Crochet Alpine Stitch

the Cochet Alpine Stitch creates a beautifully raised fabric with plenty of depth and definition. Long front post stitches sit prominently on the surface forming a staggered texture that looks far more complicated than it actually is. One of the nice things about this stitch is that all of the post stitches are worked from the front of the fabric. Once you become familiar with finding the correct post two rows below, the four row repeat develops a lovely rhythm.

The Alpine Stitch has a definite right and wrong side so it’s not reversible. The front is where that gorgeous raised texture really comes to life.

How to Crochet the Alpine Stitch

Make a foundation chain in multiples of 2 + 1.

Setup Row:

Work a dc into the 4th ch from the hook (the 3 skipped ch count as a dc), dc in each ch across. Turn.

Row 1:

Ch 1, sc in each ch across. Turn.

Row 2:

Ch 3 (counts as a dc here and throughout), *FPtr in the next dc 2 rows below, dc in the next sc, rep from * across. Turn.

Row 3:

Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn.

Row 4:

Ch 3, dc in the next sc *FPtr in the next dc 2 rows below, dc in the next sc, rep from * across, placing a dc in the last sc. Turn.

Repeat:

Repeat rows 1-4 for your required swatch.

Tips for Crocheting the Alpine Stitch

The trickiest part is usually identifying where to place the stitch immediately after the front post treble. Because the post stitch reaches down two rows, the stitches can visually overlap. After making your FPtr remember that there should only be one skipped stitch before you work the next stitch. If you’re unsure, turn your work slightly and look at the back. It’s surprisingly good a exposing the culprit!

Try not to pull the front post treble stitches too tightly. Drawing the loop up to approximately the height of the current row helps the fabric remain flat and keeps the raised texture looking even. This is also a commonly recommended technique in Alpine Stitch tutorials.

Crochet Alpine Stitch FAQs

is the Alpine Stitch difficult to crochet?

It looks quite advanced but the repeat itself is manageable once you understand how to work around a post two rows below. I would class this version as intermediate or suitable for an adventurous beginner who is already comfortable with basic crochet stitches.

What is the stitch multiple for the Alpine Stitch?

The multiple for this stitch is 2 + 1 chains.

How many rows are in the Alpine Stitch repeat?

The stitch uses a four row repeat.

Why are my Alpine Stitches pulling tight?

Your front post treble stitches may be too short or tight. When pulling up the loop allow enough height for the stitch to reach comfortably from two rows below to the current working row.

Why is my stitch count changing?

A common culprit is accidentally working into the stitch behind the post stitch. Pay close attention to your stitch placement and check the back of the fabric whenever you’re unsure.