How to Crochet the Broken Shell Stitch Photo Tutorial

The Broken Shell Stitch is an easy open stitch. It can easily be worked in one color or combining different colors depending on the project and desired effect.

Great for shawls and summer garments.

Learn how to crochet the Broken Shell Stitch with this photo tutorial.

Materials

• 5.5 mm / US I – 9 hook.
• Worsted weight yarn. I used WeCrochet Dishie (worsted weight, 100% cotton, 174 m/190 yd, 100g/3.5 Oz) which has an amazing stitch definition which really helps when learning new stitches.
• Tapestry needle to weave in the ends.

Size

The pattern is written for a 15cm by 15cm / 6” by 6” square. You can easily adapt the size to your desired project size with the stitch multiple info below.

Stitch Multiple

The pattern needs a multiple of 5 + 1 number of stitches; your starting chain will be a multiple of 5 + 3 for an extra turning chain.

Gauge

The gauge for this pattern is 20 st by 5.5 rows in stitch pattern for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”).

Abbreviations

• st = stitch
• ch = chain
• dc = double crochet
• skip = miss

Notes

• Work instructions between [] the indicated number of times or until the end of the row.
• The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the row between < >.
• The turning ch 1, ch 2, ch 3 don’t count as a stitch throughout the pattern except if mentioned otherwise.
• Stitches above a ch-1 space are worked in the ch-1 space except if mentioned otherwise.
• The pattern is written in crochet shorthand. For example: “sc 1” means to single crochet in the next stitch, “sc 2” means to single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches, and “2 sc” means to single crochet twice in the next st.

Special Stitches

Shell = (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) worked in the same st

Instructions

With your 5.5mm / US I- 9 hook ch 29 with color A,

Row 1: Dc in third ch from hook, skip 2, shell in next st, [skip 4, shell in next st] across ending with 3 chains after last shell, skip 2, dc in last ch. <5 shells + 2 dc>

Switch to color B.

Row 2: Ch 2, dc, shell in each shell’s ch-3 space across, dc in last dc, turn.

Repeat Row 2 with color C then alternate colors A, B, C until you reach 15 cm / 6”.