If you like the look of Reverse Single Crochet (aka the Crab Stitch), then you’ll love the Twisted Single Crochet! Here’s how it’s made!
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How to Crochet the Twisted Single Crochet – Right Handed
How to Crochet the Twisted Single Crochet – Left Handed
As Seen in This Video (click for more info)
In words…
To make the Twisted Single Crochet, you insert the hook in the next stitch, pull up a loop (keep both loops on hook loose), turn the hook counter clockwise (loops remain on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops.
It can be a little tricky pulling through those loops after the twist, so it’s definitely important to keep both those loops a little bigger than usual before the twist. If it’s looking a little odd at first, make a few more twisted sc, and then give your fabric a quick gentle tug – that seems to pull the stitches right into place!
The Twisted Single Crochet has the same look as the Reverse Single Crochet/Crab Stitch, but you can keep working in the usual direction – and some say they find it a lot easier! What do you think? Which do you prefer?
Thanks for watching!
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Linda
Love your patterns and the way you explain all your designs
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much Linda!
Brittany
When you do the twisted single crochet does it matter what kind of hook you use to do cause I use a 3.5 or 5.5 or something like that
Tamara Kelly
You can use any size hook or yarn you like! 🙂
Lisa Schwartz
Great video. Just a heads up that on the left-handed version you say to rotate the hook counter-clockwise, but because the video is a rotated version of the right-handed video it actually shows you rotating it clockwise. You might want to add a mention of that so as to not confuse people.
Tamara Kelly
Whoops, thank you Lisa! I added a note to the video!
Dhondt
Dear Lisa,
I am HIlde Dhondt from Belgium. My english is not so good : so please excuse me. I’m crocheting tigger of winnie the pooh but i have problems with the joining of the head. Can I email you please for some help ? My email is [email protected]
thank and many regards
Hilde
Olga Torres
Thanks, that is so much better than the crabstitch, which feels so awkward.
Tamara Kelly
😀 I’m glad you like it, thank you Olga!
Tina
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I love how you simplify and explain everything so even a beginner can understand. This is much easier than doing the crab stitch and is every bit as beautiful. I thoroughly enjoy all your video tutorials. Thank you.
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you so much Tina! That’s always my goal!
Terry
How do you crochet the next row after the reverse single crochet?
Tamara Kelly
Usually this stitch is worked as the final round or row, so if you want to keep going, then you’ll want to work this is just the front loop of the previous row, so that you can work the next row in the back loop.
Linda
Thanks for showing this. I was just saying to someone earlier today that I have a scrap blanket my Mom made, and she called it a twisted stitch but never got around to showing me before she died. Then I see your video posted in a FB crochet group. How wonderful! Would a twisted double work the same way, twisting before the final pull thru? Thanks so much!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you Linda! I’ve been pondering a Twisted double myself this week – I haven’t seen it before, but I think it could have a really neat look!
Lisa Rumain
I ran into this stitch late last year. I was so tired of the reverse single crochet. I have edged so many baby blankets with this stitch as a substitute for more than the reverse single crochet. I’ve had a lot of compliments on it too.
Tamara Kelly
😀 I’m so glad it’s working for you Lisa!
Lisa Mcavey
Very clear explanation! I might try this to finish off the edge on a blanket. It looks easier than the reverse single crochet which I have done.
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you Lisa!
Soffity
Your videos are terrific thanks. I had terrible trouble with the crab stitch at first but after practising I find I can zoom along with no trouble. All that hook turning sounds time consuming but if it suits others then good oh. When trying a new stitch it’s a good idea to give it more than one or two goes, often if you go away and try again later it will all work out. You need patience and perseverance to crochet well.
Tamara Kelly
Absolutely Soffity! It’s just nice to have options so each person can find the method they like best. 🙂
Bobbie Samrow
Love learning new stitches. I’ve loved the crab/reverse SC since I learned it, I’m sure I will be using this one as often. Thanks
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you Bobbie!
Cathy
Excellent video. I watched another one I found Googling and was totally confused. Not sure it will be easier than the reverse single crochet, but I won’t know until I try it.
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you Cathy! It’s not for everyone, but it’s great to have options!
Ann
I love,love,love that you can show crochet tutorials for us lefties. Thanks a bunch!!
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you so much Ann!
Barbara
Is this stitch just to finish off a blanket .? Or can you make rows on top ?
Tamara Kelly
You can crochet another row into it, but I’m afraid it’ll hide the twist. To add it in the “middle” of a pattern, I’d work it in the front loop only, then continue the pattern in the back loop only of the previous row. 🙂
Terry Given
This stitch looks lovely! Thank-you for sharing it!! My favorite reverse stitch is actually the half double crochet. It is my “go to” stitch for borders on afghans, baby blankets, scarfs and much more. Is there a twisted half double crochet stitch?
Tamara Kelly
I’ve been playing with a dc version, but for hdc I think the version would be to pull the loops up *really* tall, since there is one more to deal with!
sandra berg
Tamara, thank you for the easy way to make that twisted single croc. stitch. I really like the way you go into detail, some times I get so confused but, thanks to you I believe I have it down pat now.
Sandra Berg
Tamara Kelly
Yay! Thank you Sandra, I’m so glad to hear it! 😀
Cathy K
Saw this first in your newsletter, so had to watch video! It’s an interesting alternative to the crab stitch! I’m going to have to try this & see if I can prevent a tightening of my border ? Thanks for all you great patterns & wonderful videos!
Veronika
A very clear and easy to follow tutorial – thank you 🙂 I really like the look of this stitch and will use it for sure.
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much Veronika! 🙂
Darlene Smart
Tonight I was piecing together a bag and normally would have used the crab stitch. But because my hands were really bothering me, I tried this stitch instead. Looks great and was much easier on my hands and wrists than the alternative.
Thanks for another great tutorial!
Tamara Kelly
I’m so glad it helped! Thank you Darlene!
Jana
I love this! I could NEVER get the hang of the crab stitch, though I liked the look of it. This is a super alternative! I just finished a round rug for my granddaugters’ room with Tshirt yarn. I am just cruising along, getter faster and faster (a hint if anyone else uses this with a bulky yarn-you need to pull your loops up a bit more to accommodate) anyway, it occurred to me that I don’t know how to “join”this stitch! Since the rug is round, I definitely have to do this. I read all the comments and no one mentioned this! Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Tamara Kelly
Hi Jana! Thank you! To finish it off in the round, I like the seamless join. There’s a tutorial HERE – it won’t be as “clear” as in the tutorial due to the different stitch, but the idea is the same – to sort of “hide” it with the needle. 🙂
Jana
LOL! That’s exactly what I did! The edge looks fabulous on the rug. I “blocked” it (as best you can with polyester Tshirt yarn!) last night and will be putting glittery fabric paint on the back side to try and make it less “slidey” on the hardwood floors. I brought it to work and will do it in our classroom. My cat would make a mess of it if I tried it at home!
Thanks again for this stitch! It is SO much easier than the crab sitch! I had noticed in the comments questions about a DC one. Have you worked that out yet?
Thanks again. 🙂
Tamara Kelly
I’m so glad to hear it! 😀 Yes, I did indeed! click here
Deborah
Can I ask what hook you’re using in this post?
Tamara Kelly
It’s listed and linked in the bullet points above, right under the videos. 🙂
M
Always love your videos. But i got this one. LOVE doing the crab stitch, backwards! I find once you get the first two done… its all sideways from there! Your videos are so much help, so thank you. ?
Tamara Kelly
😀 Thank you so much M!! I just love finding new ways to do things!
Joanne Sears
How do I download the instructions, I don’t need a pdf reader, my Mac already has one. Help please?
Tamara Kelly
Hi Joanne! The green Print Friendly button at the bottom of the post will create a free downloadable copy of the post. 🙂
Glenda
Thank you for this, just did the Crab Stitch Sunday and stumbled on to this alternative stitch.. Much easier on my right to left brain. It looks awesome.
Tamara Kelly
😀 I’m glad you like it! It’s so much easier for me, I just love it!
Eden
Great video, thanks, but can you tell me what to do at the corners? I’m using this stitch for edging on a blanket. TIA
Tamara Kelly
Thank you! At the corners I like to work 3 twisted sc sts, just like I would work 3 standard sc. 🙂
Eden
1was doing 1 twisted 1sc &another twisted, seems to work ok. Thanks for the reply!
Tamara Kelly
If it works, then it’s good! 😀
Barbara Price-Mills
Is this only for a border or can (and how) would you do another row?
Tamara Kelly
Hi Barbara! If you wanted to add another row after a row of this stitch, I would work this stitch in the front loop only and then work the next row in the back (unused) loop. Working into it tends to hide the look.
Johanna
Hello Tamara,
Thanks again for a great and ever so helpful video. Now I’m just wondering when substituting this stitch for a crab stitch, would the tension be the same ? Thanks 🙂
Tamara Kelly
Hi Johanna! I find it to be a pretty ideal substitution! If anything, it might be a *little* looser than the crab stitch, but my crab stitch always wants to be too tight (and that might just be me)!
Sandra
I posted on the YouTube site but never go an answer to my second question. How do I use the invisible join to end this stitch? I tried on my own and It ended nightmare bad.
Tamara Kelly
I’m sorry I missed it Sandra! Sometimes the comments on YouTube seem to disappear when I go to answer them.
I’m not sure if I can describe it in words, it’s sort of a matter of staring at the stitches and seeing where that strand would go if it was part of a stitch, and then burying it after that. I will try to get it on a video tutorial as soon as possible!
Karly
OMG!!! I am SOOOO HAPPY I happened across this tutorial!! I have been following you MISS TAMARA for YEARS! And have worked mannny of your patterns. I, like many others, LOATHE working the crab stitch but I love the look of it! It is one of my go-to borders. I can not believe there was a variation out there that is SOOO MUCH EASIER and produces the same look!! If you can’t tell I am just overjoyed :):):):) I am currently in the process of stitching a pillow cover together and it is turning out BEAUTIFULLY! So thank you for being awesome and sharing this!
Tamara Kelly
Thank you so much, Karly! ♥ I’m so glad you like it!!
Julia M
I used this stitch as a border working in the round. I found the regular crab stitch to be virtually impossible so I was pleased to find this alternative. My question is how do I finish off with this stitch? I can’t quite seem to figure it out.
Thank you for any help B on this!
Julia
Tamara Kelly
I’m so glad you like it! ♥ I usually just break the yarn and pull that end on up out of the stitch. Then I use that tail end to take a stitch in the first twisted sc, doing my best to mimic the look between the other sts.