Crochet Boxed Shell Stitch

The Crochet Boxed Shell Stitch is a decorative pattern that pairs generous crochet shells with smaller clusters to create a beautifully structured design. Each shell sits within its own little openwork frame which is where the stitch gets its “boxed” name.

There’s a lovely balance between solid stitches and chain spaces in this pattern. The large fans give it plenty of impact while the surrounding clusters add definition and prevent the fabric from looking like a continuous row of ordinary shells.

The pattern uses a two row repeat so there isn’t a huge amount to remember. Once the foundation rows are established the boxed design quickly becomes easy to recognise as you crochet.

Materials

You can practice the Boxed Shell Stitch with almost any yarn you have available. A smooth yarn is particularly useful for a first swatch because it makes the shells, clusters and chain spaces much easier to see.

You will need:

• Yarn of your choice
• Crochet hook suitable for your yarn
• Scissors
• Yarn needle

Hook Size and Yarn Weight

There is no single hook size or yarn weight required for this stitch. Choose a hook that works comfortably with your yarn and produces the type of fabric you want. If you’re learning the stitch for the first time, a medium weight yarn can make it easier to see exactly where each stitch should be placed. Once you understand the repeat you can experiment with finer or heavier yarns.

How to Crochet the Boxed Shell Stitch

This stitch works in multiples of 8 + 2.

Row 1:

Work a sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, *sk 3 ch, Shell in the next ch, sk 3 ch, sc in the next ch, rep from * across. Turn.

Row 2:

Ch 3 (counts as dc), sk first dc of Shell, *dc3tog over the next 3 dc, ch 3, sc in the next dc, ch 3, dc3tog over the next 3 dc, sk the last dc of the Shell**, ch 1, sk next sc and dc, rep from * across ending the last rep at **, dc in the last sc. Turn.

Row 3:

Ch 1, sc in the first dc, *sk next ch-3 sp, Shell in the next sc, sk the next ch-3 sp, sc in the next ch-1 sp, rep from * across, placing the last sc in the turning chain. Turn.

Repeat

Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until you have your required swatch.

Boxed Shell Stitch FAQs

Is the Boxed Shell Stitch difficult?

it’s best suited for crocheters who are already comfortable with basic stitches. The individual techniques aren’t very difficult but you do need to keep track of shells, clusters, skipped stitches and chain spaces.

What is the stitch multiple for the Boxed Shell Stitch?

For the foundation chain use a multiple of 8 +2.

How many row repeats are in the pattern repeat?

The Boxed Shell Stitch has a two row pattern repeat. After completing the setup row, simply repeat rows 2 and 3.