How to Make a Crochet Crazy Stitch

A crazy stitch is an interesting pattern that uses double or triple crochets in an offset shell pattern. Because of this it is also known as a crazy shell stitch. It is also called a brick stitch because the interlocking sections at an alternating left or right slant make the finished work look like a brick wall. There are several variations of this stitch using double or triple crochets in differing amounts. The method you choose should be based on your intended project's size and usage.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Yarn
• Crochet hook in size to obtain proper gauge

Four Double Crochet Crazy Stitch

1. Make a slip knot. Slip the loop over your hook. Chain a multiple of four plus one for the base chain. For example, if you wanted to make four shells or bricks in each row you would chain 21 stitches (four times four plus one).

2. Chain three more. This is not part of the base chain. These chain-three stitches count as the first of your double crochet stitches.

3. Make three double crochet stitches in the fourth chain from the hook. These three stitches plus the chain-three stitch you just did make up the four double crochet shell or brick.

4. Skip three chains. Single crochet in the next chain. Chain three.

5. Make three double crochet stitches in the same chain you made your single crochet stitch in.

6. Repeat this pattern (skip three, single crochet, chain three, three double crochet in same stitch). Your last stitch should be a single crochet stitch in the last remaining chain of the foundation chain.

7. Turn. Chain three. Make three double crochet stitches in the single crochet stitch from the row below.

8. In the next chain-three space, make a single crochet stitch. Make sure you put your hook through the space created by the chain stitch, not into any of the stitches themselves. Chain three.

9. Make three double crochet stitches in the chain-three space.

10. Repeat this pattern (single crochet in the chain-three space, chain three, three double crochet) until you reach the end of the row. You should end with a single crochet stitch in the chain-three you did at the turn.

11. Repeat the second row (steps seven through ten) until you've reached the desired length of your project. If you've done the pattern correctly, your shells or bricks will lean left in the first row, right in the second row, left in the third row, etc.

Tips & Warnings

• If you've never tried this stitch before, make a sample swatch before you begin.
• Change the number of stitches and stitch type in each section to achieve different looks from the same stitch.
• The more stitches you have in each section, the denser the pattern will be. If you want an airier or lacier look, use fewer stitches.
• Never pull your stitches too tight. It will make it harder to do the next row of stitches.
• Never cut your ends too short. Always leave a long tail at the beginning and end of your project, and when you tie in new yarn. You'll need the extra length when you weave the ends in later.

Resources

• Two crazy stitch variations

[brendag]

on 7/29/2008 Did you figure this out? I have worn out the yarn trying to make this stitch look like the one in the pic. I actually called Coats & Clark this morning to try and find out what the issue is.

[chaddox]

on 2/27/2008 I am trying to find a new stitch that I've found in a Red Heart pamplet pattern # J22.0001-5c. There are two stitches I am having trouble with... and would like some advice. I have looked for two days on the internet trying to find these stitches and have had no luck. Below are the stitch names:

long double crochet - Ldc
long double crochet V stitch - LdcV

if you got to coats&clarks.com, you can see the pattern by entering the number above. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks you,
Connie