Crochet Waterfall Stitch Workshop + Tutorial

The Crochet Waterfall Stitch can be done in several ways and really is a problem solver for really sharp details on a project.

What is the Waterfall Stitch?

Waterfall Stitches require you to have spaces below the rows that can go down 1 or more rows below. Like creating a filet crochet concept with the intention of a future row that will go down, waterfall stitch down, the gaping spaces to fill it in.

With a future pattern from Yarnspirations coming with a waterfall stitch of double crochet with a single crochet top to it, I wondered if it can be done in other ways? 

It can be defined in patterns as Waterfall 2 (3, 4, 5) with Stitch Assignment like W2sc. Upon learning this stitch with doing double crochet waterfalls down, I wondered if it can be done other ways so I put my thinking cap on and played with the concept.

The Waterfall Stitch is not like a front post or front loop where we wrap the hook so many times and insert it lower than normal to make the longer stitches. This has us create the stitches vertically so that each stitch is automatically secured to the horizontal chain spaces you create.

These waterfall stitches fall into the space and are secure to the frame of the blanket. So they don't lift off 

Change Your Frame of Thinking

The double crochet waterfall can go down 2 or more spaces. In this picture you can see Waterfall 3, 4 and 5. Usually, people have a tendency to dislike treble crochet due to the length of the stitch.

Instead of crocheting horizontally as we normally do, the waterfall stitches are done in the vertical. So for example, though the waterfall 5 will take longer for each of those stitches, you are actually crocheting 5 stitches all at once. So yes, longer to make the stitch but you are actually doing 5 stitches all at the same time. 

Here's the thing, your hook shaft must be exposed and hold the stitchwork through several inches on your hook. I have found this is impossible to do with a comfort grip handle or any other type of crochet hook that changes in size. The deeper the waterfall, the more of the shaft of the hook you need to do this. You may find this easier with an afghan hook aka Tunisian hook.

Why Care About Waterfall Stitch

On page 4, there is a general overview of a crochet diagram showing you the concept using double crochet for the entire waterfall crochet stitch.

The waterfall not only can go down vertically but you can have it so it follows angles too. You can also combine different depths to be used side by side to create triangles and or geometric shaping.

The longer the fall down, the higher the number.

• Waterfall 1 doesn't exist as the 1st is the actual row you are creating. Row 6 in the diagram is technically Waterfall 1 as you need to crochet that row and have the waterfalls created from that row. 
• Waterfall 2 = Row Below
• Waterfall 3 = 2 Rows Below
• Waterfall 4 = 3 Rows Below
• Waterfall 5 = 4 Rows Below

You can make more spaces to go deeper but keep in mind you need a long hook like a Tunisian or Afghan Hook to do that.

Waterfall Stitch Symbols

On page 5, you can see that the symbols for crochet diagram work can vary. It appears to be a wave that goes down and connects to the chain spaces below. A designer could use a generic symbol for this concept and the stitch abbreviations define exactly what needs to be done.

The stitch diagram you see here is showing you there is a waterfall of double crochet that falls down into the space on the 5th row but if you look at the stitches prior to and after the waterfall stitches, you can see the finishing of the waterfall stitch should be a single crochet ending.

It appears the top of the stitch of the waterfall to be half double crochet but it's not. Knowing this will change how you start the waterfall stitch so you have the right number of loops at the top of the row when you get back up there.

WATERFALL WORKSHOP

Please note that the free pattern and stitch diagrams you see are all together in one mega download at the bottom of this article if you want it. 

Single Crochet Waterfall Stitch Workshop

On page 6 is the Single Crochet Waterfall Stitch. I have created a base to crochet first and then row 6 has the practice of the 4 different levels of the waterfall stitch in single crochet. Represented by W2 sc, W3 sc, W4 sc and W5 sc. We have tutorial support to show you exactly how it is done.

Written Instructions for this Complete Workshop

You can use any yarn but what is shown is a 6 mm / J/10 hook. 

Standard Abbreviations

• Beg = Beginning
• Ch = Chain
• Dc = Double Crochet
• Hdc = Half Double Crochet
• Rem = Remain(ing)
• Rep = Repeat
• Sc = Single Crochet
• Sk = Skip
• Sp = Space
• St(s) = Stitch(es)
• Yoh = Yarn Over Hook

Each waterfall stitch is defined differently and will be addressed in each written pattern section. 

Ch 28.

1st row: 1 sc 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch across. Turn. 27 sts. 

2nd row: Ch 1, 1 sc in next 21 sc, ch 3, sk next 3 sc, 1 sc in last 3 sc. Turn. 27 sts. 

3rd row: Ch 1, (1 sc in next 3 sc, ch 3, sk next 3 sc) twice. 1 sc in rem 15 sc. Turn. 27 sts.

4th row: Ch 1, 1 sc in next 9 sc, (ch 3, sk next 3 sc, 1 sc in next 3 sc) 3 times. Turn. 27 sts. 

5th row: Ch 1, (1 sc in next 3 sc, ch 3, sk next 3 sc) four times. 1 sc in last 3 sc. Turn. 27 sts.

Here’s how to apply the single crochet waterfall stitches. 

W2sc = Insert hook from front to back under first set of ch-sp below. Yoh and draw up a loop in indicated st. Yoh and draw through 2 loops and ch-sp. Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook. 

W(3-4-5)sc = Insert hook from front to back under first set of ch-sp 2 below. [Yoh. Pull hook to front of work. Insert hook from front to back under next set of ch-sp row below] 1 (2-3) time(s). Yoh and draw up a loop in indicated st. (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook and ch-sp) 2 (3-4) times. Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook.

6th row: Ch 1, 1 sc in next 3 sc, w2sc next 3 sts, 1 sc in next 3 sc, w3sc next 3 sts, 1 sc in next 3 sc, w4sc next 3 sts, 1 sc in next 3 sc,  w5sc next 3 sts, 1 sc in last 3 sc. 27 sts. 

Tutorial Support

Half Double Crochet Waterfall Stitch Workshop

On page 7 is the Half Double Crochet Waterfall Stitch. I have created a base to crochet first and then row 6 has the practice of the 4 different levels of the waterfall stitch in single crochet. Represented by W2 hdc, W3 hdc, W4 hdc and W5 hdc. We have tutorial support to show you exactly how it is done.

Written Instructions for this Complete Workshop

You can use any yarn but what is shown is a 6 mm / J/10 hook.

Standard Abbreviations

• Beg = Beginning
• Ch = Chain
• Dc = Double Crochet
• Hdc = Half Double Crochet
• Rem = Remain(ing)
• Rep = Repeat
• Sc = Single Crochet
• Sk = Skip
• Sp = Space
• St(s) = Stitch(es)
• Yoh = Yarn Over Hook

Each waterfall stitch is defined differently and will be addressed in each written pattern section.

Note: Ch 2 at beg of row doesn’t count as stitch. 

Ch 28.

1st row: 1 sc 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch across. Turn. 27 sts. 

2nd row: Ch 2, 1 hdc in next 21 sc, ch 3, sk next 3 sc, 1 hdc in last 3 sc. Turn. 27 sts. 

3rd row: Ch 2, (1 hdc in next 3 hdc, ch 3, sk next 3 sc) twice. 1 hdc in rem 15 hdc. Turn. 27 sts.

4th row: Ch 2, 1 hdc in next 9 hdc, (ch 3, sk next 3 hdc, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc) 3 times. Turn. 27 sts. 

5th row: Ch 2, (1 hdc in next 3 hdc, ch 3, sk next 3 hdc) four times. 1 hdc in last 3 hdc. Turn. 27 sts.

Here’s how to apply the single crochet waterfall stitches. 

W2hdc = Yoh, insert hook from front to back under first set of ch-sp row below. (Yoh) twice and draw up a loop in indicated st. Yoh and draw through 3 loops on hook and ch-sp. Yoh and draw through 3 loops on hook. 

W(3-4-5)hdc = Yoh, insert hook from front to back under first set of ch-sp row below. [(Yoh) twice. Pull hook to front of work. Insert hook from front to back under next ch-sp next row below] 1 (2-3) time(s). (Yoh) twice and draw up a loop in indicated st. (Yoh and draw through 3 loops on hook and ch-sp) 2 (3-4) times. (Yoh and draw through 3 loops on hook) twice.

6th row: Ch 2, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc, w2hdc next 3 sts, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc, w3sc next 3 sts, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc, w4hdc next 3 sts, 1 hdc in next 3 hdc, w5hdc next 3 sts, 1 hdc in last 3 hdc. 27 sts. 

Tutorial Support

Double Crochet Waterfall Stitch Workshop

On page 8 is the Double Crochet Waterfall Stitch. I have created a base to crochet first and then row 6 has the practice of the 4 different levels of the waterfall stitch in single crochet. Represented by W2 dc, W3 dc, W4 dc and W5 dc. We have tutorial support to show you exactly how it is done.

Written Instructions for this Complete Workshop

You can use any yarn but what is shown is a 6 mm / J/10 hook.

Standard Abbreviations

• Beg = Beginning
• Ch = Chain
• Dc = Double Crochet
• Hdc = Half Double Crochet
• Rem = Remain(ing)
• Rep = Repeat
• Sc = Single Crochet
• Sk = Skip
• Sp = Space
• St(s) = Stitch(es)
• Yoh = Yarn Over Hook

Each waterfall stitch is defined differently and will be addressed in each written pattern section.

Note: Ch 3 at beg of row counts as dc. 

Ch 28.

1st row: 1 sc 2nd ch from hook. 1 sc in each ch across. Turn. 27 sts. 

2nd row: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 20 sc, ch 3, sk next 3 sc, 1 dc in last 3 sc. Turn. 27 sts. 

3rd row: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 dc, sk next 3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in next 3 dc, sk next 3 dc, ch 3, 1 dc in rem 15 hdc. Turn. 27 sts.

4th row: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 8 dc, (ch 3, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc) 3 times. Turn. 27 sts. 

5th row: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 dc. (Ch 3, sk next 3 dc, 1 dc in next 3 dc) four times. Turn. 27 sts.

Here’s how to apply the single crochet waterfall stitches. 

W2dc = Yoh, insert hook from front to back under first set of ch-sp row below. (Yoh) twice and draw up a loop in indicated st. Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook. Yoh and draw through 2 loops and ch-sp. (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice. 

W(3-4-5)dc = Yoh, insert hook from front to back under first set of ch-sp row below. [(Yoh) twice. Pull hook to front of work. Insert hook from front to back under next ch-sp row below] 1 (2-3) time(s). (Yoh) twice and draw up a loop in indicated st. (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook. Yoh and draw through 2 loops and ch-sp) 2 (3-4) times. (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice.

6th row: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 dc, w2dc next 3 sts, 1 dc in next 3 dc, w3dc next 3 sts, 1 dc in next 3 dc, w4dc next 3 sts, 1 dc in next 3 dc, w5dc next 3 sts, 1 dc in last 3 dc. 27 sts. 

Tutorial Support

Double Crochet Waterfall with Single Crochet Top Stitch Workshop

On page 7 is the Half Double Crochet Waterfall Stitch. I have created a base to crochet first and then row 6 has the practice of the 4 different levels of the waterfall stitch in single crochet. Represented by W2 dc, W3 dc, W4 dc and W5 dc. We have tutorial support to show you exactly how it is done.

Written Instructions for this Complete Workshop

You can use any yarn but what is shown is a 6 mm / J/10 hook.

Follow the same instructions for the double crochet from rows 1 to 5.

While the definition looks similar to the double crochet, we need to finish off this with single crochet at the top of the waterfall. This changes our instruction of not doing a yarn over at the start of the waterfall. 

W2dc = Insert hook from front to back under first set of ch-sp row below. (Yoh) twice and draw up a loop in indicated st. Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook. Yoh and draw through 2 loops and ch-sp. (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice. 

W(3-4-5)dc = Insert hook from front to back under first set of ch-sp row below. [(Yoh) twice. Pull hook to front of work. Insert hook from front to back under next ch-sp row below] 1 (2-3) time(s). (Yoh) twice and draw up a loop in indicated st. (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook. Yoh and draw through 2 loops and ch-sp) 2 (3-4) times. (Yoh and draw through 2 loops on hook) twice.

6th row: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 dc, w2dc next 3 sts, 1 dc in next 3 dc, w3dc next 3 sts, 1 dc in next 3 dc, w4dc next 3 sts, 1 dc in next 3 dc, w5dc next 3 sts, 1 dc in last 3 dc. 27 sts. 

Tutorial Support