How to crochet diagonally - Crochet diagonal box stitch tutorial

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Hi everyone, looking ahead to a wonderful weekend? My weekends are not so very interesting. It is just like any other day except that I have more work on weekends :-)

This is the stool cover that I showed you earlier. It is done and I am very pleased.

This stitch was a little confusing at the start and I even considered making a simple and easy granny instead, but I didn't want to give up so easily. So I tried and tried (oh... not so many times, it is not that difficult) and after the first couple of rows the hook started to glide along smoothly. 

I felt like sharing what I learnt with you all and so made this tutorial. I would like to warn though that this MAY NOT BE suitable for a beginner. It may appear a little confusing initially, but, of course, anything can be mastered with a little practice.

I have tried to explain as best as possible through these photos, so please pay attention to the details in the photos.

Shall we start?

1. Make 6 chains.

2.  Double crochet (dc) into the 4th, 5th and 6th chains from the hook.

Your first row is done. If you wish to change colours you can do so at the beginning of a new row.

3.  Chain 6.

4. Make double crochet (dc) into the 4th, 5th and 6th chains from the hook.

5. Look at the set of photos below. As shown in the first photo take the hook to the place where I have marked the arrow head (that would be your first 3 chains from the hook of the basic chains that you made) and make a slip stitch.

6. Make 3 ch.

7. Make 3 dc in the same space. Your 2nd row is finished.

8. If you are joining a new colour do it and make 6 ch.

9. Make dc into 4th, 5th and 6th ch from hook as in step 2 and slip stitch as shown.

10. Make 3 ch.

11.  Make 3 dc into the 3 ch space as you did in step 7.

12. Join with slip stitch to the 3-ch space in the next box as shown below.

13.  Make 3 chains and 3 dc into the same space.

This is how you will be progressing and increasing the size of the pattern. Continue until you have reached the desired length.

In the above photo you can see that I have reached the desired length at the top left corner but have to increase more in the bottom right corner. So I have to stop increasing on one side and continue to increase on the other side. If you are working a square, then you can start decreasing both the sides simultaneously but since this is a rectangular piece I can't do that.

Now I will start decreasing on one side.

Start decreasing

If you are joining a new colour, do so. I usually make a knot so that they are more strong, but you can follow any method of joining a new colour.

A. Make 3 chains (for increasing a row you make 6 chains)

B.  Turn and make a slip stitch into the 3-ch space.

C. Make 3 ch.

D. Make 3 dc into the same space.

E. Continue until the end of the row as usual.

F. If you are making a rectangular piece then start the next row with 6 ch and continue increasing the length, (you are going to decrease only on one side and increase on the other side for a rectangular piece), but if you are making a square piece then make 3 ch and follow the steps from A because you have to decrease on both side simultaneously.

You can see in the below photo that I have increased this side of the row and continued to work until teh end of the row.

G. When you have reached the end of the row you would have made 3 dc into the last box of the previous row. Now make a slip stitch to the 3-ch space as shown below.

H. Make 3 ch.

I. Slip stitch into the next 3-ch space.

J. Make 3 chains and 3 dc into the same space.

Continue working in this manner. In the below picture you can see the side where I have stopped increasing has started to level off.

Since I have reached the required length on the other side of the stool too I have to now stop increasing and start decreasing on both the sides.

So for decreasing on the other side also follow the steps from A and continue until the end.

Oh phew! I am exhausted.

I hope my tutorial is clear enough. Go ahead, take the plunge and do a blanket, a pillow cover, shawl, whatever... or even a dishcloth might be an excellent idea to test this new stitch.  

Have a nice weekend.