Crochet Crab Stitch aka Reverse Single Crochet – Easy Tutorial
This post includes affiliate links.
This crochet tutorial will teach you how to crochet the Crab Stitch which is also known as the Reverse Single Crochet using photos and a video. It creates an easy and quick border to blankets, hats, cardigans, scarves, and more.
When it comes to crocheting borders I always want my finished crochet project to be look amazing. But sometimes, I don’t have the time and patience to crochet a very intricate border around a blanket.
I’m sure you know what I mean. You feel exhausted, but still so fulfilled to have finished a very large crochet blanket, but you know you need to make it look finished, too, by adding a border around.
Well, you are in luck, the Crab Stitch which is also known as the Reverse Single Crochet is very easy to crochet and creates a nice finish on any project you just finished, but want it to look nice and neat.
In case you need some more inspiration when to use the Crab Stitch, please check out some of my patterns where I used this stitch as a border:
The Most Important Part of all: Crochet Crab Stitch Tutorial
So first, finish your crochet project (excluding the border) so you can now add the Crab stitch. The reason why it’s also called the Reversed Single Crochet is that you’re crocheting single crochets in the opposite direction as you normally would. So for a right-handed person, you’ll crochet to the right for this stitch and a left-handed person would crochet to the left.
Let’s get started. Insert your hook to the stitch next where you just crocheted your slip stitch and the chain of 1. As you can see I’m right-handed so I inserted my hook to the right of the stitch I just made.
Now, yarn over and pull through a loop. You might want to actually yarn under as it might be easier for this stitch. You’ll have 2 loops on your hook just like a normal single crochet.
To finish the stitch, yarn over and pull through. You just crocheted your first reversed single crochet aka crab stitch.
Now, continue and repeat the above steps until you finish your round. Once you get back to the first stitch of the round, you need to finish it with a slip stitch. I prefer using the hidden slip stitch as it hides the slip stitch in the back and makes a smoother surface, in this case, border.
You’re now finished and have crocheted your first Crab Stitch Border. Feel free to practice on smaller projects first in case you have some trouble. I use the reversed single crochet anytime, I want to create a nice, elegant, but still sophisticated-looking border around my projects.
If you had any trouble with the above photo tutorial, I highly recommend for you to check out my below video tutorial to learn how to crochet the Crab Stitch aka Reversed Single Crochet. It’s very detailed and shows every step.
The Break-Through Moment: Reversed Single Crochet Stitch Video Tutorial
Subscribe to my Youtube Channel here:
I hope you love this tutorial as much as I do. If you love this tutorial and technique, please use the social media share buttons above or below and share this pattern link with the world and your friends. That way you will find it easily again when you need it and you also provide the world and your friends with the ability to gain extra crochet knowledge as well. And to top it off, you help me as it allows me to create more content that you love already and want to see more of – free crochet patterns and tutorials. So, thank you for sharing.
Also, I share many more free crochet patterns and tutorials often in my Newsletter. Just for signing up I will send you a free ebook. If you are interested, please sign up below. I’m pretty sure you will enjoy my newsletter and support group on Facebook.
See what Angela, from my crochet group, said: “…Just today alone, I was speaking to a friend and mentioned this group to her because she’s having a hard time emotionally. I told her she needed to join so she can learn some cool crochet techniques and keep herself busy. You’re my first “go-to” group. Not only do you have some amazing ideas… But it’s you as a person that I can relate to. You’re kind, generous, and probably take things to heart more than you should (I do that too lol)… But you’re awesome! …”