What Makes the Even Berry Stitch Special
The even berry stitch is one of those delightful discoveries that makes you wonder why you didn’t learn it sooner. It’s dense and beautifully flat on one side, with wonderfully dimensional texture on the other—perfect for projects that need a little extra character.
I genuinely love using this stitch for practical items around the house: trivets that protect your counters, scrubbies that tackle dishes with satisfying texture, and pillow covers that add visual interest without being fussy. It’s a stitch that works hard while looking lovely!
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Materials
What You’ll Need:
- Yarn in your preferred weight (cotton works beautifully for household items)
- Appropriately sized crochet hook
- Basic crochet knowledge (chain, single crochet)
Video Tutorial
Step By Step Instructions For The Even Berry Stitch
Foundation Chain: Chain an even number of chains. This creates an odd number of working stitches after your first row, which is exactly what we need for the pattern to work out properly.
Row 1 (Setup Row): Skip the first chain. Work one single crochet into the next chain and continue working single crochets into each chain across your foundation chain.
Row 2 (Berry Row): Chain 1 and turn. Single crochet into the first stitch. Now time for your first berry:
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch
- Pull up a loop
- Yarn over and pull through just the first loop on your hook (you’ll have 3 loops remaining)
- Yarn over and insert into that same stitch again
- Pull up another loop (now you have 5 loops on your hook)
- Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops
- Chain one to close your berry
Work one single crochet into the next stitch.
Continue alternating berry stitches and single crochets to the end of the row.
Row 3 (Single Crochet Row): Again, Chain 1 and turn. Single crochet into the first stitch. Now look carefully at your stitches—you’ll see “V” shapes along the top. Skip the first V (this is the chain stitch that closes the berry from the previous row). Work one single crochet into the top of the next “V” which will be your berry stitch. Then, work 1 single crochet into the next stitch, which is the single crochet from the previous row.
Continue working 1 single crochet in each berry stitch and each single crochet from the previous row.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 for your desired length, alternating between berry rows and single crochet rows.
Tips for Success
When working the single crochet rows between berry rows, pay attention to those V-shaped stitches. Skipping the chain closures and working into the tops of the berries ensures your stitch count stays consistent.
Also, I found it easy to accidently forget to chain to close my berries all together. If you do this, you don’t necessarily need to unravel the whole row. From time to time I just continued on like it didn’t happen and my project still turned out beautifully.
Project Ideas for the Even Berry Stitch
This stitch truly shines in practical applications:
Kitchen Trivets: The dense, textured fabric protects surfaces beautifully while adding handmade charm to your kitchen.
Dish Scrubbies: That bumpy texture is perfect for scrubbing, especially when worked in cotton yarn.
Pillow Covers: The dimensional side creates visual interest, while the flat side sits nicely against cushion forms.
Pot Holders: The thickness provides excellent heat protection (use cotton yarn for safety).
Bath Mats: Scale up with bulkier yarn for a textured, absorbent bath mat.
Common Questions About the Even Berry Stitch
Is the even berry stitch difficult for beginners? Its definitely doable, even for beginners! If you’re comfortable with single crochet, double crochet and chain stitches, you can absolutely master this stitch. The berry itself is just a variation of basic techniques you already know and learning to just pull through the first loop on your hook can help you practice more complicated techniques.
What’s the difference between even berry stitch and regular berry stitch? The “even” refers to how the berries stack on top of each other row after row. Choose the uneven berry stitch if you like the look of staggered berries.
Can I use any yarn weight? Yes! Just adjust your hook size accordingly. Cotton and cotton blends work especially well for household items. And if you plan to use this stitch for items that may encounter heat (like a trivet or pot holder) stay away from acrylic yarn if you can. It can melt!
Why do my berries look uneven? This happens if you skip a stitch or, most likely, if you forget the chain stitch needed to “close your berries.” I did this a couple times, then, when I completed my next single crochet row, I didn’t have the correct number of stitches to stack my berries.
Embracing Textured Crochet
There’s something wonderfully satisfying about textured stitches like the even berry. They add so much character to simple projects without requiring complicated colorwork or intricate shaping. Sure, it’s a yarn-eater, but for the right project, it’s totally worth it!
I hope this stitch inspires your next project—whether that’s freshening up your kitchen with handmade trivets or creating cozy textured pillows for your living space. The possibilities are genuinely exciting!
Happy crafting!
