How to Crochet the Lemon Peel Stitch

If you want an easy and beginner friendly stitch combination, the lemon peel stitch is just what you need! The lemon peel stitch is made by crocheting alternating single crochet and double crochet stitches, and the resulting texture is squishy and dense and can be used for so many different project ideas. Beginners and advanced crocheters alike will love using this stitch again and again for its beautiful simplicity! Check out the step-by-step guide and video to learn how to crochet this stitch yourself!

One of my favorite things about crochet is that there are so many different stitch combinations possible! Not to mention that there are more still being invented all the time. For me, this thought makes my creative side get all excited because it means that there will always being more ideas to try or stitches to learn!

Now, all of the possibilities can be really overwhelming for crochet beginners, but don’t worry! If you’ve mastered the basics, like chaining, single crochet, double crochet, and half double crochet, there are many stitch combinations that use just variations of these stitches. You simply have to mix them together to create something new, but the foundation is what you already know.

For the lemon peel stitch (or seed stitch), you will need to be able to chain, single crochet, and double crochet. That’s it! It is with a basic foundation that this stitch creates a fun alternative to just using a single crochet stitch. If you’re anything like me, the variation can be very welcome at times.

The lemon peel stitch is aptly named as well. The texture is somewhat dense (depending on your hook, yarn, and tension, of course), and a finished swatch will look like the exterior of a lemon, hence the name lemon peel stitch. However, like many crochet stitches, this stitch goes by other names as well, so you may hear it called the seed stitch, griddle stitch, or another name!

As with a previous blog post, I’m going to give you a free pattern for how you could use this stitch to create a baby washcloth! I made several of these for my little one before he showed up, and I love using them for his bath times. They are a little smaller than conventional washcloths so they can fit in your hand more easily. Feel free to use the pattern to create your own, and tag me @godsgiftofcreativity when you share!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you. If you do make a purchase, thank you! You rock! If you have a question, see my full disclosure here.

Notes & Tips for Lemon Peel Stitch:

-To start, be sure to crochet an odd number of chains!

-When using this stitch, you should be sure to always start your row with a single crochet and end with a double crochet.

-On the second row and beyond, you will want to make sure your single crochets are all on top of the double crochets from the previous row, and work the double crochets into the single crochets from the previous row.

-Consistent tension is key, as it is with any stitch combination involving different stitch heights.

-If you are unsure of how to chain, single crochet, or double crochet, check out my tutorials via the links!

What do you need to crochet the lemon peel stitch?

To complete the lemon peel stitch, you just need two things:

-a crochet hook

KnitPro – Waves Crochet Hook – 6,0mm – Blue

-some yarn

Hobbii – Rainbow Cotton 8/8 – Pastel Purple (041)

I suggest you use a crochet hook that corresponds to the yarn weight unless you want to experiment. Because this can be a dense stitch, it could end up with a very tight result if you use a smaller hook than recommended. Feel free to use what best suits you and your purposes, but I just wanted to give you a heads up!

How to Crochet the Lemon Peel Stitch:

The lemon peel stitch is really just alternating using single and double crochets. The steps are:

1. Crochet an odd number of chains.
2. In the second chain from the hook, you will single crochet. Then double crochet in the next chain. Continue along the chain in the same manner: single crochet, double crochet. Make sure to end the row with a double crochet!
3. At the end of the row, chain 1, and turn your work. Then single crochet in the first stitch, and double crochet in the second. Alternate the single crochet and double crochet stitches across.

With this stitch combination, you will see that it is really just one stitch combination and row repeated for the whole project. That’s what makes this stitch so simple, but the result will still be lovely and full of wonderful texture!

Lemon Peel Stitch Video Tutorial:

How to Use the Lemon Peel Stitch:

The options for this stitch are endless, but that’s what makes it great! Some ideas for possible projects are:

-Blankets

-Washcloths

-Headbands

-Sweaters

-Placemats

Really, anytime you want a more dense stitch that has a slight texture to it, you could use the lemon peel stitch!

Free Baby Washcloth Pattern:

Supplies:

• Hook: Size G/6 4.25mm
• Yarn: 1oz. DK weight, cotton yarn (you could really use whatever yarn you wanted!)
• Yarn Needle
• Scissors

You need to know:
ch = chain
st = stitch
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet

All stitches in U.S. terms.

Notes:
-Ch 1 does not count as a stitch.

Washcloth

• Ch 31.
• Row 1: In the second ch from the hook, *sc in the second ch and dc in the next ch*. Continue from * to * until the end of the row. You should end with a dc. Then ch 1 and turn. (30 sts total)
• Repeat Row 1 for a total of 25 rows to make a hand sized washcloth. The final product should be about 7in. by 6.5in.
• Fasten off, and weave in ends. Ta dah! You did it!