Crochet Shell Stitch

Crochet shell stitch is a fun and pretty crochet stitch pattern that’s easy to make with single and double crochet stitches. Let’s learn about shell stitch crochet!

What is Shell Stitch?

Shell stitch is a crochet stitch that has a few different variations and sizes depending on how many stitches are worked in your shell. Most commonly shell stitch is worked with five stitches in the shell.

There are many variations of shell stitch, but most involve multiple double crochets worked into the same stitch, followed by skipping stitches and working a single crochet in a stitch to give space for the shells. Working back across, you’ll work into a skipped stitch or single crochet to stagger the shells.

Shells can be worked all with double crochets, with a combination of double crochets and chains (for example, 2 double crochet, chain 1, 2 double crochet) or with a set of stitches of different heights, such as working a single, half double, double, half double and single crochet all in one stitch.

The most common way to do shell stitch by far is with 5 stitch shells, which is what I will show in the tutorial. You can use this same stitch to make my easy shell stitch washcloth.

How to Crochet Shell Stitch

Shell stitch works on multiples of 6 plus 1 stitch. To start you’ll need that 6 plus 1, and 1 additional stitch for your turning chain. I started with 26 chains to get 25 stitches to work with. Alternatively you can work 25 stitches in foundation single crochet.

Single crochet the first row. This is optional, but nice to keep it kind of straight and to give you something to work into.

For the first row of shell stitch, chain 1 and single crochet in the last stitch from the previous row.

Skip 2 stitches, then work 5 double crochets in the next stitch.

Skip 2 stitches, then work a single crochet in the next stitch.

Skip 2 stitches, then work 5 double crochets in the next stitch.

Repeat that skipping and stitching across until you get to the last 3 stitches.

Skip 2 and work a single crochet in the last stitch.

Chain 2 and turn.

To make the shells interlock, we’ll work a half shell at the beginning and end of the second row. The chain counts as the first stitch, so now we’ll work 2 more double crochets in the last stitch of the previous row. If you prefer to chain 3 for double crochets, feel free to chain 3.

Skip 2 stitches and work a single crochet in the next stitch (that’s the top of the shell from the previous row).

Skip 2 stitches and work 5 double crochets in the next stitch, which is the single crochet from the previous row.

Repeat that skipping and stitching across to the last 3 stitches. Skip 2 stitches and work 3 double crochets in the last stitch. Chain 1 and turn.

Repeat these two rows for pattern.

As you go you’ll find you don’t have to count as much and you’ll naturally know where to put your stitches each time.

I like to finish with a row of single crochet, too, to straighten out the edge on this side and make it look more like the original.

Try this pattern on my shell stitch scarf pattern.

Seven Stitch Shell Stitch Variation

I decided to try a 7-stitch crochet shell stitch to show you what it looks like. I chained 26 and single crocheted a row again to start, giving me 25 stitches to work with.

The first row is the same, only working 7 double crochets in each shell instead of 5.

For the half shells at the beginning and end of the second row, I did 4 stitches instead of 7. So I started with a chain 2, worked 3 double crochet, then skipped 3 instead of 2 so the single crochet would be at the top of the shell, skip 3 again and work 7 double crochets.

The bottom curves just a little because I only did 2 stitches on each side of the single crochet instead of 3, but for the purpose of experimentation I’m OK with that.

Here you can see the two swatches next to each other. Both use worsted weight yarn and are the same number of stitches worked with different hooks, but both were size H/8/5mm. But the 7 stitch swatch is much wider, and the rows are taller. The holes are also bigger because you’re working more stitches in one.

Crochet shell stitch is a lot of fun and there are so many different ways to play with it to get different looks in your projects. Do you have a favorite shell stitch variation? I’d love to hear about it!