Crochet technique
Surface Crochet
Surface crochet adds lines of slip stitches on top of a finished crochet or knitted fabric, like drawing with yarn. Hold the yarn behind the fabric, insert the hook through a gap, and pull up loops in a chain along the design line. Surface crochet adds plaids, outlines, lettering and details.
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How to get started with surface crochet
- Hold a slip knot of the new yarn behind the fabric.
- Insert the hook from front to back through the fabric at the start of the line.
- Yo behind the fabric and pull a loop through to the front.
- Insert the hook into the next gap along the line, about one stitch away.
- Yo, pull a loop through the fabric and through the loop on the hook.
- Repeat along the line, then pull the tail to the back and weave it in.
How do you do surface crochet?
Surface crochet is done by working slip stitches through a finished fabric, with the working yarn held behind and loops pulled to the front along a planned line.
Keep each loop relaxed so the base fabric does not pucker.
What is surface crochet used for?
Surface crochet is used for plaid lines on blankets, stems on flowers, faces on amigurumi, outlines on motifs and names on pillows.
A chalk line or removable marker helps plan the path.
Why is my surface crochet puckering?
Surface crochet puckers when the stitches are shorter than the gaps they span. Use a larger hook or skip fewer gaps.
Blocking after adding surface lines helps settle the fabric.
Frequently asked questions
Can surface crochet be done on knitting?
Yes, it works on any fabric with gaps for the hook.
What stitch is surface crochet?
Slip stitch worked through the fabric.
Is surface crochet easy?
Yes, it is suitable for beginners.