran’ relates to the thickness of the yarn and is sometimes used interchangeably with worsted weight. You can learn all about yarn weights here.
When it comes to the stitch patterns, Aran is a stitch style; The Aran Islands are located off the coast if Ireland (not, as I first thought, the Scottish Isle of Arran, which is different). It is the Aran Islands made this style of cable knit and textured sweaters famous.
Aran crochet sweaters were traditionally made for fisherman using local wool, which retained its natural oils, to give it water resistance, on top of the incredible warmth it offered. The wool was not dyed, giving the sweaters that iconic off-white ecru colouring.
The term ‘Aran Stitches’ came to represent the different styles and textures used in these sweaters. The Aran Stitch patterns were often particular to a community or family, with the techniques being passed down through generations of knitters.
The different textures used, such as cables, zig zags, diamonds, bobbles and more complex patterns such as the intricate tree of life designs, often represented everyday items in the life of the makers and wearers, such as ropes and fields. You can learn more about the history of the Aran Sweater here.
Because of the nature of these stitch patterns, Aran stitches are great for projects that want texture and warmth, blankets and sweaters for example. A cabled aran cushion would also look awesome too.
Although the Aran Stitch technique is native to knitting, we can use some classic crochet stitches to create a similar effect. Below I share some examples of these Aran crochet stitch patterns, as well as ideas for crochet projects using them.
Examples of Aran Crochet Stitches
Aran Stitches using Crochet Cables
Front and back post double crochets
Learning to crochet front and back post stitches is a core technique for many other Aran-style stitches, so I have started here. Several of the other cable and textured Aran stitch patterns use this technique so it’s definitely one to get in your toolkit.
You can work any basic crochet stitch this front and back post style, as the technique is all about where you place the hook when making the stitch. So front and back post single crochet, half double crochet, table crochet, extended single crochet etc can all be worked in this way.
Check out this video tutorial which focuses on front post extended single crochet which will help you make sure you get a consistent stitch count and a resulting piece of crochet with neat ends (left handed version here).
Cross Cables / Braided Crochet Cables
You can work with crochet post stitches to created twisted, braided or crossed over cables.
Check out the photo and video tutorials for single, double and treble crossed cables here.
In the example above, I alternate rows of double crochet with single crochet rows, using only front post stitches to create this wavy cabled stitch pattern.
You can also work similar crossed cables by working alternating rows of front and back post stitches, however I find this method creates more jagged shapes. Inserting a row of single crochet between the post rows gives a smoother curve on the cables and a flat back / wrong side of the work with fewer holes. This is the style of crochet cables I prefer to use in designs.
The Crochet Knurl Stitch
The knurl stitch is a great technique to add to a crochet pattern using Aran style stitch patterns. It’s essentially a straight cabled ridge which is ideal to create sections or bookend textured areas.
It is a modification of the classic ‘crab stitch’ which is commonly used as edging for crochet blankets, but this one can be made within the body of the project.
If crab stitch took you a while to get to grips with, you are not alone. It was one of those that I could just not get, until I suddenly got it – and in the Knurl stitch video tutorial I show you how I made it easier for me to keep it simple.
Twisted Cables (no post stitches)
This is an alternate way of crocheting a twisted cable without using any front or back post stitches. I read about this technique in a vintage crochet stitch directory and adapted it to use in my fisherman’s nap blanket (below).
It may seem a bit fiddly when you first work it, but you’ll soon get the hang of the unique approach.
You can find the twisted cable crochet stitch pattern tutorial here.
The Knurl stitches and the twisted cable stitches work great in combination as shown in the Fisherman’s nap crochet blanket pattern seen below.
Aran Crochet Bobbles
Bobbles are used to great effect in the Aran style, and in crochet there are several different styles of bobble stitches you could use. To help clear up any confusion, I created a guide to the difference between the types of crochet bobble stitches including puff stitches, popcorn stitches and cluster stitch bobbles.
The one thing that remains important to remember with crochet bobble stitches is that they are (almost without exception) always crocheted on the Wrong Side of your work.
Cluster Bobble Stitches
Cluster type bobble stitches are probably the most common type of crochet bobbles made. They are created by making multiple partial stitches in one spot and joining them all together in the last part of the stitch. A bit like a decrease stitch.
Yarn Over Bobble Stitches
‘Yarn over crochet bobbles’ is a term I use to distinguish classic cluster bobbles with bobble stitches made by yarning over and pulling up loops multiple times. These yarn over bobbles are very similar but slightly different to puff stitches.
Crochet Puff Stitches
Puff stitches are very similar to the classic yarn over bobbles but have one key difference which gives the resultant stitches more movement. Puff stitches look great when worked on their own in rows.
Popcorn Stitches
Crochet popcorn stitches are the most ‘poppy’ of the bobble stitches in my experience. They take a little longer to crochet than the other bobble styles but I think they’re absolutely worth it. AND. they would look great incorporated in an Aran stitch pattern.
Aran Rib Stitches
Ribbed stitch patterns using crochet post stitches to create a straight cable can be really effective addition to an Aran pattern. They are great for creating sections and bordering other parts of the design.
Post stitch ribbing can be worked in a huge number of combinations, below you see a double rib where two front post stitches are worked next to each other with back post stitches in between.
There are so many different combinations of posts you can use to create a ribbed effect, some reversible, some one sided, some more relaxed, others super dense.
I have an entirely separate round up sharing different ways to crochet post stitches to create ribbing which you can view here. That includes full details of the stitch pattern below and video tutorials too.
Textured Aran Crochet Stitches
Below I’ve shared some common crochet stitch patterns which use a combination of some of the stitches we’ve already discussed to create classic Aran-style stitch patterns.
These can be worked alone or in combination with other Aran stitches to create more complex designs.
Crochet Waffle Stitch
The waffle stitch had, as you might expect, a 3D grid type waffle texture which is incredibly warm and great for accessories and winter garments.
You can use this waffle stitch to make the Off-Piste waffle stitch beanie hat. It’s an intermediate free crochet hat pattern and the warmest one I’ve ever made!
Basketweave Stitch
The basketweave stitch is another cosy and dense crochet stitch pattern using post stitches to beautiful effect.
I don’t have my own tutorial for this stitch yet, and although the image is of one of my swatches, my crochet friend Raffaella has a great tutorial on the stitch pattern.
Basketweave Crochet Tutorial from Raffamusa Design
Alpine Stitch
The Alpine stitch is another favourite of mine for the gorgeous detailed, yet uniform, texture it offers. It’s lovely and cosy but still retains some drape; a perfect combination!
The Bumps Pocket Shawl uses a fun version of the alpine stitch, with some colour splashes for a super warm pocket scarf. Check out that texture… *heart eyes* all the way!
More textured crochet stitches
I’ve shared some of my favourite textured crochet stitches I think fit into the Aran / Fisherman crochet style well but there are so many more combinations to be crocheted. If textured crochet stitches are your cup of tea, you can find more beautiful textured crochet stitches in this post, all of which use front and back post stitches.
More Fisherman’s crochet pattern ideas
I hope you have enjoyed this round-up of fisherman’s crochet stitches and stitch patterns. If you’re inspired to make your next project Aran style, here are a few patterns that I haven’t already mentioned.
The one step at a time wrap
This pattern offers a fun combination of post stitches with step like texture that moves from thick to thin to create a warm chunky crochet wrap with plenty of drape.
Crochet wrap pattern info here.
It’s just not cricket sweater
My take on the classic cricket sweater made using front post stitches in an unusual slanted cable pattern.
The falling pines poncho
A top-down, seamless crochet poncho using angled post stitches for a pine tree style effect.
Oh and there’s a falling pines hat to match as well as the Southern pines sweater which uses a similar motif.
The Wilderness Cape
This one uses simple textured stitches in a style I haven’t discussed here. Although the pattern is super simple, the design uses a natural eco wool and the shape and warmth are a tribute to those cosy crochet designs that keep you protected from the weather.
Read the free crochet cape pattern here.
Fisherman’s winter Beanie Hat
This timeless beanie uses a different type of rib stitch to those we’ve discussed (slip stitch back loop only), but I couldn’t complete this post all about crochet fisherman style without my Fisherman’s winter classic beanie hat pattern!
Get the fisherman’s winter beanie hat pattern here.
I hope you’ve found something to inspire you here and are ready to go crochet fishing!
Happy Hooking
Dx
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“When it comes to the stitch patterns, Aran is a stitch style; Aran is a Scottish island which made this style of cable knit and textured sweaters famous.”
I love your page and all your instructions, but a quick correction…Aran knits come from Ireland, not Scotland.
Thank you so much for putting me straight on this one – I’m not sure how I missed that – my Irish Grandfather would waggle his finger at me for that one! I have dug a little deeper and corrected myself! Dora