How to Crochet the Houndstooth Stitch (Step-by-Step)
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Learn how to crochet the houndstooth pattern, a beginner friendly crochet stitch. This free crochet tutorial teaches you how to crochet the houndstooth pattern step-by-step.
Houndstooth Crochet Stitch Tutorial
The Houndstooth stitch pattern is timeless and easily recognizable. Whether you’re making a blanket using this stitch, or a beanie, or a vest 😉, this classic fabric pattern will have you feeling fancy in no time!
This is a super simple stitch to crochet. If you can make the single crochet and the double crochet you can make all kinds of beautiful crochet pieces using this stitch set.
This crochet stitch is essentially the Lemon Peel stitch with one simple, yet major, difference: color changes! The Houndstooth Stitch is the Lemon Peel stitch except that you’ll use two contrasting colors and change those colors each and every row.
Because you’ll be changing colors every single row it can be a pain to weave in all those pesky yarn ends. There are a few ways to cut down on all of the yarn ends, though!
You could crochet around the contrasting color for the length of the piece. This does create more bulk to the crocheted fabric because you are literally adding an additional layer of yarn. You will also use more yardage because of this, but can be a good option for you if you hate weaving in ends or don’t have the time. Consider going up one hook size to negate the extra density of the fabric.
The other way to cut down on the number of yarn ends would be to work this stitch in the round, joining and turning after each. Make sure that you are pulling the color not being used to the back of the work so that it is easy to pull up that loop when you make your way back around for the slip stitch. See what I mean in the video tutorial below.
Because of how easy it is to crochet the houndstooth stitch in a round pattern, this would be an excellent stitch for an infinity scarf, a coffee cup coozie, a Houndstooth vest… etc.
About the Crochet Houndstooth Stitch:
Remember that this stitch is made exactly like the Lemon Peel stitch, except that we’re changing colors each and every row.
For the Houndstooth Stitch you’ll want to start with a chain in any multiple of two + one. Essentially, any odd number will suffice. The extra chain is counted as the side of the first stitch made.
Because this stitch uses two basic crochet stitches, there are no set abbreviations, just sc and dc.
Place each single crochet in the double crochet stitches of the previous row.
Place each double crochet in the single crochet stitches of the previous row.
Any yarn with the corresponding crochet hook will work to crochet this stitch. Gauge is unimportant unless otherwise specified.
To Make the Houndstooth Stitch:
Start with Color A and with an odd number of chains. (Multiple = 2 + 1)
Sc in the 2nd ch (chain) from the hook. Dc in the next.
Alternate sc and dc to the end of the chain. First row complete!
Change to Color B.
Chain one and turn, sc in first stitch, dc in the next stitch. Alternate Single crochet and double crochet to the end of the row.
Change to Color A.
Continue adding rows in this manner, changing colors after each every row.
By changing colors each row we are creating the staggered stitches needed for the houndstooth pattern to form. How cool is that?!
Houndstooth Video Tutorial
More stitch tutorials:
How to Crochet the Pique Stitch
Alternating Single Crochet Spike Stitch Tutorial
How to Crochet the Small Triangles Stitch
