If you’re looking for a stretchy and textured stitch that can be made with any number of chains, then the Rug stitch is for you. In this stitch guide I will show you how to crochet the Rug stitch with all the pictures you need along with a video guide that you can follow along to.

The Rug stitch is really stretchy stitch that would make a good alternative to ribbing, or for clothing that you want to look more fitted, but has a good amount of stretch. This stitch is definitely on my list to make a pattern with, as I want to explore what type of patterns it would suit.

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The Rug stitch is slow to make up, but I think is worth the effort as it has a fairly unusual texture and feel to it. I think it would make a fabulous stitch to make a warm and stretchy sweater, especially one that would grow with your kids.

As you can see from the picture below the texture is made of small, regular bumps that are made by the stitches being scrunched down. This scrunching up is what makes this such a stretchy stitch that is elastic enough to bounce back after being stretched out.

The yarn I used in the picture below is Sirdar Toscana DK – a 100% marled cotton yarn, which unfortunately has been discontinued. I only had one ball of this pretty yarn rattling around my yarn drawers, and now I’m wishing I had more as I’ve not seen any other yarns that have this type of colour marling to it and it was a nice smooth yarn to work with and didn’t split – if you’ve seen anything else like it , I’d love to hear your yarn recommendations – you can let me know in our Facebook group here

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 and I’ve been loving using this yarn ever since.

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.

How To Crochet The Rug Stitch

Click here for the left hand video

Abbreviations (all in US terms)

• Slst = Slip Stitch
• Ch = Chain
• Sc = Single crochet

Your foundation chain is made of any number of chains plus 1.

Your foundation chain can be made up of any number as the Rug stitch is a single stitch repeat. Make as many chains as you need, adding 1 stitch for your turning chain.

After making your foundation chain, you will start your first row of the Rug stitch.

Row 1. Insert your hook into the 2nd ch from your hook. Yarn over and pull up a loop. 

Yarn over and pull through 1 loop only so that you still have 2 loops left on your hook. This is the part that will form the bump of the stitch, which will show up on the back of the row.

Insert your hook into the same stitch you were just working in, yarn over and pull up a loop. Now slst that 1st loop through both of the other loops on your hook. That completes your Rug stitch, and counts as the first stitch of the row. Repeat the above to make another Rug stitch in each stitch across your foundation chain.

All the texture will appear on the back of the row as small bumps as shown in the picture below.

Row 2. Turn and chain 1. Make a Rug stitch in the first stitch of the row – this counts as your first stitch of the row. Make a Rug stitch in each stitch across.

Your following rows will all be a repeat of row 2. Because the texture of each row only shows up on one side, you will end up with texture on both sides as you work up your rows. The Rug stitch grows quite slowly as each row scrunches up, but it does stretch a lot when you give it a tug which will then bounce back again when you let it go.

I used the Rug stitch in the FrankenScrap crochet along as the very first piece of this quilt like blanket – find out more about this free pattern here, and join in and access the entire pattern for free.

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 Rug stitch. I’d love to see what you created with this super stretchy stitch. 

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