Crochet Basics: Camel Stitch

Crochet is an art form, a passion, a therapy, whatever you want to call it, to me it is the most fun you can have with yarn. So, let’s continue to create yarn magic, one stitch at a time! Today’s stitch is the Camel Stitch. The Camel Stitch is a beautifully braid-like stitch which gives the look of knitting. This stitch is great for whole projects and also incorporated into blankets as a simple but effective border, cuffs on a garments or bands on a hat. Perfect for scarves, cushions, and bags.

You may use any hook and yarn combination though for your project! The camel stitch lends itself to a variety of yarn weights, from very fine to a super bulky.

This stitch works best in the round and is a variation on half double crochet. The only difference is where you insert your hook to start the stitch. However, it is possible to work into the third loop when crocheting flat, the look is different. If you want to try this flat, you can either crochet each row like you will do for each round (creating more of a ribbed look) or you can alternate working into the third loop on the front for one row and the back for the next. Try these methods to see what you like!

Instructions

1. Start camel stitch by chaining any number of stitches. Join the stitches with slip stitch, being careful not to twist the stitches. Next work a round of half double crochet stitches and slip stitch to join. Chain two to start the next round.

2. For this round, you will work half double crochet stitches again, but working into the third loop. Normally, you would insert your hook through the V at the top of the stitch from the previous round. For camel stitch, look for the angled stitch below the V. You can see this third loop just above the thumb in the photo above. Yarn over and insert your hook in the third loop.

3. From this point, the rest of the stitch is like a standard half double crochet. Yarn over and draw up a loop.

4. Finish the half double crochet by wrapping the yarn over once more and then draw the yarn through all three loops on the hook.

5. Continue working camel stitches in the same way, working one stitch into the third loop on each half double crochet from the previous round. When you look at the opposite side of your work, you should start to see the Vs pushing over and forming the look of this stitch.

6. At the end of each round, slip stitch to join and chain two to begin the next round. As you work this new round, follow the same steps, working half double crochets into the third loop. Be sure to practice this stitch so you can work out the gauge and keep your stitches even. As you work, what you see is the wrong side of the crochet.

7. When you flip the crochet, it reveals the right side of camel stitch, which has rows of Vs that look similar to knitting.

8. These rows go horizontally instead of vertically as they would on knitting, but that's part of why you would want to learn different methods!