Tutorial – Bavarian Stitch in Rows
Bavarian Stitch is a crochet technique that creates a beautiful, textured, diamond shaped design. It is typically worked in the round, making a square from the center out, but with a few adjustments, the same technique can easily be applied in rows!
Photo Tutorial:
(scroll down for video tutorial)
Repeats:
The Bavarian Stitch pattern is a repeat of 6 stitches, and to work it in rows, we will need to add an extra 3. The pattern stitch repeats over 4 rows to make the characteristic diamond shapes.
Fans & Clusters:
The diamond shapes are made up of clusters and fans, that spread the stitches out and draw them back in together again. To make the rest of the instructions easier, let’s define the fan and cluster stitches used:
Fan: (4 dc, ch 1, 4 dc) in indicated stitch.
Front Post Cluster (cluster): This is worked around the posts from the fan stitches, as though for front post stitches.
*(Yarn over, insert hook around post of next dc, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook) 4 times** – you should now have 5 loops on your hook.
Skip the next sc, then repeat from * to ** again. Now you should have 9 loops on your hook.
Yarn over and draw through all 9 loops, ch 1 to close.
Half Cluster: This is used at the edges and is worked around the posts just like the cluster stitch. *(yarn over, insert hook around post of next dc as though for a front post stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook)** 4 times, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook, ch 1 to close.
With those techniques, you’re ready to start the Bavarian stitch pattern.
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Foundation:
For this tutorial, I’ve started with a foundation row of 21 single crochet (multiple of 6 plus 3). Because we’re starting from a flat edge, Row 1 is going to be a set up row that is just the top half of the diamonds.
Row 1 (Set up):
Ch 3 (counts as a dc), work 4 dc in next st, skip next 2 stitches, sc in next st, *skip next 2 stitches, fan in next st, skip next 2 stitches, sc in next stitch. Repeat from * once more, skip next 2 stitches, 4 dc in next st, dc in last st. You should have 2 fan stitches in the middle, with 4 dc forming half a fan at each edge.
Row 2 – Clusters
On Row 2, we start the 4 row repeat. We’re going to be starting a new row of diamonds, so let’s join a new color to start this row. With the new color, ch 1, turn, sc in first stitch, (ch 3, cluster, ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp) twice, ch 3, cluster, ch 3, sc in last st. We’ve now pulled the sides of the fans together to form the bottom of a new row of diamonds. You should have 3 cluster stitches.
Row 3 – Fans
Let’s make the top of these diamonds. Ch 1, turn, sc in the first st, (skip the next ch-3 sp, fan in the top of the next cluster, skip the next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc) 3 times. Now we have 3 completed diamonds.
Row 4 – Clusters
We’re starting a new set of diamonds, so let’s change colors again. Row 4 is similar to row 2, but we’re now offset by half a fan. Here’s where we use the half cluster stitches to even out the edges. With the new color, ch 3, turn, half cluster, (ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, cluster) twice, ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, half cluster, dc in last stitch.
Row 5 – Fans
This row is similar to Row 1, but we’re working into clusters instead of into the foundation row. Ch 3, turn, 4 dc in the top of the half cluster, (skip the next ch-3 sp, fan in the top of the next cluster, skip the next ch-3 sp, sc in next sc) twice, skip the next ch-3 sp, 4 dc in the top of the half cluster, dc in the last stitch.
Repeat rows 2 – 5 to continue the pattern.
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Video Tutorial:
6 Comments
Leta Wagner
How would I start to make my 40×40 inch square Bavarian stitch blanket into rectangle working from the ends making it longer? Any ideas to help me out? Thank you
Leta
Pia Thadani
Rip out any edging, join new yarn at the top, and start a new row following the tutorial 🙂
Annavee E Hinkley
I don’t see anywhere as to how much yarn is needed or what type of yarn.
Also the square patterns are treble crochet. Is there a reason we need to do double crochet?
Pia Thadani
This is a tutorial and not a pattern, which is why there is no yarn specified (or gauge, or size, etc)…it’s not actually instructions for making a thing, just for how to do the stitch. If you’re looking for a pattern, I used this stitch in my Bavarian Cardi pattern: https://stitchesnscraps.com/free-pattern-bavarian-cardi/
I’m not sure which square patterns you’re looking at, but either should work as long as you have the spacing right. I would use whichever stitch your pattern calls for and follow their instructions if they vary (with larger stitches they may use more chains, etc).
Shirley
I would love to try this stitch but for an Afghan. Any suggestions on how long to make the starting row?
Thank you and have a nice day!
Pia Thadani
That depends on your yarn, your gauge, and how big you want the blanket to be. I recommend making a swatch somewhere in the 6 inch range. Measure how many repeats fit in a particular width (like 2 repeats in 4 inches, or whatever you get), and then use that to calculate how many repeats you will need to get the length you want.