How to Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch

Crochet lemon peel stitch is an easy stitch with a funny name that’s a great one to have in your repertoire. It’s an easy combination of single crochet and double crochet that makes a fabric with a lot of texture.

What is Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch?

Lemon peel stitch is a single row repeat that involves switching between single crochet and double crochet on each stitch. In the next row, the single crochet stitches stack on top of the double crochet stitches and vice versa, which is what makes the texture.

Sometimes you will see lemon peel stitch called griddle stitch (kind of like moss stitch can also be granite stitch or linen stitch).

It works on an even number of stitches so when starting, chain an odd number, then single crochet, double crochet and repeat across. It makes a flat, relatively solid fabric, but I think the surface looks more like starbursts or flowers than a lemon peel. Oh well.

How to Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch

As mentioned above, you need an even number of stitches to work lemon peel stitch. Here I chained 13 to work on 12 stitches.

Working in the second chain from the hook, single crochet.

Double crochet in the next stitch.

Repeat single crochet, double crochet across the row. You should end with a double crochet stitch.

Chain one and turn.

To begin the next row, single crochet on top of the last double crochet from the previous row.

Then double crochet in the top of the single crochet.

Repeat across, making sure that the single crochets are worked into double crochets, and the doubles into singles. This will give you a chance to practice reading your crochet a bit. You’ll note that the doubles have two strands of yarn on the side, while the singles only have one.

Working Lemon Peel Stitch in the Round

Of course griddle stitch or lemon peel stitch can also be worked in the round in the exact same way. Here again you need an even number of stitches and you just keep alternating single crochet and double crochet stitches in continuous rounds for as long as you like.

This bag is worked in lemon peel stitch crochet in the round.

Patterns Using Lemon Peel/Griddle Stitch

Crochet lemon peel stitch has a great texture and is quick to stitch, making it great for blankets.

Make a super cozy blanket in a flash with this video tutorial for a lemon peel stitch blanket made using Bernat Blanket yarn. This pattern from Moogly stitches up in no time and makes a perfect winter throw for your couch or bed.

Amanda Crochets has another great blanket made in super bulky yarn and the griddle stitch. It’s so interesting to see how different this stitch looks in different kinds of yarn!

Why not throw in some stripes to make your blanket even more fun? Daisy Farm Crafts has a great baby blanket worked in griddle stitch with stripes and using a sport weight yarn to make a great blanket for baby for summer.

Or try using a multicolored yarn like on this Strawberry Lemon Peel Baby Blanket from Crochet 365 Knit Too? The yarn makes this one so fun it’s sure to stitch up in no time.

This stitch is also great for garments. Check out the Staycation Cardigan form Make & Do Crew as an example. This long cardigan is sized from small through 3XL and uses a variation of griddle stitch that uses half double crochets instead of double crochets. It uses worsted weight yarn and features a longer hemline in the back as well as pockets!

Prefer a cropped look? The Lemon Peel Cropped Cardigan from Hello Woolen is a great little project, worked in worsted weight yarn and worked in five flat pieces from the bottom up (back, fronts and sleeves). The pattern comes in eight sizes and throws in some post stitching on the edges to make a ribbed look.

Loops Only Crochet has a super cute peplum top made in lemon peel stitch that’s perfect for summer. This sleeveless top is sized from extra small to 5XL, and is worked flat in two pieces from the bottom up.