If you have been crocheting for a little while and want your next project to look like a real leap forward, the arrow stitch is a wonderful choice. The finished fabric has strong, repeating diagonal lines that point in alternating directions — genuinely striking, the kind of texture that makes people ask how it was done.
Crochet Arrow Stitch
The good news is that it comes down to one technique: a double triple crochet (dtr) that reaches far ahead or behind its neighbors. Once you understand that one stitch, the rest of the pattern is plain double crochet. This tutorial walks you through dtr from scratch, explains the front-and-back logic that creates the arrow effect, and guides you through every row with no experience assumed.
Materials and Tools
- Any yarn weight
- Crochet hook suitable for your chosen yarn
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
The arrow stitch works across all yarn weights. Worsted weight is a great starting point — it is easy to see the stitch structure as it forms, which helps while you are learning the pattern.
Abbreviations
- ch — chain
- sc — single crochet
- dc — double crochet
- dtr — double triple crochet
- st — stitch
- sts — stitches
Beginner Technique Notes
Understanding the Double Triple Crochet (dtr)
The dtr is the only new stitch in this pattern, and it is not as difficult as it looks. It is simply a very tall double crochet — worked by wrapping the yarn around the hook more times before inserting. Here is how to make one:
- Yarn over 3 times. (You will have 4 loops on your hook before inserting.)
- Insert your hook into the indicated stitch.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop. (5 loops on hook.)
- Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. (4 loops remain.)
- Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. (3 loops remain.)
- Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. (2 loops remain.)
- Yarn over and pull through the final 2 loops. (1 loop remains — stitch complete.)
The result is a very tall stitch that stretches over a group of regular stitches below it — that reach is what creates the arrow shape.
Understanding the Arrow Effect
The pattern alternates between two types of rows:
- In one row, the dtr leans forward over 5 stitches, and you work those 5 stitches in front of the long stitch after placing it.
- In the next row, the dtr leans backward, and you work the 5 stitches behind it.
This front-and-back switching is what makes the diagonal lines change direction and creates the V-shaped arrow pattern across the fabric. Keep track of which row you are on, and the direction will take care of itself.
What “in front of” and “behind” mean
When the pattern says to work in front of the long stitch, it means your hook passes between the dtr and the front face of the fabric. When it says behind, your hook passes between the dtr and the back face. Both placements are done after the dtr is complete — you simply reach past it in the correct direction to work the 5 dc into the stitches it skipped.
The Pattern
Stitch Multiple
- Multiple of 6 + 2.
- Example: Chain 20 (18 + 2).
Foundation Row
Foundation Row- Chain a multiple of 6 + 2.
- Work 1 single crochet into the second chain from the hook.
- Work 1 single crochet into each remaining chain across.
- Turn.
Row 1
- Chain 3 and turn. (Chain 3 counts as the first double crochet.)
- Yarn over 3 times.
- Skip the next 5 stitches.
- Work 1 double triple crochet into the 6th stitch.
- Working in front of the long double triple crochet, place 1 double crochet into each of the 5 skipped stitches.
- Reading crochet patterns can be tricky when you’re just starting out, feel free to follow the video tutorial below instead!
Repeat the following sequence across the row:
- Yarn over 3 times.
- Skip 5 stitches.
- Work 1 double triple crochet into the 6th stitch.
- Work 1 double crochet into each of the 5 skipped stitches, placing them in front of the long stitch.
- Work 1 double crochet into the last stitch.
- Turn.
The dtr leans forward in this row. After you place it, the 5 dc are worked in front of it — your hook passes between the dtr and the front face of the fabric to reach the skipped stitches. This is what starts the diagonal direction.
Row 2
- Chain 3 and turn.
- Yarn over 3 times.
- Locate the double triple crochet from the previous row.
- Work 1 double triple crochet directly into that double triple crochet.
- Working behind the long double triple crochet, place 1 double crochet into each of the next 5 stitches.
- Repeat the following sequence across the row:
- Work 1 double triple crochet into the double triple crochet from the previous row.
- Work 1 double crochet into each of the next 5 stitches, placing them behind the long stitch.
- Work 1 double crochet into the top of the turning chain from the previous row.
- Turn.
In this row the dtr stacks directly onto the dtr from Row 1, and the 5 dc are worked behind it — your hook passes between the dtr and the back of the fabric. The direction switches, and the arrow shape begins to emerge.
Pattern Repeat
- Repeat Row 1 and Row 2 until the project reaches the desired length.
Note: On Row 1 (and all right-side rows), the 5 dc are worked in front of the dtr. On Row 2 (and all wrong-side rows), the 5 dc are worked behind the dtr. This front-and-back alternation is the entire mechanism of the arrow pattern — keep track of which side of the fabric is facing you and the placement will always be correct.
Project Ideas
This stitch suits any project that benefits from bold, directional texture:
- Baby blankets and throw blankets
- Scarves and shawls
- Cushion covers and table runners
- Home décor accessories
Tips and Troubleshooting
My arrow pattern is not showing up — the fabric looks flat. The most likely cause is working the 5 dc on the same side in both rows instead of alternating front and back. Row 1 goes in front; Row 2 goes behind. If you are unsure which row you are on, look at which side of the fabric is facing you — right side faces you on Row 1, wrong side faces you on Row 2.
My stitch count is changing between rows. Check that you are working the final dc into the top of the turning chain at the end of Row 2, and that you are beginning each row with chain 3 as the first stitch. Missing either of these is the most common source of edge drift in this pattern.
The dtr feels awkward to tension. It is taller than most stitches and naturally feels loose. Keep the yarn-overs snug without pulling the stitch tight after completion. A slightly loose dtr is easier to work into in the following row; a very tight one can be difficult to locate and insert into cleanly.
I cannot find where to work the 5 dc after placing the dtr. After completing the dtr, look at the stitches it skipped — they are still visible below and behind the long stitch. Insert your hook into each of those 5 stitches in order, passing your hook to the correct side (front or back) of the dtr as you work each one.
FAQ
1. What is a double triple crochet and how is it different from a regular double crochet? A regular double crochet starts with yarn over once before inserting the hook. A double triple crochet starts with yarn over 3 times, making it a much taller stitch with more yarn-over steps to complete. The extra height is what allows it to reach over 5 regular stitches, which is what creates the arrow shape. The working method is the same — insert, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through 2 loops repeatedly until one loop remains.
2. Why do I work in front of the dtr in one row and behind it in the next? That alternation is the entire mechanism of the arrow pattern. When you place the 5 dc in front of the dtr, they lean one direction. When you place them behind it in the next row, they lean the other. The two directions meeting create the V-shaped arrow motif. If you work the same side in both rows, you get diagonal lines that all point one way — which looks different from the pattern.
3. What does “work into the skipped stitches” mean exactly? When you work a dtr over 5 stitches, you skip those 5 stitches without working into them. They are still there — you can see them below the long stitch. After completing the dtr, you go back and work 1 dc into each of those 5 stitches in order, passing your hook to the correct side of the dtr as you do. They are not lost; they are just worked out of sequence.
4. My fabric is pulling to one side. Is that normal? Some directional pull is natural while the project is in progress, especially in the first several rows. Continue working the repeat and the fabric should settle as the pattern builds. If pulling persists after 8 or more rows, check that your front-and-back placement is alternating correctly — consistent placement on one side only will cause the fabric to bias.
5. Can I use this stitch for a baby blanket? Yes, and it works beautifully for one. Use a soft, machine-washable yarn — cotton, acrylic, or a cotton-acrylic blend — and a hook appropriate to the yarn weight. The finished fabric is dense enough to be warm without being heavy, and the visual pattern is bold and appealing without being fussy. Work to your desired blanket dimensions using the multiple of 6 + 2 as your guide for the starting chain.
