Rail Stitch Crochet Pattern | How to Crochet

If you are looking for a crochet stitch pattern with an interesting texture and colour work, you will definitely want to check out this Rail Stitch crochet pattern!

I stumbled upon this Rail Stitch crochet pattern the other day while I was trying to figure out another design that I had come across. The original design had a similar, but more complicated structure that resulted in a little bit longer of a repeat, and also required a lot of cutting the yarn in order to get the colours to fall properly. This meant that at the end of the project there were a lot of ends to tuck in! The tucking in of ends and yarn tails is not my favourite, and I am sure that many of you can relate.

So after playing with the pattern for a bit, I narrowed it down to a two row repeat, and as long as you carry the non working yarn up the side, there is no tucking in ends after every second row! It’s so simple and the resulting pattern is really neat to look at.

The other thing that I love about this pattern is that it uses two of my favourite crochet stitches: the half double crochet and the slip stitch. Yes, I LOVE slip stitches! You can do so much with them! In this design they will run across the top side of your fabric.

You can use this stitch in a variety of ways and projects. It would look very dainty in a lighter weight yarn, and also thick and cozy in a super bulky weight yarn. I haven’t decided what I am going to try it in as of yet – if you have any ideas, please let me know!

The Materials:

For this tutorial today I will be using a small amount of the Basic Stitch Anti Pilling yarn by Lion Brand in two different colours: colour A and colour B. It is a soft worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn. The hook shown in the video below is a 5 mm Birchwood Crochet Hook by Rowan Yarn – one of my favourites!  However you may use any hook and yarn combination you choose.

Thank you so much for stopping by! If you enjoy the tutorial below, be sure to also check out some of the many other crochet stitch tutorials on my site and pin this for later! You may wish to start with the Picot Waves Stitch | How to Crochet.

Rail Stitch Crochet Pattern:

Stitches and Abbreviations:

Ch – Chain Stitch
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Rpt – Repeat
Sc – Single Crochet Stitch
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Yo – Yarn Over

Pattern Notes:

This stitch is worked in rows in this tutorial and it may be worked in one colour or many. I will be working this pattern in a two colours: A and B.

This pattern is written using American crochet terms.

To begin make a slip knot and make a foundation chain. For this stitch you will need a multiple of 2 stitches for your foundation chain.

For example, with colour A, ch 32.

Row One:

Hdc in the 2nd ch from your hook, *sk the next st, 2 hdc in next st; Rpt from * across until 2 sts remain, sk the next st, hdc in final st. Switch to colour B, ch 1, turn.

Row Two:

With colour B, Sl st in next st and in each st across. Ch 1, turn.

Row Three:

Working in the tops of the sts 2 rows below and in front of the sl sts all the way across, hdc in the 1st st, *sk the next st, 2 hdc in the next st; Rpt from * across, hdc in the top of the final sl st. Pick up colour A, ch 1, turn.

And that’s it!

For the rest of the pattern you will repeat rows 2 and 3 switching between your two colours at the end of every row three. Fasten off, weave in your ends.

Video Tutorial:

The photographs and pattern contained in this document are the property of Rich Textures Crochet.

This pattern is for personal use only.

No unauthorized reproduction, in whole or in part, or distribution of this pattern or content is permitted.  ALL FINISHED PRODUCTS from this pattern can be used for local sales and sold online.

Thank you so much for supporting Rich Textures Crochet! To stay in touch or see more great products, be sure to visit me on Facebook and Instagram (Rich Textures Crochet).  Thanks again! Happy Crocheting!