Stitches I Love: Crossed Shell
Who doesn't love new stitches to play with? Stitch dictionaries are one of my go to sources of inspiration for new designs. I just love seeing the versatility of what crochet can do.
One of my favourite stitches is the crossed shell. I used it in the Waterfall Shrug in Hook, Stitch and Give and its a stitch that I continue to be drawn to in my design work.
Its one of those stitches that is a total pain to establish, but once you get it, its very easy to just keep going, with enough repetition to make it easy to remember, but enough interest to keep you going. This is an excellent stitch for things like stoles and scarves.
Abbreviations:
UK Terminology Used.
ch = chain
chsp = chain space
dc = double crochet (US single crochet)
tch = turning chain
tr = treble crochet (US double crochet)
The pattern calls for a repeat of 8 stitches + 5 for the beginning chain. For this example, ch 29.
Set up Row: 3tr in the 5th ch from the hook (tch counts as 1tr and 1ch), miss 3ch, [1dc, miss 5ch, 3tr in next ch, 2ch, working back in to the 2nd ch missed, 3tr, miss 5ch from the stitch just made] twice, 1dc, miss 3ch, (3tr, 1ch, 1tr) into ch. Turn. 2 completed CS sts and 1 half CS at either end.
Set Up Row: Step 1: Make 3 tr in the 5th chain from the hook. Your turning chain counts as 1 tr and 1 chain.
Step 2: Miss 3 chain and make 1 double crochet in the next chain.
Step 3: Miss 5 chains and make 3 trebles in the next chain.
Step 4: Chain 2.
Step 5: You are now going to work back over the trebles you just made by working 3 trebles into the 2nd chain you missed when you missed 5. Make sure to work these stitches loosely, as you don't want to pull the other cluster of trebles down.
Step 6: Miss 5 chains from the cluster you just made (or 1 stitch from the first set of trebles you made). Double crochet 1.
Step 7: You will now repeat Steps 3 - 5.
Step 8: Miss 5 chains from the cluster you just made (or 1 stitch from the first set of trebles you made). Double crochet 1.
Step 9: Miss 3 chain. Make 3 trebles, 1ch and 1 treble into the last chain of the row. Turn
Row 1: 1ch (does not count as a stitch), 1dc into tr, 3ch, miss 1ch and 3tr, 1tr into dc, [3ch, miss 3tr, 1dc into 2chsp, 3ch, miss 3tr, 1tr into dc] twice, 3ch, miss 3tr, 1dc into chsp. Turn.
Row 1:
Step 1: Chain 1. 1 dc into the 1st treble.
Step 2: 3chains, miss 3 trebles, 1 treble into the dc in the row below, 3 chain, miss 3 trebles, 1 dc into the 2-chain space at top of the shell.
Step 3: 3 chain, miss 3 trebles, treble into the dc, 3 trebles.
Step 4: Miss 3 trebles, dc into the 2-chain space at the top of the shell stitch, 3 chain, miss 3 trebles, 1 treble, 3 chain, miss 3 trebles, 1 dc into the 3rd chain of the beginning chain. Turn.
Row 2: 1ch (does not count as a stitch), 1dc into dc, miss 3chsp and 1tr, 3tr into chsp, [2ch, 3tr into missed 3chsp, 1dc into dc, miss 3chsp and 1tr, 3tr into 3chsp] twice, 2ch, 3tr into missed 3chsp, 1dc into dc. Turn.
Row 2:
Step 1: 1 chain and make 1 dc into dc.
Step 2: Miss next 3-chain space and treble. Work 3 trebles into the next chain space, chain 2.
Step 3: Crossing back over the stitches you just made, make 3 trebles into the 3-chain space you just missed.
Step 4: dc into the next dc.
Step 5: Repeat steps 2-4 across the row, finishing with a dc into the last dc of the row below. Turn.
Row 3: 6ch (counts as 1tr and 3ch), miss 3tr, 1dc into 2chsp, [3ch, miss 3tr, 1tr into dc, miss 3tr, 1dc into 2chsp] twice, 3ch, miss 3tr, 1tr in dc. Turn.
Row 3:
Step 1: Chain 6 - this counts as 1 treble and 3 chains.
Step 2: Miss 3 trebles, dc into the 2chain space at the top of the shell. Chain 3, miss 3 trebles and treble into the next dc.
Step 3: Continue working this bridging pattern across, with dcs into the top of the shell stitches and trebles into the dcs in the row below, with 3 chain spaces bridging the gaps between the stitches.
Step 4: Treble into the final dc of the row below. Turn.
Row 4: 4ch (counts as 1tr and 3ch), 3tr in tr, miss 3ch, [1dc in dc, miss 3ch and 1tr, 3tr into 3chsp, 2ch, 3tr into missed 3chsp] twice, 1dc into dc, miss 3ch, (3tr, 1ch, 1tr) into 1st ch of turning chain. Turn.
Row 4:
Step 1: Chain 4 (this counts as 1 treble and 3 chain). NOTE: this is different than standard practice, but gives a nicer finished edge
Step 2: Make 3 trebles into the first treble.
Step 3: dc into the 2-chain space at the top of the shell.
Step 5: [miss the 3-chain space and treble and work 3 trebles into the next 3-chain space. Chain 2. Working back into the 3-chain space you just missed, make 3 trebles. Dc into the 2-chain space at the top of the shell] twice.
Step 6: miss 3 chains and work 3 trebles, 1 chain and 3 trebles into the 1st ch of the turning chain of the row below. Turn.
Work Rows 1 - 4 as many times as required. Finishing on an even row gives the crochet a nice even finished edge.