Orchid Stitch Scarf , a New Stitch for your Crochet Toolbox
Posted by Lianka Azulay on
Love textured crochet? The Orchid Stitch creates a 3D-like fluffy flower that is fun and unique. The Orchid Stitch follows the same Crocodile Stitch technique of a two-row repeat: a row of V-sts followed by a row of flowers. Learn this technique with a free pattern below or purchase the ad-free printable PDF with pattern support available PDF for only $2.75 HERE.
One of the things that has kept me excited about crochet for over 30 years (because, of course, I learned crochet in the womb or earlier 
is that there are always new stitches and techniques to the learn, and that fuels my dreams.
If you have accompanied my designing adventures throughout the years, you know by know that I’m a crochet textureaholic. In fact, I don’t think I have only designed pieces rich in texture. Here are just a few of my favorite Crocodile Stitch and Embossed Crochet designs:
Browse my patterns HERE
The Orchid Stitch follows the same Crocodile Stitch technique of a two-row repeat: a row of V-sts followed by a row of flowers. The fun part is that the petals are made by pulling up loops instead, which make them all fluffy and unique.
I made this scarf where you can practice the stitch over and over until you master it. I wanted to make it a no-fuss, meditative-like project that you can take along, learn a new stitch, but still make it impressive to look at.
How to Crochet the Orchid Stitch?
The “Orchid Stitch” is formed by a two-row repeat: a row of V-sts followed by a row of flowers. This is a fairly easy pattern to execute and fast to memorize. It follows the same technique of the Crocodile Stitch and just like it, the stitches are crocheted in front of the V-sts, as opposed to working them on top of the row. The unique feature about this stitch is that instead crocheting dcs to make the petals, you’ll pull up loops, as we do when making puff stitches. Both sides of petals are worked from the top down around the V-st posts. A photo tutorial is provided to better illustrate the technique
The Perfect Yarn for this Project
I knew I would add even more fun to this project if I used a self-striping yarn for color effect. I also wanted a yummy fiber to cozy up around our necks. The perfect candidate: my own brand of super soft self-striping yarn Dream Baby. This is the perfect yarn to make the scarf pop even more, making it a master combination of yarn and stitch textures, if I may say.
I used only two skeins of Dream Baby yarn for a 7” wide by 58” long scarf has lots of yardage (393 yards per skein!).
Orchid Stitch Scarf
Purchase an ad-free, printable PDF with photo tutorial HERE.
Favorite or Queue this pattern to your Ravelry HERE.
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Materials:
2 skeins of Bonita Yarns Dream Baby in Lilac colorway (DK weight); 100% Acrylic (393 yards/360 m. per skein).
You can purchase this yarn in over 30 self-striping colorways at www.bonitapatterns.com
Crochet hook US Size G (4.25 mm).
Yardage: Approximately 750 yds
Size G (4.00 mm) crochet hook
Yarn needle; Sewing Needle
Gauge:
With size G crochet hook in SC pattern: 8 sc and 6 rows = 2″
CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain gauge.
Abbreviations:
Beginning (beg)
Chain (ch)
Double Crochet (dc)
Half Double Crochet (hdc)
Repeat (rep)
Single Crochet (sc)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Space (sp)
Together (tog)
Yarn Over (yo)
Purchase the ad-free printable PDF with pattern support available PDF for only $2.75 HERE.
Pattern Notes:
The “Orchid Stitch” is formed by a two-row repeat: a row of V-sts followed by a row of flowers. This is a fairly easy pattern to execute and fast to memorize. It follows the same technique of the Crocodile Stitch and just like it, the stitches are crocheted in front of the V-sts, as opposed to working them on top of the row. The unique feature about this stitch is that instead crocheting dcs to make the petals, you’ll pull up loops, as we do when making puff stitches. Both sides of petals are worked from the top down around the V-st posts. A photo tutorial is provided to better illustrate the technique.
Special Stitch Abbreviations:
Orchid stitch (OS): Working from top to bottom around first post of V-st, turn work so V-st is sideways and post of second dc is on the top (point of V-st will be facing left), (YO, insert hook around post and pull up a loop same height as previous st in working round) 5 times. There will be 11 loops on hook. YO, pull through 2 loops, (YO, pull through 3 loops) 4 times, YO, pull through 2 loops; (3 hdc, ch 1, 3 hdc) in ch-3 sp; working from top to bottom around second post of V-st, turn work so V-st is sideways and post of second hdc is on the bottom (point of V-st will be facing left), (YO, insert hook around post and pull up a loop same height as previous st in working round) 5 times. There will be 11 loops on hook. YO, pull through 2 loops, (YO, pull through 3 loops) 4 times, YO, pull through 2 loops.
See photo tutorial for Orchid Stitch pages 4 through 6
V-St: Dc 1, ch 3, dc 1 in st indicated. Note the V-st in this pattern has 3 chains instead of the usual 1.
Directions for Scarf
Ch 34
Row 1 – Sc in second ch from hook, * ch 2, skip 3 ch, V-st (dc 1, ch 3, dc 1) in next ch, ch 2, skip next 3 ch, sc in next ch, rep from * across; turn. – (5 sc + 16 ch + 4 V-sts = 25 sts)
Note: in stitch count the chains in V-sts are not counted, only the ones in between scs and V-sts.
Row 2 – Ch 2 (count as hdc), OS in first V-st (see special stitches description above and photo tutorial), * hdc in next sc, OS in next V-st, rep from * across, hdc in last sc; turn. – (4 orchids).
Row 3 – Ch 6 (count as dc and ch-3), dc in same st as beg ch, * ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, V-st in next hdc, rep from * across, turn – (4 sc + 16 ch + 5 V-sts = 25 sts)
Row 4 – Ch 3 (count as hdc and ch-1), 3 hdc in first ch-3 sp, working from top to bottom around post of second dc of next V-st, (yo, insert hook in sp around post and pull up a loop) 5 times. Crocheting backwards, YO, pull through 2 loops, (YO, pull through 3 loops) 4 times, YO, pull through 2 loops (the first and last v-sts of this row will have only half petals), * hdc in next sc, OS in next V-st, rep from * to last V-st, working from top to bottom around post of first dc of next V-st, (yo, insert hook in sp around post and pull up a loop) 5 times. Crocheting backwards, YO, pull through 2 loops, (YO, pull through 3 loops) 4 times, YO, pull through 2 loops, 3 hdc in ch-3 sp, ch 1, hdc in last hdc; turn. – (3 orchids + 2 half-orchids + 4 hdc)
Row 5 – Ch 1 (doesn’t count as sc), sc in first ch-1 sp, * ch 2, V-st in next hdc, ch 2, sc in next ch-1 sp, rep from * across, turn – (5 sc + 16 ch + 4 V-sts = 25 sts)
Row 6 – Row 114: Rep rows 2 through 5 alternately for pattern, ending on a Row 2.
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Other Pattern Using the Orchid Stitch
If you enjoyed making the Orchid Stitch Scarf, you can now try the premium Orchid Stitch Baby Booties 50% off (no coupon needed from January 14 through January 31st, 2019) for only $2.75. It uses the same Dream Baby yummy yarn
Show Off what You’ve Done!
You are my biggest source of inspiration, delight and reason why I spend endless hours crocheting and creating. I look forward to your finished project pictures on social media to fuel me up. Please use #bonitapatterns and tag me on Facebook and Instagram @bonitapatterns so I can see your “babies”. If you’re not on social media, you can email me at lianka@bonitapatterns.com.