Get addicted to side-saddle crochet with this easy video and written pattern

If you're getting tired of your usual crochet stitches, trot on over to try the side-saddle shell and the side-saddle cluster.

These are slightly different stitches, which both produce a very pleasing slanted or tilted design which is highly textured and adds lots of interest to pillow covers, throws, and scarves.

The side saddle shell involves the following stitches and abbreviations:
chain stitch (ch) single crochet (sc) half double crochet (hdc) and double crochet (dc).

For this stitch, you'll need to crochet in multiples of six plus one, plus three for your base chain. So start off by crocheting a foundation chain in multiples of six, adding one at the end, then adding three as your turning chain. Make this as long as suits your project.

Skip the first three chains (ch) from the hook, they will count as your first double crochet (dc). You will put 3dc into the next ch. Now skip 2ch and single crochet (sc) into the next ch. Into the next ch you will put quite a few stitches: 3dc, 1ch, and then 1hdc and 1dc into the side of the 3dc you have just made - into the space between the third dc and the second dc. After this skip 2ch again, 1 sc into the next ch, then repeat the pattern until the last 3ch of the row. Here, skip 2ch and put 4dc into the last ch of the row.

1ch (counts as 1sc), skip 1st, *skip next 3sts, shell into next st (3dc, 1ch), skip 3sts, 1sc into next ch sp, repeat from * ending with one sc into top of tch, turn.

3ch (counts as 1dc), 3dc into 1st st, skip 3 sts, 1sc into next ch sp, *skip 3 sts, shell into next sc, skip 3 sts, 1sc into next ch sp, repeat from *, end by skipping 3 sts, 4dc into tch, turn.

Repeat rows two and three for as long as you like to finish your project.

The side saddle cluster stitch uses the following stitches and abbreviations:
chain (ch), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), sk (skip), double crochet together (dctog) and cluster (dc4tog).

The stitch is worked in multiples of five plus one, plus one more for the base chain. So start by chaining your required length, in multiples of five plus one, with one extra.

Start with a sc in 2nd ch from the hook, *3 ch, dc4tog over next 4 ch, 1 ch, 1 sc into next ch; repeat from * to end; turn.

Begin with 5 ch, 1 sc into first cluster, *3 ch, dc4tog all into next ch 3 gap, 1 ch, 1 sc into next cluster; rep from * ending with 3 ch, dc4tog all into the ch 3 gap, 1 dc into last sc, sk turning chain; turn.

1 ch, sk 1 st, 1 sc into next cluster, *3 ch, dc4tog into next ch 3 gap, 1 ch, 1 sc into next cluster; rep from * ending last rep with 1 sc into turning chain; turn.

Row two and three form the pattern, so repeat these two rows until you have the length you need for your project.

Both these stitches feature a lovely slanting effect, and you'll find plenty of variations on this theme.