How to Bavarian Crochet

Last Updated: March 28, 2019 Approved

Bavarian crochet is an intermediate level technique that creates a thick, textured patch of yarn. It's traditionally worked in rounds, but you can also work Bavarian crochet in rows.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Bavarian Crochet in the Round^{[1]
X
Research source}

1
Chain six and join. Attach the yarn to your hook using a slip knot, then work a foundation of six chain stitches. Join the first and last chain stitch together with a slip stitch, forming a ring.
2
Work a double treble shell into the center of the ring. You'll need to work a series of chain stitches, double crochets, and double treble crochets into the center of the ring to form the first shell of the first round.
- Chain stitch four times.
- Work one double treble crochet into the center of the ring. There should be one stitch left on your hook after completing the double treble crochet.
- Work three more double treble crochets into the center of the ring. Leave the last stitch of each double treble on the crochet hook so that there are four loops on your hook when finished.
- Yarn over the hook, then pull the yarn-over through all the loops. You should be left with one loop on your hook when done.
- Lock this shell in place by working one chain stitch.
- Chain four from the loop on your hook.
- Double crochet once into the center of the ring.
Advertisement
3
Create four more double treble shells. Follow the exact same procedure used to create the first treble shell three more times.
- You should have a total of four shells in the first round. Once you complete the final shell, the first round is finished.
4
Double treble crochet into the locking chain. Work two chain stitches, then double treble crochet 12 times into the locking chain of the first shell in your first round.
- This step begins the second round.
- You should be able to spot the locking chain in the valley between shells.
5
Double crochet into the previous round. Work two chain stitches, then work one double crochet into the first double crochet of your previous round.
- This step completes the first shell of the second round.
6
Create three more shells. Follow the same steps used to create the first second round shell three more times.
- For each shell: chain two, double treble crochet 12 times into the locking chain, chain two, and double crochet once into the double crochet space.
- When finished, you should have a total of four shells in the second round. This will complete your second round.
7
Fasten off the yarn. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail roughly 2 inches (5 cm) long. Pull this yarn through the loop on your hook to fasten it off.
- The first two rounds are worked in one color, but the next two rounds will need to be worked in a second color.
8
Join your second color. Attach your second color of yarn to any of the second round shells, placing it in between the eighth and ninth double trebles of the 12-double-treble cluster.
- Attach the yarn to your hook with a slipknot.
- Insert the hook through the eighth and ninth double treble stitches.
- Yarn over from the back.
- Pull this yarn-over through to the front of the work, then through the bottom loop on your hook. The yarn should now be fastened in place.
9
Create a connecting shell between two shells of the previous round. For the third round, you will need to begin by creating a double treble shell that span across the first two shells of your second round.
- Chain four.
- Double treble crochet once into the back bar of each of the next four double treble crochets of your first second-round shell. Leave the last loop on the hook after each stitch.
- Double treble crochet once into each of four matching double treble crochets in the next second-round shell. Leave the last loop on the hook after each stitch. After the last one, you should have eight loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and pull the yarn-over through all eight loops on your hook, creating an eight-double-treble shell.
- Chain one to lock the shell cluster.
- Chain four.
- Double crochet once into the space between the last double treble you worked into and the next double treble.
10
Form a double treble shell over the top of the next shell. The next thing you need to do is to create a smaller shell on top of the rounded edge of the second-round shell you're currently positioned over.
- Chain four.
- Double treble crochet once around the back bar of each of the next four double trebles from the previous round. Leave the last loop on your hook after each stitch.
- Yarn over the hook.
- Pull this yarn-over through all four loops on your hook, creating a four-double-treble group.
- Chain one to lock the shell group in place.
- Chain four.
- Double crochet once into the next double treble of the previous round.
11
Alternate back and forth between both round-three shells. Complete the third round by working three more sets of shells, following the same procedure used to create the first set.
- Each set should start with a shell that crosses between two previous round shells, and end with a shell that sits on top of one previous round shell.
- By the end of the round, you should have a total of four shell sets or eight separate shells.
12
Work a shell into the gap. You're now ready to star the fourth round of Bavarian crochet. As with the rounds before it, this round consists of double treble shells.
- Work eight double treble crochets into the next locking chain.
- Work one double crochet into the next double crochet of the previous round.
- Double treble crochet 12 times into the locking chain of the next four double treble groups from the previous round.
- Double crochet once into the next double crochet of the previous round.
13
Repeat around the entire perimeter. Follow the same shell procedure completed in the previous step around the entire perimeter of the third round.
- Once you work your way back to the start of the fourth round, the fourth round is complete.
14
Fasten off the yarn. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail measuring 2 inches (5 cm) long. Pull this tail through the loop on your hook to fasten off the work.
- You've technically completed the Bavarian crochet at this point. You can end your project here or continue on until your work reaches its desired size.
- If you choose to continue on, repeat rounds three and four around the perimeter of the work until you are satisfied with the final size.
- When you finish, weave the excess tails into the back stitches of your work to hide them.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Bavarian Crochet in Rows^{[2]
X
Research source}

1
Work a foundation chain. Attach the yarn to your hook using a slip knot, then work a foundation of chain stitches in multiples of 10.
- In other words, the foundation chain can consist of 10 chains, 20 chains, 30 chains, 40 chains, 50 chains, etc.
- The length of your foundation chain will be the final length of your project.
- At the end of your foundation chain, work two more chain stitches to serve as a turning chain for your next row.
2
Half double crochet at the start of the next row. Half double crochet once into the second chain from your hook.
- When counting chains, do not count the loop currently on your hook.
3
Create the first shell. To create the first shell of your first official row, you will need to work a series of treble crochets and half double crochets.
- Skip four chains in your foundation.
- Work nine treble crochets into the fifth chain.
- Skip another four chains in your foundation.
- Half double crochet once into the next chain.
4
Work additional shells across the row. Repeat the previous step across the full length of your foundation, stopping only once you reach the end of the row.
- This completes the first official row.
- If desired, you can change yarn colors after the end of your first row. Doing so is not necessary, though.
5
Front post treble crochet at the start of the next row. Chain three, then work one treble crochet into the front posts of each of the next four stitches. Keep the last loop of each treble crochet on the hook.
- After the last treble crochet, yarn over the hook and pull the yarn-over through all the loops on the hook.
- Chain four again.
- Work one half double crochet into the next stitch in the previous row.
6
Create treble clusters along the entire row. Work a series of treble clusters, chains, and half double crochets across the entire second row, stopping before you work the last five stitches.
- For each group:
  - Chain four.
  - Work a front post treble crochet into each of the next four stitches, leaving the last loop on the hook after each one. Half double crochet once, then work another four treble crochets across the next four stitches. Leave the last loop on the hook after each stitch, then yarn over and pull it through the all the loops on your hook after the final stitch. This counts as a nine-stitch shell cluster.
  - Chain four.
  - Work one half double crochet into the front post of the next stitch.
7
Work a partial cluster at the end of the row. Chain four, then work a treble crochet into the front posts of each of the final five stitches in the row, keeping the last loop on the hook for each one.
- Yarn over and pull through all the loops after completing the last one.
- This completes the row. Chain four, then turn the work over.
8
Work treble clusters and half double crochets across the third row. Work four treble crochets into the top of the first cluster, then half double crochet once into the next half double crochet.
- Create connecting shells across the entire row, stopping just before the last cluster. For each connecting shell:
  - Work nine treble crochets into the center of the next cluster.
  - Half double crochet into the next half double crochet.
- For the final cluster of the row, work five treble crochets into the top of the cluster.
- You can change colors at the end of this row or keep going with the color you currently have.
- At the end of this row, you should also chain one and turn the work over.
9
Create nine-stitch cluster shells across the fourth row. Work one half double crochet into the first stitch, then work a series of nine-stitch cluster shells across the rest of the row until you reach the end and finish the row.
- For each group:
  - Chain four.
  - Work a nine-stitch shell cluster over the next nine stitches, following the same procedure used to make the nine-stitch shell clusters in your second row.
  - Chain four.
  - Work one half double crochet into the next stitch.
- At the very end of the row, chain one and turn the work over.
10
Connect the shells across the fifth row. At the start of the fifth row, half double crochet into the first half double crochet stitch. Work across the rest of the row using a series of treble crochets and half double crochets.
- For each connecting shell:
  - Work nine treble crochets into the center of the first cluster.
  - Half double crochet into the next half double crochet.
- Continue until you reach the end of the row.
- If desired, change colors at the end of this row.
11
Repeat as needed. You've completed a full set of Bavarian crochet at this point. Repeat rows two, three, four, and five until the project reaches your desired width.
- If you're changing colors, do so at the end of each odd numbered row.
12
Fasten off. When your project is finished, cut the yarn, leaving a tail 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) long. Pull this tail through the loop on your hook to fasten off and finish the work.
- Weave the secured tail into the back of the work to hide it.

Community Q&A

Question

I want to crochet this to fit a queen-size bed. Would my foundation chain be the width of the bed, and then work this for the length? Can I work any color, as I have four?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

It is optional as to which side to start the foundation row. Working from the width will make it easier to go back and forth, especially when the halfway point is reached and the weight gets heavier. If making colored stripes, the direction in which you want the stripes to face will be a factor. Consider making the squares for part of the design to make it less tedious in constructing such a large piece.
Question

How would I do Bavarian crochet stitch on a vest?

Community Answer

You need to know the measurements your vest will require, and then follow method 2, 'Bavarian crochet in rows', to make pieces of fabric of the correct measurements. In order to make these pieces correctly, I suggest you look at a tutorial on how to make fabric patterns for clothing. In the end, you sew the pieces together.
Question

How do I join the Bavarian squares together for a rug, etc.?

Michele

Top Answerer

You don't. You just keep crocheting, adding rows or rounds until it reaches the desired size.