how to crochet | duchess stitch

Well I saw this stitch in Anne Raybun Ough’s classic book, New Directions in Crochet , and I realised that given the current situation with the British Royal Family and the errant Duchess of Sussex, it would be quite a timely tutorial. I like to give the public what it wants, ya feel me?

The Duchess Stitch is a two row repeating pattern that creates a lovely fabric which can work up quite differently depending on the yarn you use.

The blue swatch here is worked in DK weight Sirdar Snuggly DK and a 4mm hook. The fabric formed is solid, textured and completely reversible, it looks amazing.

The copper swatch that I work up in the tutorial is an aran weight cotton yarn worked up with a 6mm hook and the effect is quite different, a bit looser, a bit lacier (a bit splittier…gah)!

So, I encourage you to play around with yarns and hooks to get the fabric you prefer and enjoy yourself.

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS

You can use any weight yarn you like for this pattern, ensuring that you use the correct corresponding hook size. Standard abbreviations apply.

UK version

Chain (ch) in multiples of 4.

Row 1. 1tr in 4th ch from hook, *skip 1ch, 1dc in next ch, skip 1ch, 3tr in next ch, repeat from * to end working 2tr in last ch, turn.

Row 2. ch1, *3tr in dc, 1dc in middle tr of 3tr group, repeat from * to end working last dc in top of turning ch, turn.

Row 3. ch2, 1tr in dc at base of turning chain, *dc in middle tr of 3tr group, 3tr in dc, repeat from * ending with 2tr in turning chain, turn.

Repeat Row 2 and 3 for pattern.

US version

Chain (ch) in multiples of 4.

Row 1. 1dc in 4th ch from hook, *skip 1ch, 1sc in next ch, skip 1ch, 3dc in next ch, repeat from * to end working 2dc in last ch, turn.

Row 2. ch1, *3dc in sc, 1sc in middle dc of 3dc group, repeat from * to end working last sc in top of turning ch, turn.

Row 3. ch2, 1dc in sc at base of turning chain, *sc in middle dc of 3dc group, 3dc in tr, repeat from * ending with 2dc in turning chain, turn.

Repeat Row 2 and 3 for pattern.

I hope you enjoy the stitch pattern, happy hooking.