This beautiful crochet design with the Crocodile Stitch, often used for shawls, scarves, and triangular wraps. 🐊✨
It has a 3D scale-like texture that builds up in a triangle shape.
Below is a complete written pattern for creating this exact triangular crocodile stitch piece.
🧶 Materials
- Medium weight (4) or DK yarn
- Crochet hook: 3.5 mm – 4 mm
- Scissors, Yarn needle
🪡 Stitches Used
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- dc = double crochet
- V-stitch = (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in same stitch
- Crocodile scale = 5 dc down one post + 5 dc up the next post
🧵 Pattern: Triangular Crocodile Stitch Shawl
Foundation Row
- Ch 6, sl st to form a ring.
- Ch 3 (counts as dc), 1 dc, ch 1, 2 dc into ring → (1 V-stitch cluster at center).
Row 1
- Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), turn.
- Make 1 V-stitch (dc, ch 1, dc) into the ch-1 space of previous row.
You now have 2 posts (dc’s) to work your first crocodile scale around.
Row 2 — First Crocodile Scale
- Turn your work sideways.
- Work 5 dc down the first post (the right dc of the V-stitch).
- Ch 1.
- Work 5 dc up the next post (the left dc of the V-stitch).
- Turn.
(You now have 1 full scale.)
Row 3 — Base for Next Row
- Ch 3 (counts as dc), 1 dc in same first dc (this forms a V-stitch under the scale).
- Ch 1, skip to the space between scales, work 1 V-stitch (dc, ch 1, dc) there.
- Continue this pattern, ending with 2 dc in last stitch.
You now have 2 V-stitches (4 posts).
Row 4 — Second Row of Scales
- Turn your work.
- Skip the first V-stitch (for spacing).
- Work one crocodile scale around the next V-stitch (5 dc down one post, ch 1, 5 dc up the next post).
- Turn.
Row 5 — Base for Next Row
- Ch 3, 1 dc in same stitch (first V-stitch).
- Ch 1, 1 V-stitch in between scales, ch 1, 1 V-stitch at end.
- Now you have 3 V-stitches ready for the next scale row.
🔁 Repeat Rows 4–5, increasing one scale each new row:
- Row 6 → 2 scales
- Row 8 → 3 scales
- Row 10 → 4 scales
Continue until desired size.
Edging (Optional)
- Work 1 sc evenly along the sides and bottom.
- Add picots or small shells for decoration if desired.
🌸 Tips
- Always alternate: one row of V-stitches (base), one row of scales.
- The shawl grows wider and longer at the same time — forming a triangle.
- Block gently to even out the scales.
Would you like me to make a crochet diagram (symbol chart) or visual step-by-step guide for this crocodile stitch triangle? It will show exactly where to place each stitch.
