How to Crochet Delicate Shell Stitch

The Delicate Shell Stitch is a beautiful crochet stitch featuring easy stitches that form little shells. The delicate shells create a pretty design that is the same on both the front and the back. It is a solid fabric but has the feel of a crochet lace. You may use any hook and yarn combination you choose.

Techniques used in this pattern (British term / American term):

Chain Stitch – ch

Double crochet / single crochet – dc/sc

Treble / double crochet – tr/dc

Popcorn stitch pf 4dc/sc – ppn: work 4dc/sc in same back loop of next st, drop loop from hook.

Instructions

Insert hook from back to front under top 2 loops of first dc/sc of group and grab dropped loop.

Stitch – st

Foundation Chain: 20 + 2 chs

Row 1: skip 2 ch, 1dc/sc in each of the next 7ch, * skip 2ch, 1tr/dc + 1ch + 1tr/dc in next, skip 2ch, 1dc/sc in each of the next 15ch; rep from*, skip 2ch, 1tr/dc + 1ch + 1tr/dc in next, skip 2ch, 1dc/sc in each of the next 8ch, turn.

Row 2: make 2ch. * Making Big shell: [ 1dc/sc in next st, 2ch, skip 2st ] – work 2 times, dc/sc in next, 3ch, skip two tr/dc with 1ch between and work 1dc/sc in next dc/sc, turn.

Work 7tr/dc in space of 1ch (between two tr/dc below), 1dc/sc in next dc/sc below and turn.

Work 1ppn + 1ch in back loop of each of next 6tr/dc below, make 1ppn in last tr/dc. Skip 2dc/sc and work 1dc/sc in next st, 2ch, skip 2st, 1dc/sc in next, turn.

Work 1tr/dc + 2ch in each of next 6ppn, 1tr/dc in last ppn. Work 1dc/sc in next dc/sc below, turn.

[ Work 1dc/sc in next tr/dc and 2dc/sc in space of 2ch] – make 6 times, 1ds/sc in last tr/dc, work 1dc/sc in next dc/sc below.

Rep from *. Work 1dc/sc in 2nd ch, turn.

Row 3: make 4ch, 1tr/dc in foundation ch (begin in same foundation ch as first dc/sc of Row 1 - see picture) {{ for all next rows: in back loop of last dc/sc of Row 4, Row 8, ect.}}

* skip 2 dc/sc and work 1dc/sc in back loop of the each of the next 15 st,

work 1tr/dc + 1ch + 1tr/dc in middle foundation ch (begin in same foundation ch as 8th dc/sc of 15dc/sc of Row 1 - see picture) {{ for all next rows: in back loop of 10th(middle) dc/sc of 19dc/sc of Row 4, Row 8, ect.}}; rep from *.

At the end of the row work: 1tr/dc + 1ch in last foundation ch {{ for all next rows: in back loop of first dc/sc of 10dc/sc of Row 4, Row 8, ect.}} , 1tr/dc in 2nd ch, turn.

Row 4:

First shell: 3ch, skip two tr/dc with 1ch between and work 1dc/sc in next dc/sc below, turn. Work 4tr/dc in space of 1ch (between two tr/dc below), 1tr/dc in 3rd ch, turn.

Make 1ch and skip first tr/dc, work 1ppn + 1ch in back loop of each of next 3tr/dc below, make 1ppn in last tr/dc. Skip 2dc/sc and work 1dc/sc in next st, 2ch, skip 2st, 1dc/sc in next, turn.

Work 1tr/dc + 2ch in each of next 3ppn, 1tr/dc in last ppn, turn.

Make 1ch, [ work 1dc/sc in next tr/dc and 2dc/sc in space of 2ch] – make 3 times, 1ds/sc in last tr/dc, work 1dc/sc in next dc/sc below.

Work Big shells. Repeat steps from * to * of Row 2.

Last shell:

Make [ 1dc/sc in next st, 2ch, skip 2st ] – work 2 times, 1dc/sc in next st, 2ch, work 1dc/sc in 3rd ch, turn. Work 3ch and 4tr/dc in space of 4ch and tr/dc below, 1dc/sc in next dc/sc below, turn.

Work 1ppn + 1ch in back loop of each of next 3tr/dc below, make 1ppn in last tr/dc, turn.

Make 5ch, work 1tr/dc + 2ch in each of next 2ppn, 1tr/dc in last ppn. Work 1dc/sc in next dc/sc below, turn. [ Work 1dc/sc in next tr/dc and 2dc/sc in space of 2ch] – make 3 times, 1ds/sc in third ch, turn.

Row 5: 2ch, work 1dc/sc in back loop of each of next 7st, * work 1tr/dc + 1ch + 1tr/dc in back loop of 10th(middle) dc/sc of 19dc/sc of Row 2(see picture). Skip 2st and work 1dc/sc in back loop of the each of the next 15 st; rep form *, work 1tr/dc + 1ch + 1tr/dc in back loop of 10th(middle) dc/sc of 19dc/sc of Row 2 and work 1dc/sc in back loop of the each of the next 8st, turn.

Repeat rows 2 – 5 until you have reached your desired length.