Moss Stitch / Linen Stitch (Crochet): How to Do It Step by Step

Moss Stitch is a crochet stitch that makes woven, flat, dense but drapey; little stretch. Makers reach for it for blankets, scarves, striped projects, dishcloths. It is rated beginner here, so it is a good stitch to learn early and practice on a small swatch before a real project.

1. Chain an even number. 2. Row 1: sc in the 4th chain from the hook, *ch 1, skip 1 chain, sc in the next chain; repeat from * to the end. 3. Row 2: ch 2 (counts as sc and ch 1 space), turn. Sc in the first ch-1 space, *ch 1, sc in the next ch-1 space; repeat from *, ending with sc in the turning chain space. 4. Repeat row 2. Stitches stack in a staggered brick pattern. Work slowly for the first few repeats, keep your tension even, and check the result against the steps before continuing across a whole row or motif.

US patterns abbreviate moss stitch as sc, ch 1 (moss st). UK patterns write it as dc, ch 1 (moss st), so always check whether a pattern uses US or UK terms before you start, because the same abbreviation can mean a different stitch. Pattern keys list every abbreviation used, usually near the materials list.

The most common problems are: working into the sc instead of the ch-1 space; edges shrinking from a missed last stitch in the turning chain. Most are easy to spot if you pause after a few repeats and compare your work with the steps. Good light helps a great deal, especially with dark yarn or thread.

Stitches closely related to moss stitch include Single Crochet, Chain. Learning them together makes patterns easier to read, because many designs switch between related stitches to change texture, height or line. Each has its own step-by-step page in the stitch dictionary.