If you’re ready to give your crochet projects a bit of extra texture and charm, the star stitch is one of the best stitches to learn. It creates a thick, cozy fabric with a little “star” motif repeating across each row—perfect for scarves, hats, blankets, or any piece that wants a stylish surface. Let’s dive into how to crochet the star stitch, step by step!

What’s the Star Stitch?

The star stitch (also called the daisy stitch or marguerite stitch in some places) is formed by gathering several loops together to form one “star” unit, then chaining and moving on. The next row fills in around those stars with simpler stitches. The result: a row of beautiful little stars across your fabric and a dense, textured feel.

Because each star uses several loops pulled through at once, this stitch eats a little more yarn than basic stitches—but the texture is totally worth it. It also forms quite a warm, structured fabric, so it’s great for cooler‑weather accessories.

What You’ll Need

• Yarn of your choice (a smooth, worsted weight (medium #4) yarn is a good place to start). I use #3 in the example in this article.
  
  

• Crochet hook sized for your yarn
  
  

• Scissors
  
  

• Yarn needle for finishing ends
  
  

• Stitch marker (optional) to mark the first stitch of your row
  
  

Stitches & Abbreviations (US terms)

• ch = chain
  
  

• sc5tog = single crochet 5 together (gathering 5 loops)
  
  

• hdc = half double crochet
  
  

• beg star st = beginning star stitch
  
  

• star st = the repeating star stitch
  
  

• end star st = the finishing star stitch
  
  

Basic Pattern Structure

The star stitch is worked over two rows that then repeat. First row: the “star” row where you create each star unit. Second row: a row of half‑double crochets that stabilizes each star and fills the gaps. Then you repeat those two rows.

Foundation

Start by chaining a number of stitches based on (2 × number of stars) + 2.
For example, if you want 10 stars across, your chain would be (10 × 2) + 2 = 22 chains.

Row 1 – Star Stitch Row (Right Side)

Beg Star Stitch (first star of the row):

• Insert hook in 2nd chain from hook, yarn over (yo) and pull up a loop (you’ll have 2 loops)

• Insert hook into next chain, yo, pull up a loop → now 3 loops
  
  

• Continue pulling up loops in the next 3 chains (so you’re gathering 5 loops total)

• You now have 6 loops on your hook: the initial loop plus the 5 you picked up
  
  

• Yo and pull through all 6 loops → that completes your sc5tog (“star”)

• Ch 1 (this little chain becomes the “eye” of the star)

Star Stitch (repeat for each star unit):

• Insert hook into the chain‑1 space (the “eye”) of the previous star
  
  

• Pull up a loop → 2 loops

• Insert into “leg” or base of the previous star (the post or body of the stitch), yo pull up a loop → 3 loops

• Insert into same base stitch again, yo, pull up → 4 loops

• Insert into next two stitches (one at a time), yo pull up loops → now you have 6 loops

• Yo and pull through all 6 loops → done star stitch

• Ch 1

Repeat the star stitch pattern across the row until you have one chain unworked. Then work the End Star Stitch: similar to the star stitch but you gather only 5 loops (instead of 6) in the last stitch, then yo and pull through all 5 loops, ch 1, turn.

Row 2 – Filling Row (Wrong Side)

Chain 1, turn your work.
Work 1 hdc into the top of the last star stitch made (the “end star st”).

Then: Work 2 hdc into each chain‑1 space (“eye”) created in the star row, across the row.

Finish: work 1 hdc in the base of the beginning star stitch.

Turn.

Row 3 and Beyond

Repeat Row 1 (star row) then Row 2 (hdc row) until your piece is the desired size. Finish on a Row 2 repeat for neatness.

Tips for Best Results

• Keep your loops even in size when gathering stars—this keeps your fabric uniform.
  
  

• Use a slightly larger hook than recommended if you find the loop gathering too tight.
  
  

• The fabric may curl slightly at the edges at first—once you’ve reached several rows, it will settle.
  
  

• Because the star stitch uses lots of yarn, consider using high‑quality yarn so your texture looks rich.
  
  

• This stitch creates a dense, cozy fabric—great for hats, scarves, blankets, but less ideal for lacy garments.
  
  

Project Ideas

Once you know how to crochet the star stitch, you can use it for:

• A snuggly scarf or cowl full of star texture
  
  

• A chunky blanket or throw where the stars give depth and interest
  
  

• A winter hat or beanie that’s warm and stylish
  
  

• A bag panel or cushion cover where the star motif becomes the design highlight
  
  

Final Stitch

Now that you're familiar with how to crochet the star stitch, you’ve got a beautiful textured option to add to your crochet toolkit. It might take a little practice to master the loop‑gathering motion, but once you do, you’ll see gorgeous results that look much more advanced than they are.

So grab your yarn, pick your hook, and let the stars shine in your next project. Happy stitching!