Simplest Shell Stitch Square Pattern and Tutorial

Let’s Learn a New Crochet Stitch

Yarn: Red Heart With Love (worsted weight yarn)
Hook: 5.0 mm (H)  Blackwood Crochet Hook from Furls

Finished Size: 8 ” x 8 ” square

Abbreviations: ch – chain, chs – chains, beg – begin, st – stitch, sts – stitches, dc – double crochet, sc – single crochet, R – row

Stitch Multiple: chain a multiple of 4 stitches + 5

Helpful Tutorials: 

Invisible Finish / Invisible Join

Note: the ch 3 at the beginning of a row counts as 1 dc so you need to work 1 sc in the top of it for each even row.

Simplest Shell Stitch Square Pattern:

R1: Ch 29. Beg in the 6th ch from the hook (the skipped 5 chs count as 2 skipped sts and 1 dc)  and work 4 dc. *Skip 3 chs, work 4 dc in the next ch*. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Skip 2 chs; work 1 dc in the last ch.  (26)

R2: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 sc in each st across (note: remember to work one in the top of the skipped 5 chs) (26)

R3: Ch 3, turn. Skip 3 sc and work 4 dc in the next sc. * Skip 3 sts, work 4 dc in the next st*. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Work 1 dc in the last st. (26)

R4: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 sc in each st across. (26)

R5: Ch 3, turn. Skip 1 sc and work 4 dc in the next sc.  *Skip 3 sts, work 4 dc in the next st*. Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Skip 3 sc and work 1 dc in the last st. (26)

R6: Ch 1, turn. Work 1 sc in each st across. (26)

R7: repeat R3

R8: repeat R4

R9: repeat R5

R10: repeat R6

R11: repeat R3

R12: repeat R4

R13: repeat R5

R14: repeat R6

R15: repeat R3

R16: repeat R4

R17: repeat R5

Edging: 

Turn to work along the side edge. Work 24 sc evenly across. Work 3 sc in the corner st.

Turn to work along the bottom edge. Work 24 sc evenly across. Work 3 sc in the corner st.

Turn to work along the other side edge. Work 24 sc evenly across. Work 3 sc in the corner st.

Turn to work along the top edge. Work 24 sc evenly across. Work 3 sc in the corner st.

Finish off and invisible join.