How to crochet | linen stitch

How to Crochet: The Linen Stitch

Have you ever tried the linen stitch?  You may know it as the woven stitch and can be found in knitting as well.  This handy stitch is easy to learn and the pattern is repetitive so you can binge-watch your favorite show while you work.  Every row is worked the same with the exception of the ends of each row (I’ll explain later).

What makes this lovely stitch so special?

1. It’s repetitive and simple.

I love to work with this stitch when I need a little downtime.  Crochet for me is cathartic, my anti-depressant, anti-anxiety medication.  So, a stitch like the linen stitch offers a repetitive stitch pattern (sc, ch 1) that’s so easy to work you don’t really have to think about it much.  You don’t even have to think about what loops to place the next stitch in because every single crochet (except the ones on the row ends) are worked into the ch-1 spaces of the previous row. Once you get started, things become pretty automatic.

2. The fabric is cozy and warm.

The linen stitch is perfect for that cozy scarf or blanket because the resulting fabric is dense but flexible, creating a beautiful drape.  It really does look like the fabric is woven on a loom because of the offset of the single crochets.  The only downside is it takes longer to work up because the stitches are short.

3.  It brings out the best in a yarn’s color.

I find this stitch to be perfect when I want to bring out the subtleties of the yarn’s color, especially hand-dyed yarns.  Just take a look at the example below.  This scarf is made with Caron Big Cakes, a fairly inexpensive, mass-produced yarn.   I had no idea there were subtle variations in the yarn until I worked it in linen stitch.  Voilá, there they are!

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These projects are great for linen stitch!

• Scarves – If you’re looking for a simple, warm scarf, linen stitch is perfect, especially for men’s scarves (not too girly, ya know what I mean?)
• Blankets – This stitch works well for baby blankets.  Keep in mind, though, that it will take a lot longer to finish but it’ll be gorgeous!
• Home decor – Think place mats, table runners and mug rugs.

These are only a few ideas.  The world is your oyster!

Hit me up with some color suggestions

Solid color – Use one color for the whole project.

Alternating rows of 2 colors – If you work a scarf from end to end like the one in the picture below, the 2 colors will create the illusion of stripes across the width.

Pattern using 3-6 colors – The sample below was crocheted in worsted weight yarn.  Using a lighter weight yarn would produce a more subtle effect.

As you can see, there are lots of color possibilities that change the look of the fabric.  Many other color combinations exist – see if you can find them in your favorite pattern shops!

Let’s get busy!

I hope I’ve gotten you excited about this versatile stitch.  Following are the instructions for the stitch.  If you want something quick to work up, click HERE for a free mug rug pattern that works up super quick using only the linen stitch. (Here’s a sneak peak)

Stitch instructions

Using any DK weight yarn and US size G-7 hook, ch 24.

Row 1:  Switch to US size H-8 hook, sc in 2nd ch from hook, ch 1, skip 1 ch, sc in next ch; repeat from * across, ch 1, turn.

Row 2:  Sc in first sc and in ch-1 sp, * ch 1, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from *, ending with sc in last sc, ch 1, turn.

Row 3:  Sc in first sc, * ch 1, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * across to the end of the row, ch 1, turn.

Repeat rows 2 + 3 until desired length is achieved.

Note:  I work the foundation chain in a smaller hook to prevent the piece from being wider at the lower edge than the rest of the work.  The chain tends to be looser than the linen stitch.

If you prefer a chart…

Want to use the linen stitch?

Then you should download my free mug rug pattern, designed especially for this post.  It’s not available anywhere else so click HERE to get it now!