The crocodile stitch & my gorgeous little crocodile stitch booties!

I recently discovered the beautiful crocodile stitch! It's makes such beautiful luxurious pieces!

I started with a scarf and have progressed to other items, including the bootie pattern below, again for my future niece/nephew!

Initially it can be difficult to get your head around the crocodile stitch but with the help of a couple of brilliant tutorials (linked to below) you can master it! And once you have you'll find that it's really quite easy and there'll be no stopping you!

What is the crocodile crochet stitch?

The stitch is formed with a two-row repeat, a row of v stitches, followed by a row of scales. The scales are worked in front of the v sitches with clusters of front post half double crochets (fphdcs) from top to bottom, then from bottom to top.

A good video tutorial can be viewed here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbewLEjax1I - although please note the changes from the pattern used below - i.e. the amount of stitches worked and front post hdc's as opposed to dc's as my pattern is for little people!

A written tutorial on the stitch plus photographs can be found at: http://cats-rockin-crochet.blogspot.com/2011/08/crochet-crocodile-stitch-adult-hat.html - plus another free crocodile crochet pattern for a hat!

FREE PATTERN!!!

Cute Little Crocodile Crochet Booties!

Size: 0-6 months, app. 10 cm foot length.

Materials per bootie:
25g of yarn in one colour (I used dk Special by Stylecraft, shade 1218 'Parchment')
4mm crochet hook

Stitches used:
st(s) – stitch(es)
ch – chain stitch
hdc – half double crochet
sl st - slip stitch

Special stitches used:
v st - work one hdc, ch 1 and hdc again into same st
fphdc – yo and insert hook from the front to the back around the post of the hdc of previous row. Complete as for a regular hdc stitch.

NB. This pattern works the toe of the bootie towards the heel.

Rnd 1: Ch2 (remember the loop you put on the hook is not classed as a ch), join with sl st in first ch to form a circle.

Rnd 2: Ch2 (counts as first hdc), hdc 9 into centre of circle, join with sl st to first st (10 hdc in total)

Rnd 3: Ch2, 1hdc in same st, then 2 hdc in each st around the work, join with sl st to first st (20 hdc in total)

Rnd 4: Ch2, ch1 and hdc in same st *skip next st, then work a v stitch in next st*, repeat from * to * around, join final v st to first with sl st.  This row and rows 5 to 8 form the toe area of the bootie.

Rnd 5 - 8: Repeat row 4 working the v st in each ch 1 space of the row belows v st

Rnd 9: Ch2, ch1, hdc in same st, then work six further v stitches into ch 1 spaces on the row below, turn the work (this row and following two form the side and back of bootie).

Rnds 10 - 12: Ch2, ch1, hdc in same space, then v st into each of the seven v st ch 1 spaces below*

Now pull together both sides of heel and using several sc's connect them, working through all four loops.

Turn the bootie inside out.  Fasten off.

Now for the fun bit!  The Crocodile Crochet Cuff!

To make bootie's cuff you should begin by attaching the yarn in the middle of the heel.

Rnd 1: Ch 3, hdc in same stitch,* skip 1 ch, v st in next ch, rep from * around; join with sl st in top of first hdc. – (make sure that you have 10 v sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 2 (counts as a hdc), working from top to bottom around post of first hdc of first V-st, work 3 fphdc, turn work so v st is sideways, ch 1, working from bottom to top around post of second hdc of v st, work 4 fphdc , * skip next v st, working from top to bottom work 4 fphdc around post of first hdc of next v st, ch 1, turn work so v st is sideways, working from bottom to top around post of second hdc of v st, work 4 fphdc, rep from * around; join with sl st in top of first hdc.- (5 scales in total)

Rnd 3: Ch 3, hdc in same st, yo, insert hook in sp in the centre of the scales below and complete a v st, *v st in next ch 1 sp, yo, insert hook in sp in the centre of the scales below and complete a v st, repeat from * to * around;  join with sl st in top of first hdc - (9 v sts)

Rnd 4: Repeat rnd 2 into alternate v st

Rnd 5: Repeat rnd 3

Rnd 6: Repeat rnd 2 into alternate v st

Fasten off!

Make another!

I hope you like this pattern!  If you have any problems with it please don't hesitate to comment below and I'll see if I can help!

Text and images by L Tegg. This pattern cannot be reproduced or distributed -
mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying, without
written permission. Finished products created with this pattern may be used for
commercial sale.