Waffle Stitch Crochet: Thick, Squishy Texture With Front Posts
Front post double crochets stacked into a grid of little squares — the waffle stitch makes the coziest blankets, dishcloths and cup cozies. Step-by-step with stitch counts.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Easy
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) yarn — cotton for dishcloths, acrylic or wool for blankets
- Hook
- 5 mm (H-8)
- Time
- 30 minutes to learn
In this post
The waffle stitch is having a moment, and it's easy to see why: deep, squishy squares that look like a waffle iron made them. It's built from two stitches — the double crochet and the front post double crochet (fpdc) — arranged in a repeating grid.
The fabric is thick and warm (it uses roughly a third more yarn than plain dc), which makes it perfect for blankets, dishcloths and cup cozies.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
First: the front post double crochet
Instead of working into the top of a stitch, you work around its post (the stitch's body). Yarn over, insert the hook from front to back to front around the post of the stitch below, yarn over and pull up a loop, then finish like a normal dc (yarn over, pull through 2, twice). The stitch pops toward you.
How to crochet the waffle stitch
Chain a multiple of 3, plus 1. The ch 2 at the start of rows doesn't count as a stitch.
- Row 1: Ch 22. Dc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (20)
- Row 2: Ch 2, turn. Dc in the first st. *Fpdc around the next st, dc in the next 2 sts*; repeat 6 times. Dc in the last st. (20)
- Row 3: Ch 2, turn. Dc in the first st. *Fpdc around the next 2 sts, dc in the next st*; repeat 6 times. Dc in the last st. (20)
- Row 4 onward: Repeat Rows 2 and 3.
The rule: fpdc around the plain dcs, and dc into the stitches that were front posts. After a few rows you'll be able to read the grid without the pattern.
Tips for a perfect waffle
- Go up a hook size if your fabric feels stiff — post stitches pull in.
- Edge stitches are always plain dc. Mark them if you lose track.
- Count the squares, not the stitches, to check your rows.
- Plan extra yarn: about 1.3× what a dc blanket of the same size would use.
What to make with waffle stitch
- Blankets: a waffle baby blanket is the most-gifted version — see our blanket size chart.
- Dishcloths: cotton waffle cloths scrub beautifully — like our dishcloth.
- Pillows and cup cozies — the texture insulates.
Common questions
Is waffle stitch hard for beginners?
It's a good second project. If you can double crochet, you can learn the front post stitch in a few minutes, and the two-row repeat is easy to memorise.
Why is my waffle stitch curling?
Post stitches tighten the fabric. Go up a hook size, keep the edges plain dc, and block the finished piece.
Does waffle stitch use a lot of yarn?
Yes — about a third more than plain double crochet, because post stitches wrap around existing stitches.
Is waffle stitch reversible?
The grid shows on both sides, but the front has deeper, more defined squares.
Waffles for breakfast, waffles for your blanket. What are you making? 🧇
Did you make this?
Tap a star to rate this pattern — it helps other makers find it.
Be the first to rate it!
YarnBloom
Crochet patterns & tutorials
YarnBloom shares cozy, beginner-friendly crochet patterns written in clear US terms, with a stitch count on every round and tips for the tricky bits. Grab your hook — let’s make something lovely.
Leave a comment