Note: These tutorials use UK crochet terms for stitches. Where necessary, the US terms for stitches will be given in brackets the first time they’re mentioned, then the UK terms will be used from then on.

How to Crochet a Crab Stitch

In this tutorial, I will show you how to make the crab stitch, sometimes called the reverse double crochet (US reverse single crochet). This stitch is made in a very similar way to double crochet (US single crochet), but with the added trick that it’s worked “backwards” (hence ‘reverse’ in its alternate name). This can feel odd at first, but it will feel more natural with practice. It is usually used to make a border or edge on a piece, as it doesn’t have a two-loop “top” to it like a regular double crochet stitch, so it has no gap to work more crochet stitches into.

How to Make a Crab Stitch:

Begin with a piece of crochet on which to make a border or edge:

Some rows of blue crochet on a crochet hook

This piece is made using double crochet. You can learn how to do this stitch here.

First, make a chain.

Some rows of blue crochet and a chain stitch on a crochet hook

Learn how to make a chain here.

Put your hook through the previous stitch (for the first crab stitch, this will be the one before the chain), loop the yarn over the hook and pull it through the stitch. You should have two loops on your hook.

Some rows of blue crochet and a chain stitch on a crochet hook; the stitch to the right of the chain is labelled "First crab stitch will be worked in this stitch".
Hands working a crochet hook into a stitch of crochet to pull some yarn through it
Hands using a crochet hook to pull some yarn through a stitch of crochet
Two loops of yarn and some rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Loop the yarn over your hook and pull it through both loops.

A crochet hook with some rows of crochet; two loops on the hook with some yarn wrapped around it
Hands using a crochet hook to pull yarn through two loops to make a reverse double crochet stitch
A completed reverse double crochet stitch with rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Done!

Two crab stitches on some rows of blue crochet on a crochet hook

Now, to make a crab stitch border, simply work a crab stitch into each stitch along the edge, making sure to keep each one pulled tight.

Two crab stitches.

Some rows of blue crochet on a crochet hook; part of one edge of the crocheted piece is bordered with crab stitch

A few more crab stitches.

A strip of blue crochet with one edge bordered with crab stitch

If your crab stitch border goes all the way around the piece, you can finish the round by making a slip stitch into the chain you made before the first crab stitch.

Some rows of blue crochet on a crochet hook
Some rounds of blue crochet on a crochet hook; part of the edge of the crochet is bordered with crab stitch
Hands using a crochet hook to pull some yarn through a stitch of crochet to make a slip stitch

Learn how to make a slip stitch here.

A circle of blue crochet with a crab stitch border

You can learn how to make some more simple crochet stitches here.

After more crochet knowledge? Have a look at some useful crochet techniques, or try this other interesting stitch.

Got a question? Get in touch at koalamea.crafts@gmail.com.