How to Open a Shell Stitch
The crocheted shell stitch is a lacy, delicate-looking stitch. Opening the shell stitch adds an airy flair to the shell stitch. Perform this stitch with either thread or yarn and get a beautiful finished product. Regardless of the medium, a shell or an open shell contain more than one stitch (usually double crochet) crocheted into one stitch of the previous row. The open stitch differs by adding chain stitches in the middle of the shell stitch, hence opening it.
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Instructions
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1
Start with a chain (ch) foundation by chain stitching 20 chains. If you are doing the open shell stitch for a pattern, follow that pattern's instructions for the foundation.
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2
Count four chains from the hook, and crochet two double crochet (dc).
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3
Chain two.
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4
Crochet two double crochet into the same chain as the previous two double crochet.
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5
Skip the next three chain stitches.
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6
Crochet one complete open shell stitch--two double crochet, two chain stitches, two double crochet--in the next chain of the previous row,
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7
Repeat steps 5 and 6 across the row.
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8
For the next row, crochet your open shell stitch into the two chain stitches of the open shell stitch in the previous row.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The open shell stitch can contain any pattern of stitches and chains. The above is just one example. As long as the same number of stitches is on either side of the chain stitches, it is still considered an open shell stitch.
If you are creating your own pattern using this stitch, choose your crochet hook size based on what type of yarn you are using. If you are using thread, you will want a very small hook. If you are using bulky yarn, you will want a fairly large hook.
Don't make your stitches too tight. It makes the yarn difficult to work with.
