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The crochet basketweave stitch makes a thick fabric that looks like woven strips: blocks of raised ribs alternating with recessed ones. It's built from double crochet worked around the post of the stitch below, from the front or the back.
It's an intermediate stitch because of the post stitches, but there's no new math. The thing that makes it work is switching between front post and back post every four stitches, then swapping the blocks after a couple of rows so the weave shifts.
The fabric is dense and warm with almost no stretch.
Watch: Crochet Basketweave Stitch Video Tutorial
Watch where the hook enters for a front post stitch versus a back post stitch, and how the blocks swap on Row 3.
What You Need
Yarn: worsted (medium) weight, as in the swatch. A smooth, light-colored yarn shows the raised and recessed blocks clearly so you can tell front post from back post at a glance.
Hook: 4.5 mm (US 7), or the size that gives you the listed gauge.
Abbreviations (US terms): CH = chain; YO = yarn over; st(s) = stitch(es); DC = double crochet; FPDC = front post double crochet; BPDC = back post double crochet.
Stitch multiple: multiple of 4; the swatch uses 26 chains for 24 stitches.
Crochet Basketweave Stitch Written Pattern
Size: 6"x6"
Gauge: 4x4 = 14sts x 6 rows
Yarn: 28 g or 40yds of DGY worsted weight recycled silk
Crochet Hook Size: 4.5mm
Abbreviations: CH - Chain; DC: Double Crochet - YO once, insert and pull up a loop, *YO, pull through 2 sts* twice; FPDC: DC around the post, inserting your hook from the front of the work; BPDC: DC around the post, inserting your hook from the back of the work.
NOTE: CH 2 counts as first stitch
Pattern:
CH 26
Row 1: Working into the 4th CH from the hook, DC. Repeat Across. CH 2 and Turn. (24 sts)
Row 2: FPDC in next 3 sts, BPDC in next 4 sts, FPDC in next 4 sts, BPDC in next 4 sts, FPDC in next 4 sts, BPDC in next 4 sts. CH 2 and Turn. (24 sts)
Rows 3-4: BPDC in next 3 sts, FPDC in next 4 sts, BPDC in next 4 sts, FPDC in next 4 sts, BPDC in next 4 sts, FPDC in next 4 sts. CH 2 and Turn. (24 sts)
Rows 5-6: Repeat row 2.
Rows 7-8: Repeat row 3.
Rows 9-10: Repeat row 2.
Rows 11-12: Repeat row 3.
Rows 13-14: Repeat row 2.
Bind off and weave in ends.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- Make a plain double crochet row. Row 1 is standard DC into the chain, which gives you posts to work around.
- Front post double crochet. Yarn over, then push the hook from front to back around the post of the stitch below, so the post sits in front of your hook. Finish the DC as usual. The stitch pops toward you.
- Back post double crochet. Yarn over, then push the hook from back to front around the post, so the post sits behind your hook. Finish the DC. The stitch recedes away from you.
- Work the blocks. Row 2 starts with the chain 2 plus 3 FPDC (a block of 4), then alternates 4 BPDC and 4 FPDC. Rows 3 and 4 do the opposite.
- Swap every two rows. Two rows of one arrangement, then two of the other, repeated to Row 14. Each swap turns the weave.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Post stitches are short. Working around the post pulls the stitch down, which is why this swatch uses a chain 2 turning chain instead of chain 3. Keep the chain snug.
- Read the fabric. If a block looks flat instead of raised or recessed, you've mixed front and back post in it.
- Count 24 at the end of every row. Each row begins with 3 post stitches after the chain 2 and ends with a full block of 4.
- Both sides show a weave. Because a front post on one side is a back post on the other, the fabric is reversible with the blocks offset.
- Budget extra yarn. Post stitches overlap, so it uses more than plain DC.
What to Make With the Crochet Basketweave Stitch
- A heavy throw blanket in worsted or bulky yarn. The thickness is the point. How to crochet a blanket covers sizing in blocks of 4 stitches.
- A beanie in worsted weight, with the weave running around the band.
- A thick winter scarf in bulky yarn, worked lengthwise so the blocks read as stripes.
Related Stitches
- Double Crochet Stitch — the base stitch every post stitch here is built on
- Ribbed Half Double Crochet — a simpler ribbed texture to practice first
- Crochet Cable Stitch — post stitches taken one step further into crossed cables
- Browse every crochet stitch tutorial
Yarn for This Stitch
Basketweave wants a yarn with body so the blocks stand up. A smooth worsted weight yarn matches the swatch, and a bulky weight yarn makes a fast, heavy throw. Our recycled silk, hand-dyed by artisans in India, comes in every weight from lace to super bulky; browse the full yarn collection.
If you'd like a new skein to practice on every month, Yarn of the Month sends three hand-dyed skeins with a knit and crochet pattern written for them, $29 a month plus shipping.
Crochet Basketweave Stitch FAQ
Is the crochet basketweave stitch reversible?
Mostly. Both sides show the woven blocks, but they're offset, so the front and back don't match exactly. Either side can be the right side.
How much yarn does basketweave use?
More than plain double crochet, because the post stitches overlap. The 6-inch swatch uses about 40 yards of worsted.
Does it curl?
No. The balance of front and back post stitches keeps it flat, and the fabric is thick enough to hold its shape without a border.
