Fantail Shell Crochet Stitch Tutorial

The Fantail Shell Stitch is such a textured stitch to master. Plus, it makes beautiful and textured projects. The Fantail shell stitch is not too holey, nor is it dense. This stitch is similar to the Catherine wheel stitch, as they both use shells.

Materials Needed

Yarn: DK and worsted weight yarns are good choices when making the Fantail shell stitch.

For this stitch tutorial, I used a DK weight (#3): Lionbrand Coboo, 51% cotton, 49% Rayon.

Recommended hook size: For the yarn weight 5mm crochet hook was used.

Other materials :

Scissors to cut ends
Tapestry needle to sew/weave in ends
Stitch markers (optional)

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Difficulty Level – The Fentail stitch is beginner-friendly, with a repeat of basic rows. After a few practices, this stitch is super easy to master without using the pattern.

Terms – US Terminology

Stitches Abbreviations

Chain/chains – ch/chs

Chain space – ch sp

Stitch(es) – st(s)

Slip Stitch – sl st

Single Crochet – sc

Half double crochet – hdc

Double crochet – dc

Repeat – rep

Special Stitches

V stitch = (dc, ch 1, dc)

Shell = (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc)

Project Ideas Using the Fantail Shell Stitch

I love that you can make any crochet project with the Fantail shell stitch. You can turn these into any project of your choice.

Crochet garments: Sweaters, dresses, cardigans
Crochet shawls and wraps
Blankets: Afghans, baby blankets, and even squares to make a much larger blanket.
Lightweight scarves
Summer tops
Table runners or doilies
Dishcloths or washcloths

How to crochet Fantail Shell Stitch

Foundation row – Multiple of 10 plus 2.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and next ch, *skip next 3 chs, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch, skip next 3 chs, sc in next ch, ch 1, skip next ch, sc in next ch, rep from * until the last 7 chs, skip next 3 chs, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch, skip next 3 chs, sc in last 2 chs, turn.

Row 2: Ch 2, dc in same st, *ch 3, sc in next ch 1 sp, ch 3, V st in next ch 1 sp, rep from * until the last ch 1 sp, ch 3, sc in last ch 1 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in last st, turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, 3 dc in first st, *skip next 2 chs, sc in 3rd ch, ch 1, skip next st, sc in first ch from next ch 3 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch 1 sp, rep from * until the last 2 ch 3 sps, skip next 2 chs, sc in 3rd ch, ch 1, skip next st, sc in first ch from next ch 3 sp, 4 dc in last st, turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first st, *ch 3, V st in next ch 1 sp, ch 3, sc in ch 1 sp, rep from * until the last ch 1 sp, ch 3, V st in last sc, ch 3, sc in last st, turn.

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in next st, *(3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in next ch 1 sp, sc in 3rd ch, ch 1, skip next st, sc in first ch from next ch 3 sp, rep from * until the last V st, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in ch 1 sp, sc in last 2 chs, turn.