How to Bavarian Crochet

By
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson is a professional needlecrafter with over 10 years of hands-on embroidery, sewing, and knitting experience. She is the author of “Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small." Mollie also designs and sells stitching projects, co-hosts a crafting podcast, and has taught online embroidery courses.
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Published on 07/15/21
How to Do Bavarian Crochet Stitch

The Spruce Crafts / Mollie Johanson

Project Overview
  • Skill Level: Intermediate

Ready to learn a new stitch combination that creates colorful crochet squares? Meet Bavarian crochet. Starting with a cross shape in the middle, the interlocking rounds of Bavarian crochet blend in a way that allows you to crochet gradients while also using up some leftover yarn.

This intermediate technique is a relatively new stitch that looks similar to Catherine's Wheel, but it is unique in the way the rounds connect. You may even get some granny square vibes from it as your work grows.

Sometimes this stitch or projects made with it are referred to as yarn eaters because they do use a lot of yarn. That can be great when it comes to working through your stash, which is why it's common to see Bavarian crochet worked in multiple colors. That said, the texture is still just as lovely when worked in a single color.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to work the basic square version of Bavarian crochet. Some patterns include ways to crochet this stitch in different shapes and styles, but it's best to start here. Once you know the two starting rounds and the two repeating rounds, you can make projects as small as a hot pad and as large as a blanket.

Note: This tutorial uses US crochet terminology.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Crochet hook
  • Scissors
  • Yarn needle

Materials

  • Basic yarn in several colors

Instructions

Round 1

  1. Round 1, Step 1: Crochet a Starting Ring

    Round 1 setup: Chain 6 and join into a ring with a slip stitch.

    Make a Starting Chain Loop
    Mollie Johanson

  2. Round 1, Step 2: Start the First Spoke

    Chain 5.

    To save time weaving in the ends, wrap the yarn tail over the working yarn with each chain and as you get started. You can do this as you start each new color.

    Chain 5 Working Over the Yarn End
    Mollie Johanson

  3. Round 1, Step 3: Make a Treble Crochet Cluster

    Work a treble crochet cluster with 4 treble crochets.

    You should have five loops on the hook before yarning over and drawing the final loop through all the stitches.

    Work a 4 Treble Crochet Cluster
    Mollie Johanson

  4. Round 1, Step 4: Finish the First Spoke

    Chain 5 and single crochet into the starting ring.

    Chain 5 and Single Crochet
    Mollie Johanson

  5. Round 1, Step 5: Repeat to Complete the Round

    Repeat steps two through five of this round three times so you have a total of four spokes.

    Join the round with a slip stitch.

    Repeat Steps to Make the Bavarian Crochet Center
    Mollie Johanson

Round 2

  1. Round 2, Step 1: Begin Working Around the First Spoke

    Round 2 setup: Chain 1 and single crochet into the single crochet from round one.

    Chain 2.

    Yarn over two times for a treble crochet. Insert the hook into the top of the treble crochet 4 together from round one. This is the "eye" created when you drew the loop through all the stitches. Complete this stitch in the next step.

    Work Into the Loop of the Cluster
    Mollie Johanson

  2. Round 1, Step 2: Treble Crochet Around the Spoke

    Treble crochet 4 and chain 1.

    Note: This includes the treble crochet started in the previous step.

    Treble Crochet 4 and Chain 1
    Mollie Johanson

    Treble crochet 4, chain 1, and treble crochet 4.

    Repeat Groups of 4 Treble Crochet and 1 Chain
    Mollie Johanson

  3. Round 2, Step 3: Anchor the Stitches

    Work a single crochet into the single crochet from the previous round. This secures the shell shape.

    Single Crochet to Secure the Fan of Treble Crochets
    Mollie Johanson

  4. Round 2, Step 4: Repeat to Complete the Round

    Repeat steps two and three, adding a shell shape to each spoke.

    Join the round with a slip stitch and end off the yarn. To save time later, now is a great time to weave in the end of the first color.

    Repeat the Steps to Finish the Round 2 of Bavarian Crochet
    Mollie Johanson

Round 3

  1. Round 3, Step 1: Start a New Color of Yarn

    Round 3 setup: Working into the first chain-1 space from the previous round, join a new color of yarn with a single crochet.

    Chain 5. 

    Join Yarn in a Chain 1 Spaces and Chain 5
    Mollie Johanson

  2. Round 3, Step 2: Make a Back Post Treble Crochet Cluster

    Yarn over two times for a treble crochet. Insert your hook so it goes in front of the next treble crochet from the previous round, thus starting a back post treble crochet. 

    Yarn Over Two Times and Insert the Hook With the Post to the Back
    Mollie Johanson

    Back post treble crochet 4 together. You should have five loops on the hook before drawing a loop through all and completing the stitch.  

    With Five Loops on the Hook, Yarn Over and Draw Through
    Mollie Johanson

  3. Round 3, Step 3: Complete the Corner

    Chain 5 and single crochet into the chain-1 space from the previous round.

    Chain 5 and Single Crochet in the Chain 1 Space
    Mollie Johanson

  4. Round 3, Step 4: Make a Back Post Treble Crochet Cluster

    Back post treble crochet 8 together. You should have nine loops on the hook before drawing a loop through all and completing the stitch.  

    Back Post Treble Crochet 8 Together
    Mollie Johanson

  5. Round 3, Step 5: Complete the Side

    Chain 5 and single crochet into the chain-1 space from the previous round.

    Chain 5 and Single Crochet in the Chain 1 Space
    Mollie Johanson

  6. Round 3, Step 6: Repeat to Complete the Round

    Repeat steps one (beginning with the chain 5) through step five, adding to each corner and side.

    Join the round with a slip stitch.

    Repeat to Complete Round 3 of Bavarian Crochet
    Mollie Johanson

Round 4

  1. Round 4, Step 1: Treble Crochet Around the Corner

    Round 4 setup: Chain 1 and single crochet in the single crochet from the previous round.

    Working into the "eye" of the cluster from the previous round, treble crochet 4 and chain 1 two times, then treble crochet 4.

    Single crochet in the single crochet from the previous round.

    Work Three Groups of 4 Treble Crochet and Chain 1 Into the Corners
    Mollie Johanson

  2. Round 4, Step 2: Treble Crochet the Side

    Working into the "eye" of the cluster from the previous round, treble crochet 4, chain 1, and treble crochet 4.

    Single crochet in the single crochet from the previous round.

    Work Two Groups of 4 Treble Crochet and Chain 1 Into the Side Sections
    Mollie Johanson

  3. Round 4, Step 3: Repeat to Complete the Round

    Repeat steps one (starting from the first treble crochet) and two, adding to each corner and side.

    Repeat the Steps to Complete Round 4 of Bavarian Crochet
    Mollie Johanson

Repeat rounds 3 and 4 as many times as needed to make the size square you want. All the corners are the same, and you'll simply add more repeats of the side stitches as the piece grows.

Adding the colors in rainbow order or in a gradient of one hue (for example, working from pink to red to burgundy) really shows off the beauty of the Bavarian stitch.

Add as Many Rows as You Want, Repeating Rounds 3 and 4

The Spruce Crafts / Mollie Johanson