Crochet Waffle Stitch Tutorial

In this crochet waffle stitch tutorial I will give you written instructions and helpful photos for three waffle stitch variations, a video tutorial, and a project suggestion for using your new stitch!

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What can I make with the crochet waffle stitch?

There are all kinds of crochet projects that can be made with the waffle stitch! It is especially well-suited to things you want to be thick and warm. The post stitches used to make the waffle stitch make the fabric extra thick so it’s great for warm winter wear, blankets, and hotpads, among other things. I will suggest a few ideas here.

First, my own Monkey Bars Winter Set for kids uses the crochet waffle stitch, and the 3×3 waffle stitch variation that I use in this tutorial is the stitch for this hat, scarf, and mittens set.

Another cozy crochet pattern option using the waffle stitch is the Winterscape Waffle Stitch Blanket from Lion Brand yarn. This thick fabric would be delicious for snuggling when it’s chilly!

In addition to these two options there are loads of ideas on Ravelry, my favorite place to look for crochet and knitting patterns.

Crochet waffle stitch variations

There are variations of the waffle stitch. They all use both standard and front post double crochet stitches to create the waffle stitch texture of alternating sunken and raised blocks.

All version of the waffle stitch use the same basic ideas. Each starts with a first row of standard double crochet. I like to use the traditional foundation chain and double crochet stitches, but if you like using foundation crochet stitches, you can start by working a row of foundation double crochet.

The second row is where you’ll establish the pattern for the particular waffle stitch variation you are using. If you are working from a pattern, you’ll want to use the same numbers as called for in the pattern. Otherwise, this detail is up to you.

The variation above begins with three standard double crochet stitches and then three front post double crochet stiches, then it repeats that pattern.

This crochet waffle stitch variation, which I think resembles a waffle most, alternates groups of one and three. This photo is actually showing the wrong side of row 2, so it may seem a little backwards, but you’ll set up this pattern be starting row 2 with one standard stitch, then three post stitches, then repeating those groups across your row.

This variation begins with two standard double crochet stitches, then two front post double crochet stitches, and repeating that pattern across the row.

So you can decide exactly what pattern you are going with and use row 2 to establish the pattern for the remainder of the project.

Crochet waffle stitch written instructions and photos

So let’s get into the nitty gritty and explain exactly how to crochet the waffle stitch. I’m going to give you long hand, plain English instructions and photos for one of the waffle stitch variations here. Then in the next section, I will give you instructions for all three variations in standard US pattern terms. Then the final section includes a video demonstration of how to work the crochet waffle stitch.

To crochet the waffle stitch variation above, you will begin with chaining a multiple of 3, with 2 additional chains to act as your turning chain. Then skip the first 2 chains, and double crochet across in each remaining chain.

Turn your work, and chain 2 for a turning chain. That chain 2 is not a stitch and it will not be worked into later. In the first 3 stitches, work standard double crochet stitches. If you aren’t familiar with basic crochet stitches, see this tutorial for help.

Next, you’ll need to crochet 3 front post double crochet stitches. I’ll go through the first one step by step in case you’ve never tried post stitches before. You start by wrapping the yarn around your hook, which is called a yarnover, or abbreviated yo.

The big difference between a post stitch and a standard stitch comes in the next step, where you put the hook to begin the stitch. Instead of placing your hook in the top of the stitch below as usual, you will place it around the post or the body of the stitch. This is called a front post stitch because we insert the hook from the front, around the back.

Then you yarnover again…

And pull that yarnover through the space behind the post and out the other side.

Then you yarnover again…

And pull that through the first 2 loops.

And then you’ll yarnover one last time for this stitch and pull that through the last 2 loops. That completes the first front post double crochet stitch.

Next, you’ll crochet 2 more front post double crochet stitches.

To finish row 2 you will alternate groups of 3 standard double crochet stitches and groups of 3 front post double crochet stitches until you reach the end of the row.

Then you’ll turn your work to begin row 3. Here is the trick to an variation of the crochet waffle stitch, in each remaining row, you will work standard double crochet stitches into those that were post stitches in the previous row, and post stitches into those that were standard stitches in the previous row.

For this variation, that means that your first 3 stitches will be front post double crochet stitches and your next 3 will be standard double crochet stitches, then you’ll alternate those across the row.

You may be wondering how you can tell which ones are post stiches and which are not. When you work the post stich, it tips the top of the stitch you’re working into away from you, so when you turn your work, you’ll see those stitch tops looking like a ridge underneath your post stiches. If there’s a ridge underneath it, it’s a post stitch.

Row 4 of this crochet waffle stitch variation begins just like row 2, with 3 standard double crochet stitches, then 3 post stitches, then repeat those 2 groups across the row.

And if you guessed that row 5 would be a repeat of row 3, you’d be right. Row 5 will begin with 3 post stitches, then 3 standard stitches, and repeat that pattern across the row.

To continue working in this crochet waffle stitch pattern you will alternate repeats of rows 2 and 3.

If you are crocheting one of the other waffle stitch variations, you’ll be doing almost the same thing we did with this variation, begin with a row of standard double crochet, establish your pattern of standard and post stitches in row 2, then for each remaining row, work post stitches into standard stitches and standard stitches into post stitches.

That’s how it’s done! In the next section below I will share the instructions for the three crochet waffle stitch variations I’ve mentioned in standard US pattern terms.

Pattern instructions for crochet waffle stitch

I’ve included details for 3 variations of crochet waffle stitch here. You can create your own variations by changing up the configuration of your second row, or even by using taller stitches like treble crochet (tr).

In the three patterns below I will use standard crochet abbreviations. If these are unfamiliar to you, get my free, printable crochet abbreviations list here. I also use the abbreviation fpdc, which isn’t standard. This stands for front post double crochet, and you can see detailed instructions for that in the photo tutorial above.

3×3 Crochet waffle stitch pattern

Ch a multiple of 3 + 2 more.

Row 1: Skip first 2 chs, dc in each remaining ch, turn.

Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), dc in first 3 sts, *fpdc in next 3 sts, dc in next 3 sts, repeat from * across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 2, fpdc in first 3 sts, *dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next 3 sts, repeat from * across, turn.

Alternate repeating Rows 2 and 3 for pattern.

1×3 Crochet waffle stitch pattern

Ch a multiple of 4 + 3 more.

Row 1: Skip first 2 chs, dc in each remaining ch, turn.

Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), dc in first st, *fpdc in next 3 sts, dc in next st, repeat from * across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 2, fpdc in first st, *dc in next 3 sts, fpdc in next st, repeat from * across, turn.

Alternate repeating Rows 2 and 3 for pattern.

2×2 Crochet waffle stitch pattern

Ch a multiple of 4.

Row 1: Skip first 2 chs, dc in each remaining ch, turn.

Row 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), dc in first 2 sts, *fpdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, repeat from * across, turn.

Row 3: Ch 2, fpdc in first 2 sts, *dc in next 2 sts, fpdc in next 2 st2, repeat from * across, turn.

Alternate repeating Rows 2 and 3 for pattern.

Crochet waffle stitch tutorial video

Now let’s take a look at this crochet waffle stitch tutorial video to put all of this new information together and see the stitches in action!

That concludes this crochet waffle stitch tutorial! I hope you enjoyed learning this new stitch. I’d love to see your waffle stitch projects! You can share them on Instagram and tag me, or join my Facebook group and share them there.

Happy crocheting!