Spike Stitches might look tricky, but they're lots of fun! They just take a little bit of practice, and a careful reading of the directions to see where the hook goes each time! Here's how to crochet spike stitches.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through these links help support Moogly!
How to Crochet Spike Stitches Video Tutorial
Crochet Awesomeness shown in this video (click the links to buy your own!):
- Furls Fiberarts US - J, 6.00 mm hook in Purpleheart
- Furls Fiberarts Yarn Bowl
- Bernat Handicrafter Yarn (caked with a Stanwood Needlecraft 10 oz yarn winder)
Spike Stitches can be made with any height of stitch - single crochets, half doubles, doubles, trebles, etc. Like so many stitches, the thing that sets them apart is where you insert the hook!
Prep the stitch with the usual number of yarn overs, and then insert the hook where the pattern tells you to. It might be one row down, it might be ten - just count down the number of rows below the next stitch.
After you insert the hook, yo and pull up a loop all the way up to the height of the current working row. This is the trickiest part - you want the loop that's already on the hook to stay relatively taut, but you need the spike part to go loosely around the previous rows so that you don't squish them down when you finish the stitch.
Then, when you finish the stitch, you should have enough play to arrange the spike so that the strands lay nice and flat as shown. When you move to the next stitch in the pattern, you make sure to skip over the stitch in the previous row that spike stitch was worked over. Like a post stitch, you won't be working into the top of the stitch here.
And that's all there is to spike stitches! Most of the time, when working a "spike stitch" you'll be going straight down, as shown here. But read your directions closely - they can send your hook anywhere. That's what keeps crochet so interesting!
Try out spike stitches in the Magic Spike Mandala and matching afghan square. And if you've caught the spike stitch bug, be sure to check out this tutorial video for Spike Clusters, and give the Blue Agave Phone Pouch a try!
Thanks for watching! Get Moogly on your favorite social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest and Tumblr, and sign up for the Newsletter so you don’t miss a thing! All photos and text copyright Tamara Kelly 2014.
Sarah says
You do the best tutorials - you should publish a book!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much Sarah! Hard to get the videos in book form though, haha! I would like to try my hand at writing a book though someday! 😀
Diana says
I really like all the tips & patterns, thank you!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you Diana!
Sarah says
Actually I fairly seldom get as far as watching the videos - though the ones I've watched have been very good. I like that your explanations are clear even in pictures and text! 😀
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you!!
myra says
I love all your tutorials! You've given me a new found love for crocheting
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you Myra!
Anne Marie says
I will have to try this one. Whilst I am commenting and have seen the picture of the Furls Hook, could you tell me if you need to buy a smaller sized hook in the Furls, as I tried a 4 in the Candy Pink and it was looser than the 4 on a Clover soft handle one. I want to try a wooden hook and can buy only one type and the black from a shop in London, so no bother re customs payments etc.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Anne Marie! The Furls hooks are the same size as the other brands but I think what you're seeing is that working with a Furls tends to relax the hand, making the stitches a bit looser than they might be with a different hook. It's how they affect the tension in your hand and shoulders. So you might find you do need to go down a size if you're looking for a particular gauge for sure!
Patrica Lucas says
Like your stuff, thanks for posting it.
I interested in the Furls Wooden Hook, is there a place in/or around Mandevile/Covington, Louisiana. I really need a hook like the Furl, beause I have osteoarthritis in my fingers, so I need a hook that will hel. You can send an e-mail. I have a Afghan I started many years ago that I would like to finish, it has been done all SC. Been so long since I have worked it or have done anything else. I will hve to start as a beginner again, but I really want to do this.
Thanks,
Patricia
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Patricia! As far as I know, Furls hooks are only sold online. But they have a guarantee, so it's risk free to try them!
Liss says
Hi Tamara,
I only learned to crochet about May this year by watching YouTube videos. There's been plenty of trial and error but I've loved it and am now well and truly "hooked". I only recently came across your blog and I want to tell you how much I appreciate your efforts. You have really helped me progress from the beginner stage with your videos (I obviously learn better from watching and listening) and I'm now tackling my first garment from a pattern :). It's the little things that made me so happy! Like how to do a standing double crochet, foundation rows and the duplicate stitch that make my work so much neater. Now on to spike stitches! Thanks so much. <3. Liss
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much Liss! I appreciate you saying so!
Joan Carolyn Dunn says
In the directions, it says: "dc in the same stitch as the previous stitch" does this mean 2 dcs in same stitch?
Tamara Kelly says
If the previous stitch is also a dc, then yes.
ahlam says
I love all your tutorials! You’ve given me a new found love for crocheting
Tamara Kelly says
Wow, thank you so much Ahlam! I really appreciate you saying so!
Aden says
Hi, thank you for sharing so much interesting information. I am wondering what is the actual stitch of the swatch you are working into; is it the sc grit stitch? Thank you again!
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Aden! It's just standard single crochet. 🙂