Master the Jasmine stitch in no time with this easy tutorial

Being able to vary your crochet stitches opens up your options in the world of crochet. Single, half double, double and treble crochets are great for simple patterns, baby blankets and hats. Popcorn and shell stitches add a little more to your repertoire, but so many more stitches exist in crochet. Why limit yourself?

Learning various stitches gives you the ability to adapt patterns to your needs or maybe even come up with your own. Many stitches are fairly simple, just requiring a little patience and practice. The Jasmine stitch, although it looks quite complex, is considered a beginner stitch according to New Stitch a Day and is not that difficult.

Also known as the star stitch, Not Your Average Crochet points out that to get the look of a full star, two rows must be completed. To create each star, you join "puffs" together. The YouTube tutorial below teaches you how to do the star stitch. It shows that each "puff" is made up of three one-inch loops on the hook. Two sets of three-puff stitches make up a complete star.

Although the stitch is considered a beginner stitch, practicing it some before you start your main project is probably a good idea. This allows you to get used to evenly pulling up each loop for the puffs and grasping the yarn to anchor the end of a puff. Sliding the hook through nine loops of yarn can also be tricky, so doing several dry runs ahead of time is very wise. Not Your Average Crochet points out that changing yarn every couple of rows helps make the stars stand out. 

Since this is a tightly packed stitch and doesn't tend to sag, it's great for making purses, hats and coats. Scarves, pillowcases and blankets are always options as well. Just about anything you would do with a regular stitch can be done with the Jasmine stitch.

Learning how to combine colors with each pattern is part of the fun of working with a craft. The more confident you become, the more capable you are to improvise with colors and patterns and make some of your own completely unique creations. Watch the video below for the full tutorial!