Waistcoat stitch is an unusual variation on the standard double crochet (UK terms; its called single crochet in US terms). Learning how to crochet waistcoat stitch is quick and easy. It works best in the round and closely resembles stocking stitch produced by knitting (stockinette in US terms).

Stylecraft blog tour stitch pattern for the tote bag

The stitch also seems to be known as split single crochet, where single crochet refers to the US term for the UK double crochet that I’m describing.

Waistcoat stitch example from the rainbow tote

Crochet waistcoat stitch looks  just as good from the inside as the outside – the photo below shows the inside at the lower left and the right side top right.

Stylecraft blog tour Limited Edition colour bag Inside neat as outside

The crochet fabric produced is very dense and firm – so idea for making crochet bags. I used it to make the rainbow crochet tote bag that featured in the Stylecraft blog tour in September 2015. You can also now buy the Limited Edition pack of Stylecraft Special DK from Deramores at £9.99 per pack 🙂 If you buy after going to their site through my link I get a few pennies commission to help support my blog 🙂

Waistcoat stitch used in the rainbow tote bag

How to crochet waistcoat stitch – free tutorial

The stitch is basically the same as a standard double crochet:

  • Insert your hook into the next stitch of the previous round
  • Yarn over and pull through a loop
  • Yarn over and pull through the two loops on your hook

The twist is where you insert your hook. To crochet waistcoat stitch you insert the hook into the lower V of the dc stitch of the previous round.

Stylecraft blog tour Limited Edition colour bag the split double crochet stitch

This produces rows and rows of Vs, creating that stocking stitch knitted appearance.

Working waistcoat stitch in rounds

This is very easy and I made the rainbow tote bag in the round, using a different coloured yarn for each round.

To start of, pull the new yarn through the V of one of the stitches in the previous round. Make a loose chain and then work the waistcoat stitches in each stitch all around.

To finish the round, make a waistcoat stitch into the stitch before your joining chain. Gently pull the tail end of the joining chain out so that your work starts with the first proper waistcoat stitch. Make a final waistcoat stitch of the round into the stitch that is now empty. Close with a slip stitch made into the V of the first stitch of the round then fasten off.

If you are working in the round and making several rounds in the same colour, you can work in a similar way to the amigurumi method – in a spiral. When you reach your starting chain, gently pull it out and replace it with a waistcoat stitch. Then work your next waistcoat stitch straight into the first waistcoat stitch of the previous round. Place a stitch marker so that you know where the round begins and continue for the required number of rounds.

Crochet waistcoat stitch in rows

This is a bit more fiddly as you need to break the yarn and start each row with new yarn. You could make a very warm rug-like lap blanket using this technique, changing colour for each row. Items with shorter rows would be possible if you have a lot of patience!

Waistcoat stitch another example from the rainbow tote