Click here to view the right-handed version of this tutorial
In addition to the basic mosaic crochet stitches, there are a number of special stitches that may be used. These give a design a more exact shape, allowing for curves and diagonal lines instead of only straight horizontal and vertical lines.
Here’s an example of a chart that has some special stitches:
Special stitches tend to be groups of 2-3 squares worked together (though some are larger). If you see a new symbol in a chart it’s best to look ahead at the full row to get an idea of which special stitches are being used.
The most important thing when working mosaic crochet is keeping the correct count of stitches! Every row of your work should have the same number of stitches that you began with. When working with special stitches, remember that every square on the chart equals one stitch: if a special stitch is a group of 3 squares, then it should work up as three stitches.
Hidden stitches: When working over a row of special stitches, you may not always be able to see the stitch you need to work into. This is especially true for extended stitches. Don’t be afraid to push the yarn out of the way to find a stitch hidden behind another.
Table of Contents
Multiple Stitches Together
2 Together (outward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Skip the next stitch, then work two DC into one stitch.
2 Together (inward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Work two DC into one stitch, then skip the next stitch.
3 Together (outward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Skip the next two stitches, then work three DC into one stitch.
3 Together (inward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Work three DC into one stitch, then skip the next two stitches.
3 Together (centered)
Right and left-handed
Skip the next stitch, work three DC into one stitch, then skip the next stitch.
DC Decreases
DC Decrease (outward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Start a DC in the first stitch, working it until you have two loops on your hook. Finish it in the next stitch, followed by a SC directly above the last stitch.
DC Decrease (inward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
SC, then start a DC in the stitch directly below, working it until you have two loops on your hook. Finish the DC in the next stitch.
DC Decrease (centered)
Right and left-handed
SC, then start a DC in the stitch directly below. Skip the next stitch and finish the DC in the stitch after, followed by a SC directly above the last stitch.
DC Decrease 3 Together
Right and left-handed
SC, then start a DC in the stitch directly below, working it until there are two loops on your hook. Continue the DC in the next stitch (there should be three loops on your hook now). Finish the DC in the third stitch, followed by a SC directly above the last stitch.
DC Decrease Extended (outward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Start a DC in the first stitch, skip the next stitch, then finish the DC in the third stitch.
SC above the skipped stitch and above the last stitch.
DC Decrease Extended (inward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Complete two SC. Below the first SC begin a DC.
Skip the next stitch, and finish the DC in the third stitch.
DC Decrease Extended Double
Right and left-handed
Start a DC in the first stitch, skip the next stitch, then finish the DC in the third stitch.
Work one SC over the skipped stitch, a second SC directly above the finished DC, and a third SC in the next stitch.
Begin a second DC in the same stitch as the finished DC, skip the next stitch, and finish the DC in the following stitch.
DC Decrease Extended 3 Together
Right and left-handed
Complete two SC, then begin a DC below the first SC.
Skip the next stitch, continue the DC in the third stitch (there should be three loops on your hook now). Skip the next stitch, and finish the DC in the fifth stitch.
SC in the second skipped stitch and again directly above the last stitch.
Diagonals
Diagonal (outward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Skip the next stitch, then work a DC followed by a SC directly above the DC.
Diagonal (inward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
SC followed by a DC directly below, then skip the next stitch.
Diagonal (centered)
Right and left-handed
Skip the next stitch, then work a DC followed by a SC directly above.
Work a second DC into the same stitch as the first, then skip the next stitch.
Double Diagonal (outward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Skip the next stitch, then work a DC in the next. Work another DC into the next stitch followed by a SC directly above.
Double Diagonal (inward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
SC followed by a DC directly below, then another DC in the next stitch. Skip the stitch after.
Diagonal Extended (outward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Skip two stitches, then work a DC in the third. SC in the second skipped stitch and again directly above the DC.
Diagonal Extended (inward leaning)
Right-handed
Left-handed
Complete two SC. Work a DC below the first SC, then skip the second SC and the next stitch.
Partial Diagonals
These stitches are used when working in the round, at the end of a row when joining at the seam.
Partial Diagonal (outward leaning)
Right-Handed
Left-Handed
Skip the next stitch, then work a DC in the same stitch as the first DC of the round. Join to the first SC. The end result should resemble a Diagonal (centered) stitch.
Partial Diagonal (inward leaning)
Right-Handed
Left-Handed
SC in the next stitch, then begin a DC directly below it, working it until there are two stitches left on your hook. Slip stitch into the first stitch of the round, pulling through every loop.
Finish by joining into the same stitch as the slip stitch. The end result should resemble a DC Decrease (centered) stitch.
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