The Camel Stitch
The Camel stitch is one of Sara’s most favourite stitches.
The Camel Stitch is her go-to for creating a relaxed ribbing texture and mixing it up a little in her designs.
It’s made by working a half double crochet (hdc) into the third loop of each stitch. Creating a texture that has the look of a knit stitch and is a great accent on any project!
Introduction
Camel stitch is quite an understated stitch but a fabulous addition to your stitch library. A well placed row of camel stitches can really make your project pop and help to frame the other textures and stitches in your project. You can see what I mean with the photo below. Here the camel stitch was used both where indicated by the arrows and also to create the ribbing effect of the roll neck.
The look of the camel stitch is slightly different depending on whether you are working in rounds or rows. You can see from this photo that when working in continuous rows it produces a ribbing effect as seen with the neck of this poncho. How many of you recognise this Poncho??
You can find the Robin Poncho post here …..
When working in rounds the effect that you get is slightly different. The photo below shows how much closer the texture sections of the camel stitch are when working in more than one round as opposed to working in rows where it creates a bigger gap between the raised sections.
We use the camel stitch in almost all of our coffee beanie cozy designs. As they are created in the round, the camel stitch gives a fabulous texture which separates the focus stitch from the ribbing. It helps to frame the primary stitch in the centre of the cozy.
YouTube Tutorial link:
To work the camel stitch you need to work into the third loop of each stitch. This is described in the video which walks you through using the camel stitch in both rows and rounds, and photo tutorial below.
You can find our video tutorial on the camel stitch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUuktGH7tmw&t=103s
Written instructions:
Abbreviation –
hdc = half double crochet
Camel stitch is done by inserting your hook into the 3rd loop of an HDC stitch. This pushes the top 2 V’s to face more outward, thus creating a “knit stitch” look. Complete a HDC in the 3rd loop of the HDC from the previous row.
Most stitches from hdc up to the double triple crochet and higher, create a front loop, a back loop and a third loop when completed.The third loop is always created at the back of the stitch (as you look at it) when working it.
For this reason, when working in rounds the third loop will always be behind your front and back loops.
When working in rows, because you turn your work your third loop will be at the front as you are looking at it.
So now you know where the third loop is lets run through how to complete the stitch from start to finish.
In the round:
Step 1: Wrap your yarn around your hook (2 loops on hook)
Step 2: insert your hook into the third loop (going in from the top of the loop see pic below)
For Step 3: wrap your yarn around the hook
Step 4: pull through
Step 5: wrap your yarn around the hook
For Step 6: pull through all 3 loops on your hook.
In rows:
Step 1: Wrap your yarn around your hook (2 loops on hook)
Step 2: insert your hook into the third loop (going in from the bottom of the loop see pic below)
For Step 3: wrap your yarn around the hook
Step 4: pull through
Step 5: wrap your yarn around the hook
For Step 6: pull through all 3 loops on your hook.
Helpful Tips:
Check your tension – if you crochet too tightly you may find it harder to get your hook into the third loop (or even find the third loop). If you crochet very loose you may find that the third loop stretches too much creating a ‘gappy’ look to the finished project.
Start each camel row or round with a ch2 – this helps you to keep your stitch count correct and the height of your rows or rounds even. Most patterns tell you to do this.
Why not give the camel stitch a go?
We have a few patterns that use this stitch:
X’s Coffee Beanie Cozie by Sunflower Cottage Crochet (free pattern) at https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/xs-coffee-beanie-cozy-™
Samantha’s Hope beanie https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/samanthas-hope-beanie
Don’t forget that you can find us in all of the usual places! Do join our community group on Facebook and show us your projects, or add a project to Ravelry or Lovecrafts if you make any of our patterns!
You can find us here:
Facebook Group: Sunflower Cottage Crochet Community
LoveCrafts: https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/user/Sunflower-Cottage-Crochet/080c84a2-7e32-4fe4-a1cc-b43d6bffb130
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SunflowerCottageCo
Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/stores/sunflower-cottage-crochet-designs
Instagram: @sunflower.cottage.crochet
Our Store: www.sunflowercottagecrochet.com/shop
