There are several variations of the Herringbone stitch including the Double Herringbone and the Half Double Herringbone. But I think the Single Herringbone stitch is the most unique and stunning of them all.

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I first came across the Single Herringbone stitch when I was researching my 50 Stitches crochet along. I simply had to include it as one of the featured squares due to it’s unique stunning look.

The Single Herringbone stitch would look amazing if used for any crochet project. Being a single crochet stitch it is slow to work up, so I would recommend using a chunky yarn if you want to make larger projects with it. But the stitch makes a hole free, flat and quite dense fabric so it would be great to make snoods, scarves, coasters, placemats and the like.

This stitch looks fabulous in both a single colour or by changing colours every other row. However I wouldn’t change colours every row as then you won’t get the fish backbone look showing up quite as well.

This is not a stitch for beginners, and it can be hard on the hands due to having to manoeuvre your hook into the back of the stitches. So if you have never tried this stitch before, I would recommend making a practice swatch before committing to an entire project with the Single Herringbone stitch as you may find that it just doesn’t suit you. 

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 Single Herringbone Stitch

The stitch guide below is written in US terms

Abbreviations

• Ch = Chain
• St = Stitch
• Sc = Single Crochet
• Hsc = Herringbone Single Crochet

You can use any number of stitches for the Herringbone, so start with a chain of your desired length, but bare in mind that this stitch does work up tight, so the finished piece will not be as wide as your starting chain.

Row 1. In the 2nd chain from your hook make a sc (the turning chain does NOT count as a stitch). Next make a herringbone single crochet (hsc) – insert your hook into the side loop of the previous stitch(see picture below)

 and then insert your hook into the next chain as well – you will have 3 loops on your hook like in the picture below. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on your hook. This is your Single Herringbone Stitch completed. Your stitch should be slanting in the direction that you are working – To the left if you are right handed, to the right if you are left handed.

Make a hsc in each stitch across, including in the last stitch of the row.

Row 2. In this row all stitches will be made on the back side of your work.

Turn and chain 1. Insert your hook into the the first chain from back to front and finish as a sc.

Make a hsc in the next stitch by inserting your hook into the side loop of the previous stitch at the back (see the picture below for loop you need to work in from the back view).

then insert your hook from front to back in the next stitch. It will look like the picture below.

Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops. Repeat for each stitch across, including in the last stitch of the row.

Row 3. Turn and chain 1. Make a single crochet in the first stitch. Next make a herringbone single crochet (hsc) – insert your hook into the side loop of the previous stitch, then through the next stitch. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on your hook.

Make a hsc in each stitch across, including in the last stitch of the row.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have made the number of rows needed for your project. Then you can cut off and weave in your ends.

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 Single Herringbone stitch. I’d love to see what you created. 

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