The chequerboard stitch is made with just rows of double crochet. To make the square patterns, you are just switching between 2 colours and making 2 rows to make each block of colour.

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You use the same technique to make the Chequerboard crochet stitch that you use to create plaid patterns. This stitch is a great one for getting the hang of colour changes and carrying a second colour while making a simple stitch.

The Chequerboard crochet stitch is a completely flat stitch with no texture at all. Being made with only double crochet stitches it is a quick stitch to make and a good stitch for beginners who want to practice changing colours mid row and carry the spare colour.

The Chequerboard crochet stitch can be used for pretty much anything. You can use it for clothing, scarves, bags, baskets, placemats, blankets – the uses are endless.

This how to guide is part of Froggity Frog’s Stitch Vault collection. Have you seen all the other stitches in there? You can take a look here all the guides are free to access and maybe you will discover some new stitches to create for yourself.

The yarn I used in this stitch guide is Stylecraft Cotton Classique DK, a 100% cotton yarn. It’s a non mercerised cotton that is lovely and soft, but it can get a bit splitty if you frog it a couple of times. It does makes lovely cosy blankets though and is the yarn that got me hooked on cotton as my fibre of choice. I think I first got a ball of this yarn in a mystery bag I got off ebay, and it was a great yarn discovery for me.

I also used my trusty Clover Amour hooks which are perfect if you are looking for a good value ergonomic crochet hook that won’t cause your hand to ache if you are crocheting for long periods of time. I’ve tried many different crochet hooks over the years, but I always end up coming back to my trusty Clovers. They just sit so well in my hand and never let me down.

The Chequerboard Stitch

The stitch guide below is written in US terms

Abbreviations

• Ch = Chain
• St = Stitch
• Dc = Double Crochet

Start by Chaining a multiple of 4 stitches plus 2 stitches for your turning chain

Row 1. In the 4th chain from your hook make a dc (the turning chain counts as your first stitch of the row). Make a dc in each of next 2 stitches but change colour in the final 2 loops of the last dc.

After each colour change give both threads a tug to make sure they are nice and taught.

*Carry the second colour taught against the bottom of the row. Make 4 dc over the top of the carried yarn* repeat across the row.

Row 2. Turn and chain 1. With the colour that you used in the final stitch of row 1, make a dc turning chain in the first stitch. Make a dc in each of the next 4 stitches, changing colour in the final 2 loops of the last dc.

Carry the second yarn thread taught against the bottom of the row and dc in the next 4 stitches, changing colour in the last dc. *Make 4 dc over the top of the carried yarn, changing colour in the 4th dc* Repeat between *and*

Change colours in the last dc of the row.

All your colours should be in the same order as row 1.

Row 3. Turn and chain 1. With the colour you changed to at the end of row 2, make a dc turning chain in the first stitch, and make a dc in each of the next 4 stitches, changing colour in the last dc. *Make 5 dc over the top of the carried yarn, changing colour in the 5th dc* Repeat between *and* don’t change colour at the end of the row

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have the number of rows that you need for your project. Then you can cut off, weave in your ends and admire your beautiful handy work.

You can find more free crochet stitch guides here in Froggity Frog’s stitch vault. Come on over to our Facebook group – Froggity Frog’s Ribbit And Stitch and show us what you made with the Chequerboard stitch. I’d love to see what you created. 

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