In this tutorial I show how to make the classic and the modified alternating spike stitch. For the classic stitch, I work in rows (it is a repeat of one row), while for the modified stitch I work in rounds (it is a repeat of two rounds).
To make this stitch, you need to be familiar with chain, single crochet, single crochet back loop only (only for the modified stitch) and single crochet spike stitch. The single crochet spike stitch is made in same way as the usual single crochet, but you have to insert your hook under the next stitch of the previous row or round. Photo instructions below show how to make this beautiful stitch step-by-step.
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Good luck!
Photo instructions for the classic and the modified alternating spike stitch
Classic alternating spike stitch (working in rows)
Row 1
1. Start with an odd number of chains.
2. Then make a single crochet in the second chain from your hook.
3. Continue making single crochets until the end of the row.
Row 2
4. Then chain one and turn your work around.
5. Make a single crochet in the next stitch.
6. Now you will make a single crochet spike stitch. So, insert your hook under the next stitch, yarn over and pull the yarn through like it is shown in the picture. Make sure to make the loop tall enough so it would be at the same level as the first loop on your hook.
7. Yarn over and pull the yarn through both loops on your hook. You have just made a single crochet spike stitch.
8. Then make a single crochet in the next stitch. Continue alternating spike stitches and single crochets until the end of the row.
Round 3
9. Chain one and turn your work around.
10. Then make a single crochet in the next stitch (the spike stitch of the previous row).
11. Then you should make a spike stitch in the next stitch. So, insert your hook below the single crochet of the previous row, yarn over and pull the yarn through like it is shown in the picture. Now you have two loops on your hook.
12. Yarn over and finish making the spike stitch.
13. Then make a single crochet in the next stitch.
14. Keep alternating the spike stitches and single crochets until the end of the row. For the rest of the pattern repeat row 3.
15. This is how the alternating spike stitch looks when you work in rows.
Modified alternating spike stitch (working in rounds)
1. Start with a round of single crochets. If you are not sure how to do it, you can take a look here.
Round 2
2. Chain one. It counts as the first stitch.
3. Now you will be working in the back loop only.
4. So, make a single crochet back loop only in the next stitch.
5. Keep making single crochets back loop only in every stitch until the end of the round.
6. To join with a slip stitch, insert your hook in the chain that you made in the beginning of this round.
7. Then yarn over and pull the yarn through.
Round 3
8. Chain one (it counts as a stitch).
9. Make a single crochet back loop only in the next stitch. Then you will have to make a single crochet spike stitch. To do that, you will have to insert your hook under the next single crochet back loop only of the previous round like it is indicated in the picture.
10. So, insert your hook under the next stitch.
11. Then yarn over.
12. Pull the yarn through. Make sure that the loop that you are making would be tall enough to be even with the first loop on your hook.
13. Yarn over.
14. Pull the yarn through. You have just made a single crochet spike stitch.
15. Then make a single crochet back loop only in the next stitch.
16. Make a single crochet spike stitch in the next stitch.
17. Keep alternating single crochets back loop only and single crochet spike stitches until the end of the round. Your last stitch in this round should be a single crochet back loop only.
18. To join with a slip stitch, insert your hook in the chain one that you made in the beginning of this round.
19. Yarn over and pull the yarn through.
Round 4
20. Chain one (it counts as a stitch). In this round you will have to make a single crochet spike stitch in the single crochet back loop only of the previous round and a single crochet back loop only in the single crochet spike stitch of the previous round.
21. So, make a single crochet spike stitch in the next stitch.
22. Then make a single crochet back loop only in the next stitch.
23. Keep alternating single crochets back loop only and single crochet spike stitches until the end of the round.
24. The last stitch in this round should be a single crochet spike stitch.
25. Then join with a slip stitch to the chain that you made in the beginning of this round.
26. For the rest of the pattern repeat round 3 and round 4. This is how the modified alternating spike stitch looks like after a few rounds.
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