Today I’ll teach you the beautiful moss stitch crochet pattern. It is also commonly referred to as the linen, granite, or woven stitch. This is truly a beginner friendly stitch, and is one of the very first patterns I learned. The only required skills are chains and single crochets.
The crochet moss stitch creates a dense fabric with a lot of drape. As an added bonus…it’s reversible!
The moss stitch is created by alternating single crochets and chains, and follows the same repeat for every row. This makes it an easy pattern to memorize, and doesn’t require a ton of concentration. (Other than the first row of course…but that’s usually the case when working any crochet piece!)
The moss stitch looks great in all sizes and colors of yarn, and for loads of different projects. Today I’ll share a washcloth pattern, but it also works greats for scarves or blankets, and even in the round for cowls or headbands.
Keep in mind, single crochets aren’t very tall, so projects can be slow to grow. However, the simple one row repeat makes it great for projects on the go, or zoning out in front of the TV.
Let’s jump in! You can also find the video tutorial at the bottom of this post.
Materials
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Since washcloths will get wet and see a lot of use, I recommend using 100% cotton yarn. For any other projects, or if you just want to play around, feel free to use any yarn you prefer. If you’re not comfortable switching colors just yet, you can always make it in one color.
- Two colors of cotton worsted weight yarn. I’m using I Love This Cotton in colors Warm Blush and Ivory
- US 7 – 4.5mm hook, or appropriate size for your yarn
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
Abbreviations
This tutorial uses US crochet terms
- Stitch(es): st(s)
- Skip: sk
- Chain: ch
- Single crochet: sc
Pattern Notes
Although we’ll be making a washcloth today, this pattern is super easy to adapt to any project you may want to make. The only requirement is to begin with an even number of chains.
My washcloth measures about 8.5″ square. Gauge isn’t super important for this pattern, however, if you want your piece to come out the same size you will need to meet the following gauge:
21 stitches x 19 rows = 4″ in Moss Stitch
Moss Stitch Crochet Tutorial
To begin, chain 48 in Color 1 (Warm Blush).
Row 1: Sc in the 4th ch from the hook, *ch 1, sk 1 ch, sc into next st. Repeat from * to end. Your last sc should land in the last ch.
Row 2-7: Ch 2, turn. Sc in the ch 1 space from the previous row, *ch 1, sk sc from previous row, sc in ch 1 space from previous row, repeat from * to last ch 1 space, ch 1, sc in space between last sc and turning ch.
On Row 7, change to Color 2 (Ivory) in the very last stitch. To change colors, insert your hook in the last space, yarn over and draw up a loop. You should have two loops on your hook. Lay the new color over your hook, and pull through both loops on your hook. Tighten as needed.
Row 8-9: Repeat Row 2. Change back to Color 1 on the last stitch of Row 9.
Row 10-26: Repeat Row 2. Change back to Color 2 on the last stitch of Row 26.
Row 27-28: Repeat Row 2. Change back to Color 1 on the last stitch of Row 28.
Row 29-35: Repeat Row 2.
Fasten off and weave in ends.
And there you have a beautiful cotton washcloth!
Crochet Moss Stitch Video Tutorial
Below is a video tutorial on how to crochet the Moss Stitch, and it includes instructions for changing colors.
I’d love to chat and see what you make!