Easy Reverse Single Crochet Stitch Tutorial For Beginners

Reverse single crochet or crab stitch is a technique to add beautiful, diagonal zig-zag borders to finished crochet items. As the name suggests, it is worked from the opposite side with the hook facing downward, but the procedure to make a single crochet remains the same. Today, you can learn all about this step-by-step with this reverse single crochet tutorial for beginners. Don’t worry; there will also be a guide to crochet single crochet even if you don’t know it. Let’s get started!

How do you do reverse single crochet or crab stitch?

Reverse single crochet may be a little awkward for even skilled crocheters. However, with our guidance and some practice, you can learn this as follows:

Procedures to know before:

Single crochet: Unlike the regular single crochet, the SC used in the crab stitch will not add height. However, the way of making remains the same. Let’s revise that:

Insert the hook to the next stitch.
Yarn over and pull up a loop.
Yarn over and pull through both loops on the crochet hook.

Starting New Yarn In Weaved Crochet Item (we shall explain later *)

Instructions On Reverse Single Crochet

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to crochet the reverse single crochet:

Make a slip knot, but don’t insert a hook in it.
*Take your crochet item and insert the hook (only) in the left corner stitch of your square or rectangle.
Then, insert the slip knot inside the hook shaft and pull the hook back again to bring the knot towards you.
Secure the knot with chain one or as the turning chain, whatever you say*.
Now swing the hook around facing downward of the item and then insert the crochet hook to the next (right) stitch.
Now, perform a similar single crochet facing the crochet hook still downward.
Keep this going by inserting the hook again and performing the single crochet along the length.
You have completed the reverse single crochet or crab stitch.

I highly recommend watching this video tutorial on crab stitch made by B.Hooked Crochet.