This pretty crochet stitch remains one of the most popular crochet stitch tutorials here on The Unraveled Mitten! I’ve just updated this post with a brand new video tutorial for this fun stitch.
Updated 7/2020
Here we are in the last week of our National Crochet Month Celebration! I hope you have enjoyed all the stitches so far!
If you are new here, in celebration of National Crochet Month, every Friday in March I have been sharing a new crochet stitch with you. What better way to advance our skills than to learn new stitches right?
Week 1: Offset V Stitch
Week 2: Back and Front Loop Half Double Crochet
Week 3: Trinity Stitch
Week 4: Balanced Shell Stitch
This week I had a hard time picking a stitch to share with you. I swatched quite a few of them before I settled on the Iris Stitch. This is the same stitch I used on the lace portion of the Petoskey Lace Cowl.
I would qualify this as an easy crochet stitch. If you have mastered your basic stitches and want to move on to something a little more interesting, give this one a try.
The Iris Stitch is a great one for watching TV and crocheting. There is only a one-row repeat and beyond the foundation row, all your stitches are placed in spaces and not in a stitch. I love crochet stitches like this. They are so relaxing and easy to memorize.

This elegant crochet stitch would be great for a variety of different projects: blankets -why does my brain always go there first? Probably because I always wish I had the patience to make them haha – scarves, sweaters, it looks great paired with basic stitches as an accent and pretty much any other project you can dream up.
Materials
-I used Caron Simply Soft in the color Strawberry, which is a #4 worsted weight yarn
-5mm crochet hook
As always please feel free to use any yarn weight and hook combo you want!
Abbreviations
-I use US terminology
-ch(s): chain(s)
-dc: double crochet
-st(s): stitch(es)
-sp(s): space(es)
Notes
Ch 3 counts as 1 dc
Want printable instructions for this crochet stitch and more? Check out my new ebook below!

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Instructions
Ch a multiple of 4 + 1, plus 2

Row 1: (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in 5th ch from hook. *Skip 3 sts, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next ch. Repeat from * across until 2 chs remain. Sk 1 ch, dc in last. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 3. Skip 2 sts. *(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch 1 sp, skip 4 sts. Repeat from * across until 3 sts remain. Skip 2 sts, Dc in last. Turn
Repeat row 2 until your piece is the desired size.
That is all there is to it! Easy right?
Are you going to try this stitch?
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I have finished the throw using iris stitch but want to add a border. I have tried to do a single crochet stitch all the way around but doesn’t work on the scalloped edge. Any suggestions. I’m new to the crochet world so needs to be simple.
Chain 1, skip 1, sc in next for 1st round of border? That usually works then sc on all on 2nd round
Worked like a charm!! Thank you!
I’d like to make this stitch for a prayer shawl, but can’t find directions for one. Could you please send me one?
Thank you so much
When u say chain a multiple of 4+1, plus 2 what does that mean?
Chain any multiple of 4 (4,8,12,16,20,24….) a d then chain 3 more.
Thank you Heather for asking that question. When I read directions like that, it always stumps me.
Do you have a PDF of the stitch patterns?
A video instruction would be awesome!
This stitch is from the book The Crochet Bible. By Betty Barnden, published by Krause Publications in 2004- its on page 78. But yea, great pattern, I love it.
Yes I definitely didn’t invent this one. It’s in a couple of my stitch book too.
Like this pattern
How many chains in the beginning/foundation row?
I am wondering how many skeins I would need for a couch blanket or I guess you’d say a throw.
Thank you
Ann
So at the beginning of this pattern it says “ch a multiple of 4 + 1, plus 2”. Does that mean to chain in multiples of 7? Or in multiples of 5 plus 2 extra stitches at the end?
Chain in multiples of 4 then at 3 at the end.
so really you are adding 3 to the end of your work
Your beginning chain. How many for a twin bed.
What is the best way to join a series of blocks made with the iris stitch?
I am using this stitch for a shawl. My foundation rows are dbl crochet (row 1) and half dbl crochet (row 2). I started with the Iris st. on row 3. Do you have any suggestion on how I could decrease gradually?
Juanita
I love the Iris Stitch, so pretty.
Thanks for sharing all of your ideas!
Very fun and pretty to crochet 😄
I want to make this using 2 different colors. What would the pattern be?
I just made this in a baby Afghan and turned out just beautiful… Thank you so much for being so giving..