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23 Free Pirate, Skull and Skeleton Knit and Crochet Patterns

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Pirates often have skulls and crossbones on their flags, which go nicely with skeletons! Get your pirate, skeleton and skull patterns together.

23 Free Pirate, Skull and Skeleton Knit and Crochet Patterns

Pirate

Pirates are a perennially popular costume! For people and puppies, here are pirate costumes and a blanket.

Child's Pirate Costume Free Crochet Pattern

Skulls and Skeletons

With full skeletons or just skulls, decorate your home and your clothing and your candy bag this Halloween!

Skeleton Banner Free Knitting Pattern

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How to Crochet in Spaces and Stitches to Make Shells and Granny Stitch (BiCrafty Bootcamp: Beginner Crochet Lessons for Knitters: Lesson 3)

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Can you believe how much we’ve already learned in BiCrafty Bootcamp: Beginner Crochet Lessons for Knitters? We’re only on lesson three and you’ve already learned all of the basic crochet stitches. Plus, you’ve made a crochet headband and facecloth. We’ve been crocheting one stitch into each stitch across a row. This week you’ll learn how to crochet in spaces and stitches. Moreover, you’ll learn how to use chain stitches in a row to create larger spaces. You’ll also learn how to crochet multiple stitches into a space or stitch. As a result, you’ll be able to crochet shell stitches and the granny stitch by the end of this lesson (and one more surprise stitch).

It’s not too late to join BiCrafty Bootcamp. Sign up free here.

camouflage background with Marly Bird Logo on top. BiCrafty Bootcamp Beginner Crochet Lessons for Knitters is written under the Marly Bird Logo.
Click here to get all the details about BiCrafty Bootcamp as a whole.

BiCrafty Bootcamp Recap

— Lesson One was to learn how to crochet basics. We gave you our Ultimate Guide to Crochet Hooks as well as chart about crochet hook sizes. Big shoutout to our sponsor WeCrochet where you can get terrific crochet hooks, the yarn for BiCrafty Bootcamp projects and more. You learned how to hold your hook and yarn, crochet a foundation chain, single crochet stitch, and use turning chains. If you followed the pattern, you crocheted a headband. Perhaps you even made a single crochet dishcloth if you were going for extra credit.

— Lesson Two expanded upon those basic skills and used them in a beginner crochet facecloth pattern. You learned how to half double crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet. Then you learned how to combine those stitches across the row to create the Long Wave Crochet Stitch. This gave you a chance to learn more about turning chains. Plus, you’ve now learned about reading crochet charts and patterns. You did so with two colors, so you also learned how to change colors in crochet. Finally, you learned how to count rows in crochet.

How to Read Crochet Charts

We’ve already shown you a lot about how to read crochet charts in the past two week’s videos. We’re going to continue showing you more of that in this week’s video lesson (which you’ll find below, underneath the two patterns). A lot of you are finding this helpful as a supplement or even alternative to reading the written instructions.

Counting Stitches and Rows

Last week’s video provided you with lots of great tips about how to count rows in crochet. If you missed that, it’s really helpful.

This week we touch a little bit on how to make it easier to count stitches within a row. You can use a stitch marker to mark every five or ten stitches in a row. You should put stitch markers on either end of the work anyway to help you keep it straight; this will easily tell you if your count is going awry. We discussed that tip in Lesson One. Someone in the chat also mentioned that there are stitch counters you can wear on your finger to count easily. And the main thing is that the more you get used to crochet, the easier it’ll be for you to keep count.

How to Crochet in Spaces

This week you’ll learn how to crochet in spaces. You can work into many different aspects of each stitch. We’ve been working through both loops of a stitch so far. We spoke briefly about how you can work in one loop only to create different texture. You can also learn how to crochet in spaces (between the stitches) rather than into the stitch itself.

You’ll work the same basic crochet stitches (such as single crochet or double crochet). However, you’ll insert the hook into the space between stitches. You’ll also learn how to use crochet chains within the row to create larger spaces.

How to Crochet Multiple Stitches Into One Space or Stitch

Once you learn how to crochet in spaces, you give yourself a lot of fresh options for variations on basic crochet stitches. You can expand this even more when you learn how to crochet multiple stitches into one space or stitch.

For example, you’ll learn how to crochet three double crochet into one space to create the granny stitch. (This popular stitch looks similar to the classic granny square, but is worked in rows instead of in the round. You’ll learn the granny square itself a few lessons down the road.)

Similarly this week, you’ll learn how to crochet 5 double crochet stitches together in one space or stitch. This allows you to create the crochet shell stitch. There are many variations on the shell stitch but this one is a very common option. You’ll use chains to create spaces as well as to keep your stitch count even across the entire row.

Here is a video Marly did for a cute shell stitch pattern used on a crochet baby blanket. Spoiler alert: she used stacked stitches in this pattern which we will talk about later.


Lesson 3 Crochet Bootcamp Patterns: Materials

When possible, we have provided affiliate links for items. Using these links does not cost you anything more but it does let the company know you came there from us and we get a portion of the sale.

We have two crochet patterns for homework this week. The granny stitch headband will help you practice how to crochet in spaces. Both it and the crochet shell facecloth pattern will allow you to practice crocheting multiple stitches into a space or stitch.

You’ll need:

Yarn: 1 ball of WeCrochet Dishie Yarn, any color (one ball is enough to complete both patterns)

Hook: 1 Size G (4.0mm) crochet hook (WeCrochet Hook, TooShay Crochet Hook)

Notions: Locking stitch markers from WeCrochet, Chenille and tapestry needles for weaving in ends

Pattern #1: Granny / Headwrap for Self Care

crochet stitch diagram of the Granny Lace Stitch pattern; sometimes called granny stitch pattern.

Ch 55

(Tip: In the video instruction, we discuss how you can actually chain extras to give yourself room to work in case you miss a chain, which is easy to do. Then you can either skip a chain at the end or undo the extra chains.) Stitch Multiple for Granny Lace Stitch is 4 + 3.

Row 1 (RS): 3 dc in 5th ch from hook, * ch 1, skip 3 ch, 3 dc in next ch; repeat from * to last 2 ch, skip 1 ch, dc in last ch, ch 4, turn — 13 granny sets.

Row 2 (WS): Skip 3 dc, *3 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip 3 dc; repeat from * to last st, dc in 3rd ch of tch, ch 3, turn — 12 granny sets.

Row 3 (RS): *3 dc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip 3 dc; repeat from * to last ch-1 sp, 3 dc in next ch-1 sp, dc in 3rd ch of tch, ch 4, do not turn, rotate the work 90 degrees to work along short edge — 13 granny sets.

????Stop here for headband.

If you wanted to continue in the pattern, repeat rows 2 and 3 (turning on row 3 if continuing) for desired length ending after a row 3.

Continue Pattern instructions for Headband

We’re going to make headband ties similar to those we made for the headband in Lesson One.

1st Side Edge

Working into the short edge,

Row 1 (RS): 2 sc into the edge of each row, 1 sc in foundation chain, ch 1, turn — 7 single crochet

Row 2 (WS): Sc2tog, sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn — 5 single crochet.

Row 3: Sc2tog, sc in next sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn — 3 single crochet.

Row 4: Sc3tog — 1 single crochet

1st Finishing ties or no ties (see both options)

Option 1: After the single crochet 3 together, chain 50. Fasten off.

Option 2: Fasten off. Make I-cord 15″ (38 cm) long. Seam to edging.

2nd Side Edging

Turn 180 degrees to other short edge.

Row 1 (RS): Join yarn with a slip stitch in foundation chain edge, ch 1 and sc in same chain, 2 sc into the edge of each row, ch 1, turn — 7 single crochet

Row 2 (WS): Sc2tog, sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn — 5 single crochet.

Row 3: Sc2tog, sc in next sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn — 3 single crochet.

Row 4: Sc3tog — 1 single crochet

2nd Finishing ties or no ties (see both options)

Choose same option as you did for the 1st side edging.

Option 1: After the single crochet 3 together, chain 50. Fasten off.

Option 2: Fasten off. Make I-cord 15″ (38 cm) long. Seam to edging.

Weave in all ends.

NOTE: You can also make a longer headband, then simply seam the two short ends together to create a headband without ties. Begin with a chain that’s a multiple of 4 + 2. Then do the same thing as above or the pattern. You’ll have to fiddle around to find the right size but you’ll get it! We also discussed in chat that this is a great stitch pattern to create a long garland, for example to wrap around a Christmas tree.

Pattern #2: Crochet Shell Facecloth to Match Headband

crochet stitch diagram of the Nesting Shell Stitch pattern

Chain a multiple of 6 + 4. You can make this facecloth as wide as you want with a starting chain length of your choosing.

Row 1 (RS): 2 dc in 4th ch from hook (skipped 3 ch count as dc), * skip 2 ch, sc in next ch, skip 2 ch, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch; repeat form * to last 6 ch, skip 2 ch, sc in next ch, skip 2 ch, 3 dc in next ch, ch 1, turn — stitch count depends on how many you chained to begin with for the foundation chain.

Row 2 (WS): Sc in first dc, skip 2 dc, * (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next sc, skip 2 dc, sc in next ch-1 sp, skip 2 dc; repeat from * to last sc, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in last sc, skip 2 dc, sc in 3rd ch of tch, ch 3, turn.

Row 3 (RS): 2 dc in first sc (ch 3 counts as dc now and throughout), skip 2 dc, * sc in next ch-1 sp, skip 2 dc, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next sc, skip 2 dc; repeat from * to last ch-1 sp, sc in last ch-1 space, skip 2 dc, 3 dc in last sc, ch 1, turn.

Repeats Row 2 and 3 to desired length. Recommended facecloth size is approximately 10″ x 10″ but this is flexible.

Once the facecloth is desired size, fasten off yarn.

Weave in ends.

BiCrafty Bootcamp Lesson 3 Video Instruction

Here’s our video instruction (originally LIVE but of course still available for replay on YouTube) for how to crochet in spaces and work multiple stitches into spaces and and stitches to create crochet shells and granny stitch:

Additional Videos and Patterns You’re Ready For

You can already complete so many different crochet patterns thanks to your knowledge of basic crochet stitches. In fact, we updated the links at the bottom of Lesson 2’s post to give you more to practice with. We also created a post about how to crochet lemon peel stitch. This post also has lots of crochet patterns that you can use. Now that you know how to crochet in spaces and crochet multiple stitches in one space or stitch, you can also enjoy the following:

➡️ Need a Left Handed Video for Shawl: https://youtu.be/HQ63G2EqNtE

Right Handed Video for Shivering Chic Shawl — Granny Stitch Shawl by Marly Bird

How to Seam Crochet: Mattress Stitch (Plus Lace-Up Stitch Variation), Slip Stitch and Single Crochet Join Video Tutorials

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You put a lot of effort into creating a good crochet project. Therefore, you want to make sure that you know how to do the finishing touches correctly. After all, you don’t want your work to look shoddy or fall apart because you failed to put the attention into those details. Therefore, you want to learn how to seam crochet. In other words, you want to learn how to stitch together different pieces – to attach sleeves to the body of a sweater, join squares for a blanket, or stitch the short sides of a rectangle together to create a headband or cowl. You have several different options for how to seam crochet. I show you three of them in this video tutorial.

crochet seaming options

3 Ways for How to Seam Crochet with Mattress Stitch

Crochet seaming simply means attaching one piece of crochet to another. There are a variety of different ways that you can approaching seaming, also sometimes called joining. For example, some seams are designed to be invisible whereas others are designed as decorative details. Often times people will use a simple slip stitch join, a classic whipstitch join, or a more textured single crochet join.

Mattress Stitch for Seaming Crochet

The mattress stitch is a flat, nearly invisible crochet seaming option. People use this when they want a durable join on any type of project. Whether you want invisible seams between motifs on a blanket or you want to crochet a sweater without an obvious join between its body and arms, mattress stitch will work for you. In fact, I show you how to seam a crochet sweater with mattress stitch on my Xanadu Pullover free crochet pattern.

Mattress stitch, also sometimes called woven stitch looks a little bit like a lace-up stitch. Think about when you lace up your shoes. It looks like that. In fact, sometimes I’ll refer to it as the lace-up stitch. You’ll put two pieces of crochet together, right side up. Then you’ll stitch them together in lace-up fashion, working entirely on the right side of the work. And yet, because of the loops you use and the stitch you’re working with, you get a naturally invisible seam.

As you’ll see in the video below, there are different ways to work the mattress stitch. Which you choose often depends on the stitches that you’re working into on the pieces that you’re joining. Additionally, you may work in different parts of the stitch loops. I’ve explained in the video why I might choose one over the other. I’ve also shown which particular version I most often tend to call “lace-up stitch.”

Video Tutorial for 3 Ways to Seam Crochet with Mattress Stitch

How to Join Crochet 3 Ways for Seaming

As I said, you can also choose really simple seaming options such as the slip stitch or single crochet join. In this video, for seaming together my crochet stitch sampler baby blanket squares, I show you those two options. I also show you mattress stitch / lace-up stitch again. With all of these options for how to seam crochet at your disposal, you’ll be able to finish a variety of different project types to perfection.

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Seed Stitch Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern

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The Cuddles Baby Blanket is one of my favorite crochet patterns that I’ve designed. It’s a seed stitch crochet baby blanket pattern. Therefore, it’s got an interesting look and texture. However, it’s still easy enough for beginner crocheters to make. It’s a big enough project to keep you occupied but not so large that you get overwhelmed and bogged down. If you have any babies at all in your life, they need this blanket. And of course it also works as a lapghan for bigger folks.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a percentage of sales from those links. Thanks for supporting my work in this way if you can.

seed stitch baby blanket crochet pattern

My Favorite Crochet Stitch Pattern

This seed stitch crochet baby blanket pattern uses my very favorite simple crochet stitch pattern. Obviously, it’s called seed stitch. However, you might know it by a different name as well: crochet lemon peel stitch, griddle stitch, waffle stitch, or single double combination crochet stitch, just to name a few. Whatever you call it, it’s a great, easy stitch pattern.

Basically, you alternate single crochet stitches and double crochet stitches across each row. You place them so that you always work opposite stitches into one another. In other words, if you see a double crochet, you work a single crochet into it. And vice versa, of course. This creates a fabulous texture. It’s not any harder than making a blanket entirely in single crochet stitches or entirely in double crochet stitches, both of which are super easy options. However, it looks and feels a lot more interesting when it’s complete. Babies will love to touch the blanket you create with this seed stitch crochet baby blanket pattern. And yet it’s dense enough fabric that their little fingers won’t poke through and get stuck.

Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted

In terms of the stitch pattern, you could use almost any yarn for this seed stitch crochet baby blanket pattern. However, you always want to be careful when selecting yarn for baby blankets. After all, babies have sensitive skin. Moreover, mothers of babies often want durable, washable blankets. Therefore, you have to select the yarn carefully.

I chose Plymouth Yarn Encore for this baby blanket pattern. It’s a great worsted weight yarn that is nice and cuddly. It’s 75% acrylic and 25% wool. The wool makes it extra comfy without becoming scratchy. The acrylic makes it durable. This blanket will stand the test of time. It’s a machine washable yarn. Not only that; you can dry this blanket in the machine as well. Just tumble dry on low. This makes many moms happy.

Make The Blanket Bigger!

That said, feel free to swap out the yarn as you see fit. You’ll want a worsted weight yarn if you’re seeking to make the blanket the same size as the pattern intends. Worked to gauge, it’s about 40″ square. Of course, you could use a super bulky or jumbo yarn and create a much larger blanket with the exact same pattern. That’s a really cozy choice for a winter throw for older kids and even adults. You could also work the pattern double-stranded for a thicker, bigger blanket. Of course, you’ll use a larger crochet hook than the size H called for in the pattern. This is a very flexible pattern so have fun with it.

Get The Seed Stitch Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern

crochet lemon peel stitch baby blanket pattern

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Griddle Stitch Crochet Hat Pattern!

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When We Were Young is a free griddle stitch crochet hat pattern. Using single crochet and double crochet stitches, it’s a perfect beginner crochet pattern. However, it’s also a great project for more advanced crocheters who want a simple project. Written for baby sizes 3-6 months through an adult large, it works well as a gift for anyone. Plus, you only need one ball of yarn to make. For a special decorative touch, attach your favorite buttons. See below for a messy bun hat variation on this griddle stitch crochet hat pattern.

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links that help me cover the cost of publishing my blog. Should you choose to make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small percentage of the sale.

Queue it up and Like the Pattern on Ravelry

About the Griddle Stitch Crochet Hat Pattern

griddle stitch crochet hat pattern

????GET THE FREE PATTERN HERE????

Like many of you, I have single skeins and balls of yarn around my craft room that would be perfect for a one-ball project. However, I can never find a project I like. Then, the other day I saw this cute ball of Red Heart Yarn With Love Metallic yarn sitting on my desk and I thought it would make a wonderful easy crochet hat pattern! After all, if you don’t see a crochet pattern you like, then it’s smart just to make one!

I picked up my hook and started with the single crochet ribbing stitch for the hat’s cuff. I really like this cuff because it doesn’t pull in too much and isn’t too terribly long to make. Once I had the cuff the perfect length (just long enough to go around my head a little snuggly), I had to choose the stitch pattern I wanted to use. 

What is the Griddle Stitch?

For those of you who don’t know, the Griddle Stitch (sometimes called the Lemon Peel Stitch or crochet seed stitch) is one of my favorite stitch patterns. I love the texture of the resulting fabric. Moreover, I think it is fairly easy to crochet without much extra effort. 

Basically, you just alternate single crochet and double crochet stitches across the row. In this griddle stitch crochet hat pattern, you use it for the body of the hat. It works really well in combination with that single crochet ribbed stitch; they complement one another nicely. It’s just really great texture all around.

If you are looking for more patterns where I used this stitch pattern, I used it on my Cuddles Baby Blanket and my Crochet Thrummed Mittens patterns. 

Once I decided on the griddle stitch, I knew I could make this hat absolutely perfect with a crown that has a fun shape due to the crochet decreases being paired up to maintain the stitch pattern. That’s what makes this griddle stitch crochet hat pattern a little bit special.

Can I Make The Griddle Stitch Crochet Hat Pattern a Messy Bun Hat?

Oh, are you a fan of the crochet messy bun hat patterns? This one can easily be made into a messy bun hat. I put the instructions for how to do that right into the pattern. After all, I really like to be able to give you a lot of options to vary up a crochet pattern. If you like the griddle stitch crochet hat pattern but want a messy bun hat, no problem at all.

Does It Come With a Crochet Chart?

Also, to make it even easier for you to do the decreases at the crown, I paid my tech editor to create a crochet chart for you to use. You’re welcome! It’s always great to have different ways to read a crochet pattern. That way, if you aren’t sure about a portion, you can check the chart or words as needed.

Making It a Bit More Special

Last but not least, I wanted to add that little something extra to this design. Therefore, I searched my button bin (yes, I have an entire bin of buttons just waiting for that perfect project…sort of like my yarn stash : ) and found some fun black buttons. Then, I quickly sewed those onto the hat’s cuff for added fun. You can do the same thing with any buttons that you love. Alternatively, you can keep it simple without the buttons.

There you have it: a wonderful free crochet hat pattern that is easy, fun, and cheap. It’s a perfect beginner crochet pattern. 

????GET THE FREE PATTERN HERE????

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How to Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch

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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.

crochet seed stitch patterns

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.

game day scarf crochet 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.

free striped crochet purse pattern

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.

thrummed crochet mittens pattern

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.

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