Crochet Waffle Stitch: Beginner Step by Step Photo Tutorial

by Janice Jones   

The crochet waffle stitch is a unique type that resembles a waffle with its textured square design and pronounced ridges. This stitching technique is popular for crafting items like blankets, dishcloths, scarves, and many more due to its intriguing texture and three-dimensional look.

To the touch, it is soft, very stretchy, squishy, and thickly textured.

The crochet waffle stitch is recognized for its simple yet intricate pattern, usually created by combining double crochet and front post double crochet stitches.

This stitch combination creates textured 'squares' or 'waffles' on the surface of the crochet fabric while the other side remains flat.

This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions for creating a crochet swatch. If you want to jump into a quick project, I’ve already included the instructions for making a quick Crochet Waffle Stitch Washcloth.

How to Make the Crochet Waffle Stitch

This pattern looks great no matter what yarn you use and works up quickly once you get the hang of doing front post double crochet stitches.

The one downside to this stitch is that it does eat up a lot of yarn due to the nature of crochet post stitches, so if you are using it for a project, consider purchasing an additional skein to be on the safe side.

Abbreviations

Ch – chain
Dc – double crochet
FPdc – front post double crochet stitch
St(s) – stitch, stitches
Sl st - slip stitch

Skills Needed

How to make a slip stitch
How to make to chain stitch
How to make the Double Crochet stitch
How to make the front post double crochet stitch
How to weave in ends
How to understand crochet pattern written instructions

Skill Level

Easy

Supplies Needed

• Yarn
• Hook appropriate for the yarn you choose for this tutorial
• Scissors
• Yarn Needle
• For this tutorial, I used a number 4 worsted weight yarn and a number 7 (4.5 mm) crochet hook.

The supplies needed to make the Crochet Waffle Stitch Washcloth are provided after this tutorial.  If you prefer to check out the washcloth, jump to the crochet waffle stitch pattern.

Notes About This Tutorial

• All instructions written in US Terms
• A waffle stitch is created by chaining a multiple of 3 and adding two more stitches to that multiple.
• You may prefer to choose chain 3 instead of chain 2, as indicated in the instructions at the beginning of the row.
• This crochet pattern is reversible making it perfect for any project where both sides will show (blankets, scarves, cowls, dishcloths)

Written Instructions

 Swatch Instructions

Chain multiple of 3 + 2

For this tutorial, I chained 20.

Row 1: Dc in 4th ch from hook (1st 3 chains counts as a dc). DC in each ch across row. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as first dc). *FPdc around next dc, dc in next; repeat from * across row to last st. DC in top of turning chain.

Row 3:  Ch 2, *Dc, FPdc in next dc, repeat from * across row to last dc. Dc in last dc, dc in top of turning ch.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you reach your desired length. Fasten off and weave in ends if desired.

Free Crochet Waffle Stitch Pattern Washcloth

Supplies

• Yarnspirations Caron Cotton Cakes (60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic) Worsted weight yarn in Grayscale
• Number 7 (4.5 mm) crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Gauge

17 pattern sts and 10 rows = 4 inches

Finished Size

7 x 7 inch square (approximately 18 cm square)

Written Instructions

Ch 30.

Row 1: DC in 4th ch from hook (1 st 3 chs counts as a dc). DC in each ch across row. Turn. (28 dc)

Row 2: Ch 2, *FPdc around next dc, dc in next dc, repeat from * across row. Then, dc in top of turning ch.

Row 3: Ch 2, *Dc, FPdc in next dc, repeat from * across row to last dc. Dc in last dc, dc in top of turning ch.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 more times. Fasten Off and weave in ends.

Add a Single Crochet Border

If you prefer to add a border, do not fasten off.  Use the same yarn or a contrasting color.  If you use the contrasting color, fasten off after making the washcloth and weave in ends.

To make a single crochet border:

1. Work one single crochet stitch into each stitch on the two horizontal edges.
2. Work three single crochet stitches into every two double crochet rows.
3. Work three single crochet stitches into the same stitch into each corner.  
4. If this does not allow your washcloth to lay flat, adjust your stitch count:  If the edges appear to be stretched, add more single crochet stitches.  If the edge looks puckered, reduce the number of crochet stitches.

Options:  Add more than one single crochet stitch border in contrasting colors.

If you would like more information about Crochet Borders, I highly recommend the book, Around the Corner: Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman.

Last Words

This is a great project for beginners who already have mastered the double crochet stitch and are comfortable making chains.  The new technique of working through the front post of the double crochet stitch is not difficult but does require some practice.  

Making a useful washcloth while practicing these skills make sense because you now have something you can keep or give as a gift along with the knowledge that you've just learned another crochet stitch pattern.

Happy Crocheting,

Janice

Disclosure:   This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from one of these links I will get a small  commission.

Hi, there, I'm Janice, the voice behind this website and avid knitter and crochet enthusiast. I want to share my passion with you and help you learn how to knit or crochet, smarter.

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