The Limpet stitch isn’t seen very often, but adds an interesting and unique detail to your projects. This stitch is created by making shells and pulling them together to create the Limpet shape.

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I haven’t seen the Limpet crochet stitch used in many patterns at all and is a stitch that I came across by accident. I think that it looks a bit like a fortune cookie with the way it folds up, with the thicker part at the bottom. I can imagine that this stitch would be good for using on textured babies toys or on a twiddle muff. Or maybe as a way to add some unique texture to a wrap or children’s clothing items.

Someone did once suggest to me that the Limpet crochet stitch could be used as an alternative to a button, but I don’t think the stitch is quite sturdy enough to support that kind of use.

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 Limpet Crochet Stitch

The stitch guide below is written in US terms

Abbreviations

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

Start with a foundation chain with an odd number of stitches.

You can space out your Limpets as far or as close together as you choose, but the instructions below show you the counts I used to space out my Limpets like the picture below. I do recommend though that you leave at least 4 double crochet between each Limpet stitch so that they don’t push up against each other and have enough room to spread out.

Row 1. In the 4th chain from your hook make a dc (your turning chain counts as your first stitch of the row). Make a dc in each stitch across.

Row 2. Turn and chain 1. Make a dc turning chain in the first stitch. Make a dc in each of the next 4 stitches.

In the next stitch make a Limpet stitch. 

The Limpet needs you to use extending double crochet (edc) This is where you yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, pull through the first loop only, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, then yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops. It is made the same as a regular double crochet except for that first pull through of 1 loop only.

To make your limpet – All in the same stitch make (2edc, chain 1, edc, chain 1, edc, chain 1, edc, chain 1, edc, chain 1, 2 edc – 8 edc stitches in total) 

then take your hook out of the loop and insert it into the top of the 1st edc of the Limpet. Hook back into the working loop and slip stitch through like in the picture below. 

This will join both sides of your limpet together. You may have to fold the limpet down to form the shape.

Make a dc in the next stitch (this will be hidden under the sides of the Limpet). Make a dc in the next 17 stitches, then make another Limpet. To finish the row make a dc in each stitch.

Row 3. Turn and chain 1. Make a dc turning chain in the 1st stitch. Make a dc in each stitch across.

Row 4. Turn and chain 1. Make a dc turning chain in the 1st stitch. Make a dc in the next 11 stitches. In the next stitch make a Limpet. Make a dc in the next 4 stitches then make a Limpet. Make a dc in each stitch.

Row 5. Turn, chain 1 and make a dc turning chain in the 1st stitch. Make a dc in each stitch across

Repeat rows 2 – 5 until you have the number of rows that you need for your project.

You can modify the number of dc in between each of your Limpets as you see fit and you can keep the same Limpet row repeat if you choose. However you do ideally need a row of double crochet between each Limpet row, and really this stitch guide should be used only to discover how the Limpet itself is made. I would love to see how you’ve chosen to use this unique stitch for yourself, please come and show us in our Facebook group as it rare to see the Limpet stitch in use.

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 Limpet stitch. I’d love to see what you created. 

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