Have you ever fallen completely in love with a crochet stitch? That’s exactly what happened to me with the linen stitch. Once I started working with it, I simply couldn’t stop! And I know I’m not alone in this obsession.
What Makes the Linen Stitch Special?
The linen stitch (also known as the moss stitch) creates fabric with unparalleled drape and softness, without any of the bulk typically associated with crochet. It’s become my go-to stitch for almost every project, and for good reason!
For those new to this magical stitch, it’s surprisingly simple:
- Work a single crochet followed by a chain 1
- On subsequent rows, work your single crochets into the chain-1 spaces from the previous row
The result? A stitch pattern that’s only half the height of a single crochet and has half the typical stitch density. This creates a fabric that’s:
- Incredibly drapey and soft
- Less bulky than traditional crochet
- Tightly packed enough to avoid visible holes
- Unique among crochet stitches in its properties
The Quest for the Perfect Circle
Recently, I’ve been captivated by these gorgeous “phasing yarns” with their super gradual gradient color changes. They look stunning in knitting projects, but with crochet’s tendency to be a yarn-hungry craft, I knew only the linen stitch would let me build up height gradually enough to take full advantage of the perfect phasing of yarns like Bernat Colorama Halo.
This led me to an idea for an “aura” blanket, where I wanted the pattern to radiate out from the center. Simple enough, right? Just search for “linen stitch circle” and… nothing. To my surprise, no one had really cracked this pattern before!
The Challenge of Circular Linen Stitch
When I set out to create a linen stitch circle, I assumed it would follow the typical rules of circular crochet motifs—you know, those regular, predictable increase sequences we’re all familiar with. Boy, was I wrong!
What I discovered was that working a linen stitch in the round requires a completely different approach. Some rounds needed increases, while others didn’t. It was the only way to maintain a proper circular shape without:
- Ruffling
- Puckering
- Losing the distinctive linen stitch texture
The most frustrating part? No regular, mathematical pattern emerged (that I could recognize) as I worked. Each round seemed to have its own rules. I would work one round; nope, too ruffly. Try again with fewer increases; nope, too puckery!
But don’t worry! Through much trial and error, I’ve documented every single round of this elusive pattern. Now you can create your own perfect linen stitch circles without the headache of figuring it out yourself!
Linen Stitch Circle
*Chains do not count as sts. Sl st to the first sc at the end of every round. Do not turn your work*
Round 1: Make a magic circle and work 6sc into the circle. Sl st to your first sc to complete the rnd. Close it up.
Round 2: 2sc in each stitch from the prev round. (12sc).
Round 3: 1sc, ch1 in every st. (12sc, 12ch1s).
Round 4: *(1sc, ch1, 1sc, ch1) in next ch sp (do not work into scs anymore), 1sc, ch1 in next ch sp* rep to end of rnd. (18scs, 18ch1s).
Round 5: 1sc, ch1 in each ch sp. (18scs, 18ch1s).
Round 6: *(1sc, ch1, 1sc, ch1) in next ch sp, (1sc, ch1 in next ch sp)x2* rep between ** to end of rnd. (24scs, 24ch1s).
Round 7: 1sc, ch1 in each ch sp. (24scs, 24ch1s).
Round 8: *(1sc, ch1, 1sc, ch1) in next ch sp, (1sc, ch1 in next ch sp)x2* rep between ** to end of rnd. (32scs, 32ch1s).
Round 9: 1sc, ch1 in each ch sp. (32scs, 32ch1s).
And those are all the rounds you’ll need to make most circles you’d probably be looking to make! For me, this was about a 5.5 inch diameter circle in worsted weight yarn with a US I (5.5mm) hook which makes a nice sized coaster and is a circle motif that would compliment any standard granny square.
However, if you want to keep going down the linen stitch rabbit hole with me and see how I got the massive 22″ diameter circle at the center of my aura blanket, you can check out that tutorial HERE for 43 rounds of linen stitch circle instructions PLUS how to square it off and add a cute little border.
And if you’re absolutely hooked (teehee) on linen stitch motifs, check out my linen stitch shorts pattern! It uses linen stitch square, pentagon and triangle motifs that are much easier to tackle than their circular sister.
Love the linen stitch and want a simpler pattern to ease you in? Check out my Boho Stripes Blanket pattern next!
Thanks so much for reading, happy stitching!