The Delicate Shell Stitch is a beautiful crochet stitch featuring easy stitches that form little shells.
The pattern created in this design is so pretty! The delicate shell stitch is an easy crochet pattern to work. It is worked in rows in this tutorial and features a two row repeat making it easy to memorize.
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The most common place I have seen this stitch used is in a baby blanket. The delicate shells create a pretty design that is the same on both the front and the back. It is a solid fabric but has the feel of a crochet lace. Because it is a solid fabric, it means it’s harder for little fingers and toes to get caught in any holes!
Materials:
For this tutorial today I will be using a small amount of Cotton Aran by Paintbox Yarns. It is an aran weight yarn and I will be working in the colour Slate Green. The hook shown here and in the video below is a wooden streamline hook by Furls Crochet. However you may use any hook and yarn combination you choose.

Delicate Shell Stitch:
This stitch is worked in rows in this tutorial. At the end of each row you will need to chain one and turn your work. The chain one does not count as a stitch.
Don’t forget to check out the free video tutorial linked below!
To begin, make a slip knot and then chain your desired number of chains. For this stitch pattern you will need a multiple of four stitches, plus two stitches for your foundation chain.
For my swatch I will be making a foundation chain of 26 chain stitches.
Row One:
Into the second chain from your hook work one shell stitch (single crochet, chain two, single crochet all into the same stitch), *skip the next chain, single crochet into the next chain, skip the next stitch, shell into the next stitch.
Repeat from * all the way across ending with a shell stitch in the last chain stitch.
Chain one and turn your work.
Row Two:
Single crochet into the first chain two space of the first shell stitch, skip the rest of the shell stitch and work one shell into the next single crochet stitch.
*Single crochet into the next chain two space of the shell stitch, skip the rest of the shell stitch and work one shell into the next single crochet stitch.
Repeat from * all the way across ending with a single crochet into the chain two space.
Chain one and turn your work.
Row Three:
Work one shell into the first single crochet, *single crochet into the next chain two space, shell into the next single crochet stitch.
Repeat from * across ending with a shell into the last single crochet stitch.
Chain one and turn your work.
And that’s it!
Simply repeat rows two and three for the rest of you pattern. Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Video Tutorial:
If you liked this tutorial, you may wish to check out the Thistle Stitch | How to Crochet.
Thank you so much for stopping by and I look forward to seeing you next week! Until then, happy crocheting!
Sarah
Ove all your tutorials I’m looking tor a dish towel and matching dish rag pattern, can you recommend one that is a little more decorative than a farm house pattern.