How To Crochet The Crocodile Stitch 

With easy to follow pictures and video tutorial

The Crocodile stitch is one of my all time favorite crochet stitches! I love the texture and I think it gives quite a dramatic effect.

I’ve used the crocodile stitch on loads of projects, but I particularly like making bags with it.

The Crocodile stitch is also known as ‘Dragon stitch’ or ‘Mermaid Stitch’ … It’s what is often used to make the mermaid tail blankets.

As this is such a favorite of mine, I really wanted to share it and make this picture and video tutorial for you… It is quite a long video for a crochet stitch tutorial, but I wanted to make it as easy to follow as possible, so hopefully you’ll really be able to get to grips with this stitch and have fun making loads of projects with it! 😀 

Stitches used are in UK terms:

Ch = Chain

Tr = Treble (US double)

Sl st = Slip stitch

Sk = Skip

So to start… we chain multiples of 5 + 3 (for the tutorial I chained 25 + 3 = 28)

ROW 1… In the 7th Ch from hook do 2 x Tr… Then Ch 1

Sk 2 Chs… Then *1 x Tr in the next Ch & then Ch1. Sk 2 Chs then 2 x Tr in the next Ch & then Ch1 *

Continue between * to the end of the row … You should finish your row with one Tr in the last Ch… Then Ch1 and turn our work.

ROW 2… We Sk the first Tr from the previous row and work around the post of the first Tr post of the first pair of Trebles  (as shown in the photo above) We do 5xTr around the post. 

Then do 5xTr around the 2nd Tr post … Then Slst into the top of the Tr on it’s own (the Tr between the 2 pairs) this is to anchor the ‘crocodile scale’ to stop it moving forward.

Continue working the same way across the row… So you will be working the Crocodile scale around the pairs of Treble crochets … and slip stitching into the top of the treble crochet that sits on its own. (It will become very clear if you watch the video below) …. We finish the row by slip stitching into the top of the chains from the previous row… Ch3 and turn your work. (this Ch3 counts as our 1st treble for the next row)

ROW 3… we start this row by doing a Tr at the base of the Ch3, then Ch1

Then do a Tr through the space in the middle of the crocodile scale… then Ch1

Then do 2xTr into the top of the treble which is between the 2 crocodile scales from the previous row … then Ch1

Continue across the row by doing a treble crochet in the space of the crocodile scale, then Ch1… Then 2 x treble crochet in the top of the tr from the previous row, then Ch1

We end the row with a 2xTr in the top of the Tr from the previous row… Ch1 and turn our work.

ROW 4… We start this row by doing 5xTr around the post of the 1st tr from the previous row… Then 5xTr around the post of the 2nd Tr from the previous row… Then Sl st into the top of the next Tr from the previous row.

Continue doing the same until the end of the row… We finish this row with the crocodile scale … then Ch1 and turn our work.

ROW 5…  Slst into the space in the center of the first scale, then Ch4

Then do 2xTr in the top of the Treble from the previous row and Ch1

Then a Tr in the space in the center of the crocodile scale from the previous row and then Ch1

Continue that pattern until the end of the row… Finishing with a Tr into the center of the crocodile scale… Then Ch1 and turn our work.

ROW 6…  Skip the first treble crochet from the previous row and then do 5xTr around the post of the next treble (the first treble of the pair)

Then do 5xTr around the next treble from previous row (the second treble of the pair)

Sl st into the top of the next treble from previous row

Continue that pattern to the end where we finish on a scale, and then Sl st into the chain from the previous row.

Then Ch 3 and turn our work

ROW 7 … Tr crochet at the base of the Ch3 we’ve just done then Ch1

Tr into the space from the Scale on the previous row then Ch1

Continue the same pattern across the row, just the same as we’ve done before

Ending the row with 2xTr and then Ch1 and turn

I hope you have lots of fun with this stitch… I know it can be a bit frustrating learning it, but hopefully this tutorial will help you crack it. I really suggest you use a combination of watching this video tutorial and using the photo to remind you how to start the next row. 

I have lots of other videos that you might like on Youtube, so check them out HERE and subscribe to my channel  so you see when I bring out new videos 

If you like this crochet stitch tutorial you might also like The Trinity Stitch Tutorial

If you like this crochet stitch tutorial you might also like this Ladder yarn adjustable Crochet necklace

I hope you have lots of fun making your crafts.