The Savvy Single Crochet Stitch

By Karen Ratto-Whooley

Single Crochet Stitch or Double Crochet Stitches

The savvy single crochet is based on the American single crochet (UK/ International know it as the double crochet). By changing the placement of your stitches and using a larger size hook than you would normally with the yarn you are using, the fabric gives the look of knit, with a softer drape and feel.

Another feature of using this technique is that you use less yarn than you would in normal crochet. The larger hook size and the “taller” stitches allow your item to be completed more quickly too.

Originally, these stitches were found in the early 1990s in Afghanistan. Over the decades, there have been many who have tried to clarify and improve upon the stitches. What you will find here are three of the original stitches with clearer names and explanations. Once you learn the basic terminology, creating the stitches is easy!

TERMINOLOGY

As with learning any crochet technique, there are always new terms and abbreviations to learn. That is no different with the savvy single crochet. The table below includes all the terms and abbreviations that I will be using in this article.

WORKING IN THE END LOOPSPhotoA-EndLoops

Because in working these stitches you are always skipping the first stitch of the row (when working in rows), you will have to add a stitch to the end of each row. The skipped stitch of the previous row will create two visible loops called the End Loops (EL), shown in Photo A.

 

REAR BUMP OF THE CHAIN

In traditional crochet, the foundation row is worked with the front of the starting chain facing forward, shown in Photo B.

PhotoB

To create the base for the stitches, the starting chain is turned backward. You will notice in Photo C that there are loops/nubs coming through the center that join the chains together. These are the Rear Bumps or Back Bars of the Chain (RBC).

BackBarofChain

 

PhotoC1

WORKING IN THE REAR LOOP OF THE STITCH

In traditional crochet, stitches are worked on top of each other through the front and back loops of the stitches of the previous row/round, shown in Photo D.

PhotoD-BackFrontLoops

With these stitches, you will work your single crochets in the loop on the back side of the stitch just underneath the back loop of the stitch, shown in Photo E. This is the Rear Loop of the Stitch (RLS).

PhotoE-RearLoopStitch

LEARNING THE STITCHES

We will start off with this technique by learning three of my favorite stitches.

THE KNITTED SINGLE STITCH

KnittedSingleStitch

Ch 20.

Row 1: Work 1 sc in RBC of each ch across, turn. (20 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in RLS in 2nd sc from hook and in each sc across, sc in EL that forms at end of row, turn. Repeat row 2 for pattern.

THE V-KNIT STITCH

V-KnitStitch

Ch 20.

Row 1: Work 1 sc in RBC of each ch across, turn. (20 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in RLS and BOTH lps in 2nd sc from hook and in each sc across, sc in EL that forms at end of row, turn. Repeat row 2 for Pattern.

THE TWISTED STITCH

TwistedStitch

Ch 20.

Row 1: Work 1 sc in RBC of each ch across, turn. (20 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, inserting hook from top to bottom, work sc in RLS in 2nd sc from hook and in each sc across, sc in EL that forms at end of row, turn. Repeat row 2 for pattern.

SOME TIPS TO KEEP YOU IN STITCHES

One of the hardest parts of the single crochet stitch technique is keeping the sides straight. There are some tips I can leave you with to prevent losing stitches.

1. Use stitch markers on either side to mark the End Loops. If you have these end loops marked with a different color marker on either side, you can also tell if you are on an even row or an odd row.

2. Don’t forget to skip the first stitch. This is the most common reason that a piece grows. Even when increasing, you still want to skip that first stitch because working in that first stitch is not only difficult, but it creates an edge that is not smooth.

3. Keep the turning chain loose. By keeping that turning chain loose, you can see that end loop much easier, not to mention that it will be easier to insert your hook in that space.

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