Muted peach, cream and blush create a delicate palette for shell stitch. Use the colors in broad bands to highlight the curved groups of stitches.
The instructions below use five-double-crochet shells. Other shell patterns may use different stitch counts, so keep to this version throughout the project.
Materials and Preparation
Gather three colors from the same yarn range, a suitable hook, scissors, a tapestry needle and stitch markers.
Make a practice sample, wash it and measure it before deciding on your blanket foundation. The sample below demonstrates the repeat; it is not a specified blanket size.
US Terms
Ch means chain, sc means single crochet and dc means double crochet.
The turning chain of 3 counts as a double crochet. A turning chain of 1 does not count.
Practice the Shell Stitch
Chain 26.
Row 1: Single crochet in chain 2. Repeat “skip 2 chains, work 5 dc in the next chain, skip 2 chains, sc in the next chain” across. Turn.
Row 2: Chain 3 and place 2 dc in the first stitch. Repeat “skip 2, sc in the next stitch, skip 2, place 5 dc in the next stitch” until three stitches remain. Skip 2 and finish with 3 dc in the final stitch. Turn.
Row 3: Chain 1 and sc in the first stitch. Repeat “skip 2, place 5 dc in the next stitch, skip 2, sc in the next stitch” across. The final sc goes into the previous turning-chain top. Turn.
Alternate Rows 2 and 3.
Plan the Blanket
The foundation count is a multiple of 6, plus 2. Use your sample to choose a suitable larger count.
For this palette, try four rows peach, four cream and four blush. Repeat to your intended length, finishing after a complete row.
Keep the natural scalloped top edge for the simplest finish. A separate all-around shell border requires its own stitch planning and is not included here.
Weave in the ends, then wash and dry according to the yarn label.
Stitch reference: Sarah Maker — Shell Stitch Tutorial.
