What is a Stitch Multiple in Crochet
Understanding what is a stitch multiple in crochet will open up a world of creating crochet projects using crochet pattern repeats in any size or use a stitch pattern you love in another project.
Understanding Stitch Multiples in Crochet
One of the fun things about crochet are the hundreds of different stitch patterns that you can choose from to create your own projects – especially when you’ve been inspired by a pretty stitch pattern.
What is a Stitch Multiple in Crochet
You may have noticed when making different projects that there are stitches that you repeat across the row or in the round to create the stitch pattern. The stitch multiples is the number of stitches/chains needed to work each repeat of the stitch pattern.
Stitch multiples are made up of a few numbers and some examples are easy to understand. In this article, you will learn hat each part of the stitch multiple means, so you can create projects from scratch and even adjust patterns to create the exact size you want to create.
Example Stitch Multiples
Simple Stitch Multiples
Some easy stitch patterns will advise that they are worked over an even number or odd number of stitches, or advise you need to start with an even number or odd number of chains.
To create a project using one of these stitch patterns, you would just need an even number of stitches or an odd number of stitches, and follow what the pattern explains to stitch.
An example of an simple stitch repeat would be the Moss Stitch (linen stitch). This stitch is worked in multiples of 2 + 1 for the beginning chain that is skipped at the start of row 1, so you begin the row in the 2nd chain from hook.
You could make a chain of 10, or 40, or 100 + 1 extra chain to make a scarf or blanket.
More Advance Stitch Multiple’s
In this example, I am using my Breezy Chevron Blanket pattern. Below is the stitch multiple to create the pattern:
- Stitch Multiple is 10 + 1 + 3
What do each of these numbers mean?
- 10 = this is the number of stitches needed to create the chevron stitch pattern repeat
- + 1 = you would add 1 chain to work the last st in the row
- + 3 = these 3 extra chains are also added to the foundation chain to create the 1st stitch of the row (it is normal for some or all of these extra chains to be skipped at the beginning of Row 1)
Creating the foundation chain using the stitch multiple
When using the stitch multiple to create a project in the size you want, you would create a chain in multiples of 10 to the width of the project you want to create, then add on the + 1 and the + 3 on to the end of the chain you’ve created
For example:
- a chain of 100
- you would then add 4 (+ 1 + 3) extra chains
- for a total of 104 chains
- A chain of 104 would give you 10 repeats of the chevron stitch pattern in the row
To create the correctly sized beginning chain, ideally you would create a tension/gauge swatch – or you can simply go rouge and make a chain that measures as long as you want. Be carful choosing the 2nd option – row 1 can change the finished width considerably, especially when working a chevron.
Putting your understanding of what is a stitch multiple to the test!
Understanding the stitch multiples can open up a world of possibilities when you spot a stitch pattern that you’d love to create a project in.
If you’re looking to create a project in a square or rectangle shape, that stitch multiple is all you need to make it you way, in any weight yarn. It also makes those crochet stitch bibles and books so much more useful!
Let me know in the comments, what your favourite stitch pattern is.
