Crochet Basics: Box Stitch

The Box Stitch is very original and so beautiful! It certainly deserves to be even more popular among crocheters than it is right now. The box stitch creates a dense and warm textured fabric.

This stitch is pretty in a single color yarn. It really comes into its own when worked in rows of graduating colors, or in alternating colors.

Instructions

Foundation Chain: Multiples of 10 + 2

Row 1: Skip 1ch, * 1sc in next, skip 4ch, shell in next, skip 4ch; rep from *, 1sc in last ch, turn.

Row 2: Make 1ch, 1sc in first sc, * work 1FPsc over each of the next 5dc, 1ch, 1FPsc over each of the next 5dc, 1FPsc over sc below; rep from *, 1FPsc over each of the next 5dc, 1ch, 1FPsc over each of the next 5dc, 1sc in last sc, turn.

Row 3: Make 4ch, 1dc in first sc, * 3ch, 1sc in space of 1ch, 3ch, skip 5FPsc and work 1dc + 2ch + 1dc in next st; rep from *, 3ch, 1sc in space of 1ch, 3ch, work 1dc + 1ch + 1dc in last sc, turn.

Row 4: Make 1ch, 1sc in first dc, 1ch, 1sc in next dc, * 3ch, 1sc in next sc, 3ch, 1sc in dc, 2ch, 1sc in next dc; rep from*, 3ch, 1sc in sc, 3ch, 1sc in dc, 1ch, 1sc in third ch, turn.

Row 5: Make 4ch, skip one row and work 5dc in space between 4ch and dc of row 3

* skip three rows and work 1sc in shell of next row below (in space of 1ch between dc), skip one row and work shell in space of 2 ch of next row below; rep from *, skip three rows and work 1sc in shell of next row below, skip one row and work 5dc in space of 1ch of next row below, 1ch, make 1dc in last sc of previous row, turn.

Row 6: Make 2ch, * work 1FPsc over each of the next 5dc, 1FPsc over sc below, 1FPsc over each of the next 5dc, 1ch; rep from *, work 1sc in third ch, turn.

Row 7: Make 1ch, 1sc in first sc, * 3ch, skip 5FPsc and work 1dc + 2ch + 1dc in next st, 3ch, 1sc in space of 1ch; rep from *, work last sc in first ch at the end of the row and turn.

Row 8: Make 1ch, * 1sc in sc, 3ch, 1sc in dc, 2ch, 1sc in next dc, 3ch; rep from*, 1sc in last sc, turn.

Row 9: Make 1ch, skip three rows and work 1sc in space between 4ch and 5dc of next row below,

* skip one row and work shell in space of 2 ch of next row 5, skip three rows and work 1sc in shell of next row below; rep from *, skip one row and work shell in space of 2 ch of next row below, skip three rows and work 1sc in space of 1ch between 5dc and last dc of row 5, turn.

Repeat rows 2 - 9 until you have reached your desired length.

Finishing after 2nd or 6th row.

Making straight edge.

Instead row 2 work next: 4ch, 1tr/dc in first dc/sc, * 3ch, 1dc/sc in shell below, 3ch, skip 5FPdc/sc and work 1tr/dc + 2ch + 1tr/dc in next st; rep from *, 3ch, 1dc/sc in shell, 3ch, work 1tr/dc + 1ch + 1tr/dc in last dc/sc.

Instead row 7 work next: 1ch, 1dc/sc in space of 4ch, * 3ch, skip 5FPdc/sc and work 1tr/dc + 2ch + 1tr/dc in next st, 3ch, 1dc/sc in shell; rep from *, skip one row and work last dc/sc in space of 1ch (between 5tr/dc and last tr/dc) at the end of the row.