How to Crochet Alpine Stitch

Updated on 10/16/20

Project Overview

Skill Level: Intermediate

Add a new crochet stitch to your repertoire with the alpine stitch. It's easy to learn, but it creates a unique texture that you'd never guess is so simple to work. If you know single and double crochet, you can do this stitch. Alpine stitch is great for blankets, accessories, and garments. It would also be a great texture for a pillow.

The secret to making the twisted points of the alpine stitch is front post stitches. These are just like making regular crochet stitches, but they go around previous stitches instead of through the tops of the stitches. Even if you've never done this type of stitch before, you'll learn how in this tutorial.

You can use any yarn weight with a corresponding-size hook for this. Be sure to do a swatch to see how the yarn twists and shows the pattern.

Sample of Alpine Crochet Stitch — The Spruce Crafts / Mollie Johanson

Equipment / Tools

Crochet hook

Materials

Yarn

Rows 1-3: Setting up Alpine Stitch

Start alpine stitch with any even number of stitches.

You can begin with a starting chain of chain stitches, then work the first row, or work the first row as foundation single crochet stitches. The sample starts with FSC so it lays flat.

Row 1: chain 1, single crochet in every stitch, turn.

Tip

Turning chains count as a stitch on every row so you should always skip the first stitch of the row.

Row 2: chain 2, double crochet in every stitch, turn.

Row 3: chain 1, single crochet in every stitch, turn.

The Spruce / Mollie Johanson
Row 4: Working Front Post Double Crochets

Now you can complete the front post double crochet like a standard double crochet stitch.

Yarn over and draw up a loop, bring the loop up to the same height as the turning chain. This keeps the stitches all the correct height.

Yarn over and draw the hook through two loops, then yarn over and draw through the remaining loops.

That's one front post double crochet completed.

The Spruce / Mollie Johanson
Row 4: Keeping Stitches the Correct Height

Now you can complete the front post double crochet like a standard double crochet stitch.

Yarn over and draw up a loop, bring the loop up to the same height as the turning chain. This keeps the stitches all the correct height.

Yarn over and draw the hook through two loops, then yarn over and draw through the remaining loops.

That's one front post double crochet completed.

The Spruce / Mollie Johanson
Rows 4-5: The First Half of Alpine Stitch

Every time you work a row with front post double crochets, you will work them on the previous row of double crochets.

Row 4: chain 2, *front post double crochet, double crochet, repeat from * to the last two stitches, double crochet 2, turn.

Tip

When you work the regular double crochets, check to be sure you've skipped the loops from the previous stitch where the front post double crochet is.

Row 5: chain 1, single crochet in every stitch, turn.

The Spruce / Mollie Johanson
Rows 6-7: The Second Half of Alpine Stitch

The next two rows are almost the same as the previous two, but here you work the front post double crochet stitches in the standard double crochets from row four. This creates the alternating pattern of alpine stitch.

Row 6: chain 2, *double crochet, front post double crochet, repeat from * to the last stitch, double crochet, turn.

Row 7: chain 1, single crochet in every stitch, turn.

The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

Using Alpine Stitch

Repeat rows 4–7 to continue the pattern. Ending on a single crochet row creates a nice top edge that matches the bottom, but you could end with a double crochet row.

The sides of this stitch should look even with a double crochet at each end. You could also add a border to make all the edges look the same. As you get used to this stitch pattern, you'll be able to easily spot which stitch to work where.