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The mixed cluster stitch is a textured crochet stitch made of small, rounded bumps that lean into each other across the row. Each cluster is built from a half-finished half double crochet and two half-finished stitches worked a stitch away, then closed together with one pull.
The result looks like a row of little knots with a plain single crochet row between each one. It's thicker than hdc, with a nubby surface that hides uneven tension.
This is an intermediate stitch. The motions are familiar, but you have to track six loops on the hook and where the next cluster begins. After the first cluster row, the rhythm takes over.
Watch: Mixed Cluster Stitch Video Tutorial
Watch where the second half of each cluster goes in (one stitch past a skipped stitch) and how the next cluster starts in the same stitch the last one ended in.
What You Need
Yarn: worsted weight, as in the swatch. Clusters add bulk, so a medium weight keeps the fabric soft. A smooth, light-colored yarn makes the six loops on the hook easy to see.
Hook: 5.0mm (US H-8).
Abbreviations (US terms): CH = chain; SC = single crochet; HDC = half double crochet; YO = yarn over; SK = skip; MC = mixed cluster (defined in the pattern); st(s) = stitch(es).
Stitch multiple: as written, the pattern works on an odd number of stitches; the swatch uses 19.
Mixed Cluster Stitch Written Pattern
Tools & Materials: Worsted weight recycled silk; 5.0mm crochet hook
Special Acronyms Used: MC: Mixed Cluster
How To: YO, insert hook and draw up a loop. YO and draw through one loop. YO draw through two loops (two loops remain on the hook), SK1, [YO, insert hook and draw up a loop, YO and draw through one loop] twice. With 6 loops on the hook, YO and pull through all loops. CH to close.
Pattern:
Ch 20
Row 1: Working into second CH from the hook, SC. Repeat across. Turn. (19 sts)
Row 2: CH 2 (counts as HDC) MC in same stitch. Repeat across beginning your MC in the same stitch as the previous. End with MC in last stitch, HDC in same stitch. Turn.
Row 3: CH 1, SK 1, SC across, with last SC in turning chain. (19 SC sts)
Repeat rows 2 - 3 until your piece measures 6"
Bind off. Weave in ends and block lightly.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- Start the first leg. Yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through one, then yarn over and pull through two. Two loops stay on the hook: a half-finished stitch that becomes one side of the cluster.
- Skip one stitch. The gap is what gives the cluster its lean.
- Work two more legs in the next stitch. Twice: yarn over, insert the hook into that stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through one. You now have six loops on the hook.
- Close the cluster. Yarn over and pull through all six loops, then chain 1 to lock it. That chain is the top of the cluster.
- Start the next cluster in the same stitch. The stitch that held the last two legs is where the next cluster's first leg goes. Each cluster moves you two stitches along the row, which is why the stitch count stays odd.
- Row 3 resets everything. Chain 1, skip 1, single crochet across into each cluster top and chain, ending in the turning chain. You're back to 19 plain stitches.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Count to six before you close. If you have five loops, a leg is missing; if seven, you didn't pull through two on the first leg. Fix it before the big pull-through, not after.
- Don't close the cluster tight. Pulling through six loops wants a little slack. A tight close makes a hard knot and a stiff fabric.
- Row 3 is where counts drift. Put a single crochet into every cluster top and every closing chain, and don't forget the last sc in the turning chain. Nineteen should stay nineteen.
- Right side: the clusters bulge toward the side facing you as you work Row 2. Mark that side if it matters for your project.
What to Make With the Mixed Cluster Stitch
- Cowls and scarves: the texture holds up in worsted weight and needs no border.
- Blanket panels: alternate a few inches of mixed cluster with plain hdc for a striped texture; the how to crochet a blanket guide covers sizing.
- Cushion covers: the bumpy face looks woven in a bulky yarn.
Related Stitches
- Half Double Crochet — the stitch each cluster is built from.
- Double Crochet Cluster Stitch — a taller cluster made with full dc legs.
- Puff Stitch — a rounder bump made from loops pulled up tall.
- Browse every crochet stitch tutorial
Yarn for This Stitch
Clusters show best in a smooth yarn with a bit of body. A worsted weight gives the bumps definition, and a DK weight silk, hand-dyed by artisans in India, makes a lighter version for scarves.
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.
Mixed Cluster Stitch FAQ
Is the mixed cluster stitch reversible?
Not quite. The clusters stand out on one side and look flatter on the other. Both sides are tidy, but the textured side is usually the right side.
What's the difference between a cluster and a puff stitch?
A cluster is made of partly finished stitches joined at the top. A puff is made of long loops pulled up in the same stitch with no pull-throughs until the end, so it's rounder and softer.
Is this stitch beginner-friendly?
It's a step past beginner. You need a comfortable single crochet and half double crochet first, and the patience to count loops on the hook for the first few rows.
