The starfish stitch is a pleasantly chunky, sculptural stitch, created with shells of double crochets alternating with front post and back post single crochet to give a textured effect.
The starfish is a perfect stitch for snuggly scarves and would look great crocheted up in a variegated yarn. If you're at an intermediate level with your crochet, you may be daunted by the front and back post crochet but, once you've mastered them, there'll be no stopping you with this great stitch.
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Watch the starfish stitch video tutorial:
Materials
You can use any yarn with this stitch, as long as it's not too chunky, as you need to be able to complete front and back post stitches which can be fiddly. Start off with a DK yarn and see how you get on. Check your manufacturer's band for hook size suggestions. You'll also need a pair of scissors and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
You can use any yarn with this stitch, as long as it's not too chunky, as you need to be able to complete front and back post stitches which can be fiddly. Start off with a DK yarn and see how you get on. Check your manufacturer's band for hook size suggestions. You'll also need a pair of scissors and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
Pro tip: this stitch is not suitable for large square projects like throws as the sides tend to start slanting.
Abbreviations
* repeat from here as stated
BPsc back post single crochet
ch chain
dc double crochet
FPsc front post single crochet
rep repeat
sk skip
st(s) stitch(es)
* repeat from here as stated
BPsc back post single crochet
ch chain
dc double crochet
FPsc front post single crochet
rep repeat
sk skip
st(s) stitch(es)
Special stitches involved in this pattern
This pattern involves front post and back post single crochet. To create a front post single crochet stitch (FPsc), keep hook in front of work, insert hook from right to left around post of stitch, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through both loops on hook. To create a back post single crochet stitch, (BPsc), keep your hook at the back of the work, insert hook from wrong side of the fabric around the post. Yo and draw up a loop. Yo and draw through both loops on hook.
This pattern involves front post and back post single crochet. To create a front post single crochet stitch (FPsc), keep hook in front of work, insert hook from right to left around post of stitch, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through both loops on hook. To create a back post single crochet stitch, (BPsc), keep your hook at the back of the work, insert hook from wrong side of the fabric around the post. Yo and draw up a loop. Yo and draw through both loops on hook.
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Written instructions
For this stitch, you'll need to work in multiples of 20 stitches, so create a foundation chain long enough to suit your project.
Row 1: Sc into 2nd ch from hook. Sc into all sts in row. Turn.
Row 2: ch 1. Sc into 1st st, *sk 2 sts, in 3rd st work 5 dcs (shell) into same st. Sk 2 sts, sc into 3rd st, sk 2 sts, 5dc into 3rd st. Rep from * to end of row, sc into last st. Turn.
Row 3: ch 1. Sc into 1st st. *FPsc into 1st dc of shell, then BPsc into next dc, continue alternating FP and BP across shell. Sc into sc from previous row. Rep from * along row. Sc into last st. Turn.
Repeat rows 2 -3 until project reaches desired length.
For this stitch, you'll need to work in multiples of 20 stitches, so create a foundation chain long enough to suit your project.
Row 1: Sc into 2nd ch from hook. Sc into all sts in row. Turn.
Row 2: ch 1. Sc into 1st st, *sk 2 sts, in 3rd st work 5 dcs (shell) into same st. Sk 2 sts, sc into 3rd st, sk 2 sts, 5dc into 3rd st. Rep from * to end of row, sc into last st. Turn.
Row 3: ch 1. Sc into 1st st. *FPsc into 1st dc of shell, then BPsc into next dc, continue alternating FP and BP across shell. Sc into sc from previous row. Rep from * along row. Sc into last st. Turn.
Repeat rows 2 -3 until project reaches desired length.