Easy Crochet Bean Stitch for Blankets, Hats and Scarves

Pattern name: Bean Stitch

Designer: Mirrymas

Difficulty: Easy

Hook size: 4.00 mm

Steps: 6

Images: 8

Description

The bean stitch creates rows of small, plump puffs that sit neatly between each other, giving a soft and squishy texture. Each bean is made by pulling up a few loops into the same stitch and closing them together. Once you have made a few, the rhythm is easy to remember, and only one row is repeated. It works well for hats, scarves, blankets, handbags and many other projects.

Materials

• Yarn — milk cotton yarn (any yarn works, as long as you use a matching hook)
• Hook — 4.00 mm, or the size recommended for your yarn

Abbreviations

• ch = Chain
• sc = Single Crochet (double crochet in UK terms)
• sk = Skip
• st(s) = Stitch(es)
• yo = Yarn Over

Special Stitch Instructions

• Bean stitch (bean): insert your hook into the stitch or space and pull up a loop (2 loops on your hook). Yarn over (3 loops). Insert into the same place again and pull up a loop (4 loops). Yarn over (5 loops). Insert into the same place once more and pull up a loop (6 loops). Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops, then chain 1 to close the bean.
• Bigger bean (optional): for a puffier bean, add one more yarn over and pull up one more loop so you have 8 loops on your hook before closing.

Step 1: Foundation Chain

Make a slip knot and chain an even number (a multiple of 2). For this sample, chain 22. Add chains for a bigger project or use fewer for a smaller one, keeping the number even.

Step 2: Row 1 (Single Crochet)

Skip the first chain from your hook. Work 1 sc into the second chain, then 1 sc into each chain all the way across. Make sure you work into the very last chain.

Total: 21 single crochets.

Step 3: Row 2 (First Bean Row)

Ch 2 and turn your work.

Work 1 bean into the first stitch, going under both top loops. Remember to ch 1 to close it.

*Sk the next st, then work 1 bean into the following st, under both top loops, and ch 1 to close it.* Repeat from * across the row.

When you have 2 stitches left, skip the next stitch and work the last bean into the last stitch. After you pull through all 6 loops, ch 2 and turn, ready for the next row.

Total: 11 beans.

Step 4: Row 3 (Bean Row)

From now on, you work each bean into the space at the front of each bean from the row below, not into the stitches.

Look closely at the front of a bean and you will see two small spaces, separated by a diagonal strand of yarn. Insert your hook into the space before the diagonal strand, not the one after it.

Insert your hook into the space at the front of the first bean and work 1 bean there, closing it with a ch 1.

Move to the space at the front of the next bean and work another bean. Repeat across the row, working 1 bean in front of every bean from the row below.

At the end of the row, the last bean goes into the space made by the ch 2 at this edge, two rows below. For Row 3, this is the ch 2 you made at the end of Row 1. After you pull through all 6 loops, ch 2 and turn.

Total: 11 beans.

Step 5: Repeat Row 3

Repeat Row 3 until your piece is as tall as you want. Every row has 11 beans, and the last bean of each row always goes into the ch-2 space at the edge from two rows below.

Step 6: Final Row (Single Crochet)

To finish with a neat edge that matches Row 1, ch 1 and turn. Work 1 sc into the top of each bean and 1 sc into each space between the beans, all the way across.

Total: 21 single crochets (11 on top of the beans and 10 in the spaces between them).

Fasten off and weave in your ends.

Author Notes

• Make sure you crochet into the very last chain at the end of Row 1.
• From Row 3 onward, work each bean into the space before the diagonal strand at the front of each bean, not into the tops of the stitches.
• Do not skip the ch 2 at the end of each row. It is not worked into on the next row; it stays at the edge and makes the space for the last bean two rows later.
• For a bigger, puffier bean, pull up one more loop so you have 8 loops on your hook before closing.

Customizing

• Common sizes: adult hat about 50 to 56 cm (20 to 22 in) around the head; scarf about 18 x 150 cm (7 x 60 in); handbag about 25 x 30 cm (10 x 12 in) each side; baby blanket about 75 x 90 cm (30 x 36 in); throw about 125 x 150 cm (50 x 60 in).
• Make a test swatch first with the yarn and hook you plan to use: chain 22 and work at least 8 rows, then measure how many single crochets fit across 10 cm (4 in) and how many bean rows fit in 10 cm.
• To work out your foundation chain, multiply the width you want (in cm) by the number of stitches in 1 cm, then add 1. If the result is odd, add 1 more to make it even.
• Stitch counts for any size: for a foundation chain of C, each single crochet row has C − 1 stitches and each bean row has C ÷ 2 beans. For example, 40 chains gives 39 single crochets and 20 beans; 100 chains gives 99 single crochets and 50 beans.
• Bean stitch is thick and uses more yarn than plain stitches. To estimate your yarn, weigh your swatch and divide by its area (width x height in cm) to get grams per square cm, then multiply by the area of your project. Add 10 to 15 percent extra and buy all your yarn from the same dye lot.
• For a long foundation chain, place a stitch marker every 20 chains and chain loosely, or use a hook one size larger for the chain.
• To make stripes, change colour at the end of a row, on the last yarn over of the last bean.
• For a blanket border, work single crochet evenly around all four sides, with 3 single crochets in each corner.
• For a hat, scarf or bag, make flat panels in bean stitch and sew them together, or use the stitch for the body of a project with a plain border.

Video

Watch the video tutorial

Conclusion

The bean stitch is such a cosy, squishy stitch, and once you know where to find the space at the front of each bean, the rows go by quickly. Try it for a warm hat, a soft scarf or a textured blanket.

If you make something with this stitch, I would love to see it. Share a photo and tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @mirrymascrafts, and leave a comment below to let me know how it went.

More stitch patterns to try:

• Crochet Granny Stripe Stitch: the classic granny look worked in rows.
• Half Double Crochet Back Loop Stitch: an easy, stretchy ribbed stitch.
• Crochet Cobblestone Stitch: round bumps made with single and treble crochet.
• Crochet Star Stitch: rows of little six-pointed stars.
• Granny Square Christmas Tree: a quick holiday decoration.
• Easy Textured Crochet Blanket Stitch: slip stitch and half double crochet.
• Back Loop Shell Stitch: curved shells worked in the back loop.

Happy crocheting, and see you in the next tutorial!