Crochet standing stitches are an alternative to beginning chains and are handy to have in your repertoire. They are also the perfect trick for granny squares! The thing that is so wonderful is they look just like a stitch because they are a stitch! Yay for no more telltale beginning chains.
If you are working in the round, you can pair a standing stitch with the invisible join and fasten off technique I shared here and it will be virtually impossible to tell where the final join and fasten off was made!! So how is it done? I will show you step-by-step below. Spoiler: it’s really simple!
How to Crochet Standing Stitches
Basically, a standing stitch is worked just like a regular stitch except that you start it with a slip knot on your hook.
In my example below I am working on the Lion Brand Little Boy Blue Blanket Pattern which calls for a row of double crochets. So I am going to yarn over first and go into the stitch and work a double crochet as usual. If you are doing a single crochet, you would not need to yarn over first but instead go directly into the stitch and work the single crochet as usual, and so on.
Here is how to work a standing stitch for double crochet …
1. Start with a slip knot on your hook. 2. Yarn over, holding onto the tail so it doesn’t flip back around. 3. Insert your hook into the first stitch
4. Yarn over and pull up a loop (3 stitches on your hook). 5. Now complete as you would a regular double crochet (that is, yarn over and pull through 2 loops twice) …
That is all there is to it. Pretty handing, huh! I use this method pretty much any time I need to join a new yarn. Hope you find it helpful too!
You can find more helpful crochet tutorials and tricks on my Tutorials Page here.
Thanks so much for such a clear, concise tutorial. I finally understand this stitch!
Thank you, Kara. I will be trying this tip for sure!
I’ve been crocheting for almost 65 yrs I have been less than diligent about new stitches and techniques but since I have struggled with beginning chains for years thought I would check this out. Thank you so much. I have to practice but first attempt was impressive.
I always have had trouble with missing the last stitch when making a back and forth crocheting project resulting in an uneven edge and having to take out and redo. Then one day at the beginning of a row I did not make my usual chain 3 turning chain, but instead I simply made a double crochet in the first stitch after the turn. It doesn’t look right since it seems very bulky, BUT when I got to it on the end of the next row I found the last stitch very easy to find and once the last dc is completed it looks totally correct AND makes for a very clean end of row and turn.
So, instead of making a chain 3 turning chain: yarn over, insert into the first dc of the next row, pull up a loop resulting in 3 loops on hook, continue as usual for a dc. It works wonderfully.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks, Vera. I have trouble with that too. I’m definitely going to try your tip!
My only problem with this method is that the pattern I am working on right now is in the round (making lots of squares for an heirloom afghan), and when I come back around to the standing DC the joining just doesn’t look quite right. Any tips for joining it after going through a round?
I’d like to see a video of this on YouTube linked here. Any chance?
This also works even when you’re not joining a new thread. What I do is turn, sl st into first st, yo, insert hk into same st, yo, then complete dc as normal. For a sc, start with the sl st, insert hk into same st, and complete as normal. Same for hdc.
This is absolutely briliant!
thanks for showing how to do this. I used this technique.
I was wondering if you could tell me how many stitches I should end up with when I am done with the Vshape part before I start the triangle part?
I am pretty new to crochet but I am up for this challenge. Thanks for your help.
I don’t understand this…there is already a row of the new color started. you crocheted a row of the new color, cut and tied off, and then started with the slip stitch thing? I keep looking at this tutorial and can’t make heads or tails out of it.
Hi Gayle 🙂 Yes, this example is from the Little Boy Blue Blanket crochet along. Per the blanket pattern we are instructed to work the rows with the right side facing for this section. So we fasten off at the end of the row and then rejoin at the beginning again. Since we are already rejoining, I thought it would look nicer to start the rows with standing stitches instead of beginning chains. If you are just working back and forth across rows with the same color, turning your work after each row, this would probably not be the method I would use since I wouldn’t want to weave in all those ends. But in the case of this pattern I would have to do that anyway. Make sense?
I don’t have a project handy to test this with… is this an easy way to start a new row, even if you aren’t changing colors? I hate the slip stitch/chain method, and I’m really excited about this idea!
Yes, except then you have to weave in ends when you otherwise wouldn’t have had to. It is really a matter of which you are willing to deal with 🙂
Soooooooooo great ,Thank you so much. 😉
Glad you found it helpful!
Super straightforward and simple! Thanks Kara 🙂 Shared.
Thanks, Rhondda!
Just recently I learned about this way of starting a new row, and I think it is brilliant!!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love this trick too! Thanks, Ana 🙂
OMG! This is wonderful! I can’t wait to use it on my next Granny Square! THANK YOU!!!!
My pleasure! Glad you liked it 🙂
LOVE this technique, I have been crocheting for a while, but still consider myself some what of a beginner… thank you for sharing, It cetainly is better than the 3 chain method.
Hope it comes in handy 🙂
What a great technique, Kara! 😀
Thanks, Marilyn!
thank you so much!!!!
xxxxx Ale
So glad you find it helpful 🙂
My pleasure 🙂