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The waistcoat stitch is single crochet that looks like knitting. Instead of working into the two loops at the top of each stitch, you push the hook straight into the V on the front of the stitch below, between the two legs of the post. Each new stitch sits inside the old one, and the surface turns into neat columns of knit-style Vs.
It's also called the knit stitch or center single crochet, and it makes a dense, firm, warm fabric with very little stretch. Think bags, baskets, pot holders, and hat bands that hold their shape.
It's a beginner stitch, since it's just sc. The one thing that makes it work is working loosely. If your sc is tight, the V closes and the hook can't get in.
Watch: Crochet Waistcoat Stitch Video Tutorial
Watch where Mike aims the hook: into the center of the V on the front of the stitch, and out the back below the top loops, not into the loops themselves.
What You Need
The swatch uses medium (worsted) weight yarn and a US H/5mm hook, with a note to go up one or two sizes if needed. A smooth, light-colored yarn matters more here than for most stitches, since you have to find the center of every post.
Abbreviations (US terms): ch = chain, st(s) = stitch(es), sc = single crochet. "In the post" means into the V on the front face of the stitch, between its two legs.
Stitch multiple: any number of stitches, plus 1 chain. The swatch chains 22 and works 21 sc.
Crochet Waistcoat Stitch Written Pattern
Size: 6x6 Inches
Gauge: 4” = 14 Stitches | 17.25 Rows
Yarn: Medium Weight Yarn
Crochet Hook: US H/5mm Crochet Hook
Abbreviations
Ch – Chain
St(s) – Stitch(es)
Sc – Single Crochet
Foundation: Ch 22 or any number of sts to measure 6” and add 1 more chain for the foundation.
Note: Work your sc sts loosely. If you find that it’s too difficult to insert your hook in the post of the sc sts, go up 1-2 hook sizes.
Row 1: 1sc in 2nd ch from hook and every ch st across. (21 sts)
Row 2: ch1, turn, 1sc in the post of every st across. (21 sts)
Note: Make sure you insert hook between the “triangle” on the front side and exiting the back side through the ”V”.
Repeat Row 2 for a total of 26 rows.
Fasten off & block to 6x6 square.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- Row 1 is ordinary sc. Work one sc in the second chain from the hook and in every chain across for 21 stitches. Keep these loose on purpose.
- Turn and look at the first stitch. Ignore the two loops on top. On the body of the stitch facing you there's a small upside-down V with the two legs of the post below it.
- Push the hook through the center. Insert the hook between the two legs, under the V, and out the back of the stitch. The brief way to say it: into the triangle in front, out through the V behind.
- Finish the sc normally. Yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through two. The new stitch is now nested inside the old one, which is what creates the knit look.
- Repeat every stitch, every row. Turning each row puts the V columns on both faces, slightly different on each. Twenty-six rows make the 6-inch swatch.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Loose is the rule. Pull each loop up a little taller than you normally would. A tight waistcoat stitch is nearly impossible to work into on the next row.
- If the hook goes in but the stitch looks lumpy, you probably went through the top loops as well. Aim lower, into the body of the stitch.
- Count to 21 at the end of each row. The first and last stitches are easy to miss because their Vs sit against the edge.
- Worked flat and turned, the stitch leans slightly. Working in the round, as for a hat or basket, gives the cleanest knit look.
What to Make With the Crochet Waistcoat Stitch
Use it where you want structure. In worsted or bulky, baskets and totes stand up on their own. A beanie worked in the round shows off the knit look best; see how to crochet a beanie for sizing. In sport or DK, it makes a dense headband or a small zip pouch. It's also the stitch for crochet colorwork, since the Vs stack like knit stitches.
Related Stitches
- Crochet Single Crochet Stitch — the base stitch, worked the regular way
- Crochet Shallow Single Crochet — another sc variation with a different hook placement
- Crochet Slip Stitch Back Loop — a second way to get a knit look in crochet
- Browse every crochet stitch tutorial
Yarn for This Stitch
A smooth, firmly plied yarn makes the Vs clear and the hook placement easy. Start with worsted weight yarn for bags and hats. For a softer pouch or headband, Darn Good Twist Sport Weight Silk Yarn is a recycled silk, hand-dyed by artisans in India, and its sheen makes the knit-look columns stand out.
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 Waistcoat Stitch FAQ
Is the waistcoat stitch the same as the knit stitch in crochet?
Yes. Waistcoat stitch, knit stitch, and center single crochet are all names for sc worked into the post of the stitch below.
Why can't I get my hook into the waistcoat stitch?
Your stitches are too tight. Work looser and go up one or two hook sizes, as the pattern note says.
Does the waistcoat stitch use a lot of yarn?
Yes, more than standard sc, because the stitches nest and pack tightly into a thick fabric.
