Wondering how to crochet a shell border? Look no further than my tutorial below! It is an easy border that is perfect for any project and any level of crocheter.
There are many ways to crochet a shell border. The tutorial I show below is just one of the many ways you can create it. I have other patterns that use different versions of the shell stitch if you were wanting to try a few different versions for your project! My Crochet Heart Blanket Pattern and Crochet Rainbow Baby Blanket Pattern use the shell stitch only skipping 1 stitch and not 2. And my Crochet Heart Coaster Pattern uses a mini shell stitch perfect for more delicate designs.
The crochet shell stitch border is also known as the crochet scalloped border, although I will refer to it as the shell stitch for this tutorial.
Jump to:
✏️ Things To Note:
- Stitch Count: If using a foundation round, you will need to make sure the stitches divide by 5 for this pattern. If skipping 1 stitch instead of 2 it will need to divide by 4.
- Yarn: You can use any yarn for the shell stitch! Just make sure it is the same yarn weight as the rest of your project.
- Foundation round: Although I use a foundation round here, you do not need one. In fact, I don't use one for my Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch Blanket Pattern
🪡 Materials Needed
- Worsted weight yarn
- 5mm hook
- Tapestry needle
💭Abbreviations to Remember (US terms)
- Single crochet - sc
- Double crochet - dc
- Slip stitch - sl st
🧋Variations
Some crocheters, myself included, vary the amount of double crochets depending on the project. For this one I use 6 dc's, other times I use 5 depending on the project. Just make sure it's consistent for each project. You can also either choose to skip 1 or 2 stitches between stitches being worked in.
🍵Instructions for How to Crochet a Shell Border
(Optional) start with a round of single crochets as a foundation that is divisible by 5. I make my sc corners with 3 sc since I'll be adding the shell stitch on top. Sl st to the first sc stitch.
Step 1: Skip 2 stitches and make a dc.
Step 2: Make another 5 dc stitches in the same stitch you made the first one.
Step 3: Skip 2 stitches, sc into the next stitch.
Repeat steps 1-3 for the rest of the round. Sl st to the beginning.
If it doesnt fit evenly, you can always adjust 1-2 stitches by making one side skip 1 stitch instead of 2 etc. For medium to larger projects nobody will be able to notice.
And now you know how to crochet the shell border!
If you are looking for a variety of projects that use the shell stitch crochet border, check out my Crochet Backpack Pattern, Crochet Pumpkin Pie Potholder Pattern or my Heart Pillow Crochet Pattern.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and can't wait to see what you come up with! If you have any questions about the pattern, please feel free to leave a comment and I'll reply to it as soon as I can.
🐌Expert Tips
- Tension: Keep the tension consistent when making the crochet shell border.
- Corners: Watch out for the corners, they may end up curling so you can always modify the shell, or shell spacing, to make the shell stitch crochet border lay flat.
- Count your stitches: Shell patterns typically have 5 or 6 double crochets in them - stick to one version and use that for your project so it looks consistent.
🧵Pattern FAQs
You can adjust the spacing between shells, add or remove a stitch where appropriate, or work a foundation round that establishes the correct stitch count.
Ruffling usually means there are too many stitches for the edge. Check for accidental increases or extra shells.
The border may be too tight, or there may not be enough stitches around the edge. Try loosening your tension or checking the stitch count.
🧶More Crochet Border Patterns
If you tried this How to Crochet a Shell Border (or any other pattern on my website), please let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I'd love to hear from you!
How to Crochet a Shell Border
Materials
- Worsted weight yarn
- 5 mm hook
- Tapestry needle
Abbreviations (US terms)
- Single crochet - sc
- Double crochet - dc
- Slip stitch - sl st
Notes
- Stitch Count: If using a foundation round, you will need to make sure the stitches divide by 5 for this pattern. If skipping 1 stitch instead of 2 it will need to divide by 4.
- Yarn: You can use any yarn for the shell stitch! Just make sure it is the same yarn weight as the rest of your project.
- Foundation Round: Although I use a foundation round here, you do not need one. In fact, I don't use one for my Crochet Lemon Peel Stitch Blanket Pattern
Instructions
- (Optional) start with a round of single crochets as a foundation that is divisible by 5. I make my sc corners with 3 sc since I'll be adding the shell stitch on top. Sl st to the first sc stitch.
- Step 1: Skip 2 stitches and make a dc.
- Step 2: Make another 5 dc stitches in the same stitch you made the first one.
- Step 3: Skip 2 stitches, sc into the next stitch.
- Repeat steps 1-3 for the rest of the round. Sl st to the beginning.
- If it doesnt fit evenly, you can always adjust 1-2 stitches by making one side skip 1 stitch instead of 2 etc. For medium to larger projects nobody will be able to notice.
- And now you know how to crochet the shell border!
Leave a Reply