Rewards
The double crochet cluster stitch is made from two double crochets that are left half-finished and then closed together at the top. Each cluster is a small, rounded bump, and rows of them make a thick fabric with a pebbled surface.
It's a beginner stitch. If you can make a double crochet, you can make a cluster; you stop one step early and finish two stitches at once. The fabric is warm and dense, good for blankets, cowls and washcloths.
The one thing that makes it work: on every row after the first, the clusters go into the gaps between the clusters below, not into the tops of stitches. That's what gives the rows their staggered, woven look.
Watch: Double Crochet Cluster Stitch Video Tutorial
Watch the hook on the final yarn over of each cluster. There should be three loops on the hook before that last pull-through, and one afterward.
What You Need
The swatch uses worsted (medium) weight yarn and a 5.0mm (US H-8) hook. Clusters bulk up fast, so a medium weight keeps the fabric from getting stiff. A smooth, light-colored yarn shows the individual clusters best while you're learning; a fuzzy or dark yarn blurs them together.
Abbreviations used (US terms): CH (chain), DC (double crochet), DC2tog (two double crochets worked together; the finished stitch is a cluster), SK (skip), TC (turning chain). The swatch starts with a chain of 19; the first row works a cluster into every chain, so any chain length works as long as you leave three chains for the turning chain and one for the final dc.
Double Crochet Cluster Stitch Written Pattern
Size: 6"x6"
Gauge: 4x4 in DC = 11sts x 8 rows
Yarn: 20g of DGY worsted weight recycled silk
Crochet Hook Size: 5.0mm
Abbreviations: CH - Chain; DC - Double Crochet; DC2tog: Double Crochet (finished stitch is referred to as a "cluster"); SK - Skip a Stitch; TC: Turning Chain
CH 19
Row 1: Sk 3 CH (counts as DC), work DC2tog in each CH until last ch, DC in final CH. Turn
Row 2: CH 3 (counts as DC) DC2tog between the first DC and next cluster, *DC2tog between next 2 clusters* Repeat ** across until 1 Cluster and DC (turning chain) remain. DC into top of TC. Turn.
Rows 3-12: Repeat Row 2.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- To make one cluster: yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops. Stop there. You have two loops on the hook and a half-finished dc.
- In the same place, yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops. Now there are three loops on the hook.
- Yarn over and pull through all three loops. That closes both half-stitches into one cluster with a single top.
- Row 1: skip three chains (they count as a dc), work one cluster into each chain across, and finish with a plain dc in the last chain. Turn.
- Row 2 and every row after: chain 3, then work each cluster into the space between two clusters of the row below. Finish with a dc into the top of the turning chain. The clusters sit over the gaps, so each row is offset from the last.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Don't close the first half of the cluster all the way. If you pull through all the loops after the first dc, you've made a plain dc and the cluster won't form.
- Work the clusters into the gaps, not the tops. Going into the top of a cluster narrows the fabric and loses the staggered look.
- The first cluster of Row 2 goes between the turning chain's dc and the first cluster. Skipping that gap makes the piece lose a stitch every row.
- Both sides look nearly the same, so this stitch is close to reversible. Mark the first row if you need to keep track of a right side for seaming.
What to Make With the Double Crochet Cluster Stitch
This is a warm, squishy stitch, so lean toward things that benefit from thickness. A worsted weight throw is the classic project; it works up faster than it looks because each cluster covers a chain. Our how to crochet a blanket guide covers sizing and edging.
Other good fits: a bulky weight cowl, a worsted weight cushion cover, cotton washcloths in DK, and a sport weight baby blanket. It also makes a good scarf because both sides look alike.
Related Stitches
- Double Crochet Stitch — learn this first; a cluster is two of these joined
- Mixed Cluster Stitch — clusters combined with other stitches for more texture
- Crochet Puff Stitch — a softer, rounder bump made from pulled-up loops
- Browse every crochet stitch tutorial
Yarn for This Stitch
The swatch uses a worsted weight, and a worsted weight yarn is the right starting point for blankets and cowls. For a lighter, drapier version, Darn Good Twist Sport Weight Silk Yarn keeps the clusters small and soft, and the recycled silk is hand-dyed by artisans in India.
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.
Double Crochet Cluster Stitch FAQ
Is the double crochet cluster stitch the same as a bobble?
No. A bobble is usually five dc closed together and pops out on one side. A dc cluster is two dc closed together and lies flatter, with both sides looking similar.
Does the cluster stitch use a lot of yarn?
More than plain double crochet, since each cluster packs two stitches into one spot. Plan on about a third more yarn than a dc piece of the same size.
Is it beginner-friendly?
Yes. It only uses chain and double crochet, with one change in where you stop. Most people have it after a row or two.
