How to Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch
Once you’ve learned just a few basic crochet stitches, you can create fabrics with so many different textures. One of my favorites is the single double combination stitch. This stitch may go by a variety of other names including crochet lemon peel stitch, seed stitch, and waffle stitch. If you know how to crochet a chain and work both single crochet and double crochet then you can create this wonderful texture. It’s a great way to make your beginner crochet work look a bit more advanced.
What Is Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch?
Crochet lemon peel stitch, which I’ve usually called single double combination stitch, is – as the name suggests – a combination of single and double crochet stitches. Specifically, you chain an odd number of chains to start a project. Then you work single crochet in the second chain from the hook, double crochet in the following chain, and continue to alternate single crochet and double crochet stitches in each stitch across the row. You’ll end that row with a double crochet stitch.
Then you’ll chain one to turn. Single crochet into the first stitch (which is a double crochet stitch.) Double crochet into the next stitch (which is a single crochet stitch.) Alternate single crochet and double crochet across the row. You’ll again end with a double crochet stitch. Always work singles into doubles and doubles into singles.
Keep repeating that again and again, row after row, to create the crochet lemon peel stitch fabric.
How to Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch Video
For those of you who tend to be visual learners, here’s a video tutorial:
Why Does This Crochet Stitch Have So Many Names?
Over the years, many different people have come up with similar ideas about how to combine basic crochet stitches. Therefore, lots of people have worked this single double crochet stitch combination. Unfortunately, there’s no standard naming system for stitch patterns such as this. As a result, designers over the years have learned the same stitch by different names. They’ve also come up with their own names for the same stitch pattern. So, while you often see this called the seed stitch, is also called the crochet lemon peel stitch, the waffle stitch, etc. There are actually many other names it goes by.
What gets confusing if you try to go by the name, though, is that the designer might use the same name for a different stitch pattern. For example, they may call it seed stitch, but have you single crochet, double crochet into the same stitch, then skip a stitch, and repeat that across the row. So, if you see someone’s pattern say, “use crochet lemon peel stitch” or “use crochet moss stitch” (or linen stitch, griddle stitch, etc.) then you have to make sure that you look at their “special stitches” notes to find out what they mean.
In other words, this is usually how you crochet lemon peel stitch. However, you want to double check the design notes on a pattern before making the assumption that the designer means for you to crochet single, then double, across the row.
Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch Patterns
I really love to use this texture. It’s a great texture for all types of different projects. For example, as a beginner crochet, perhaps one in BiCrafty Bootcamp, you might want to make crochet mug rugs or facecloths using this stitch pattern. Here are a couple of my patterns also based on this repeating stitch:
The Cuddles Baby Blanket pattern is available on Ravelry. When complete, this blanket measures approximately forty square inches. It’s my go-to baby blanket pattern.
The Denver Football Free Crochet Scarf pattern, also known as The Game Day Scarf, is a single double combination crochet stitch scarf pattern. Change up the colors to represent your favorite team or holiday.
This free crochet purse pattern is a colorful striped option for that terrific texture.
This free crochet hat pattern is available for sizes 3 months through adult. Make one for everyone in the family. This one is also great for gifting.
Learn how to add a thrum to crochet mittens. And use color changes with the crochet lemon peel stitch to showcase the details of the design.
