The Bean Stitch is a wonderfully textured crochet stitch that forms little puffy “beans” along your fabric, creating a dense, plush texture that’s both visually interesting and functional. Whether you’re making a cozy scarf, baby blanket, dishcloth, or even a squishy pillow cover, the bean stitch adds that perfect mix of texture and charm.
✨ What Makes the Bean Stitch Special?
The bean stitch is related to the puff stitch, but it has its unique structure. Where puff stitches are usually taller and looser, the bean stitch is more compact and slightly more pronounced. It feels a bit like little knots or pearls across your fabric.
The magic of the stitch lies in how it’s worked—multiple yarn overs and insertions into a single stitch, then pulling through all the loops at once and closing with a chain. That little chain gives you a space to work into on the next row and locks in the “bean” shape.
📚 Anatomy of a Bean Stitch
Here’s what’s happening under the hood:
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Insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop
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Repeat this three times into the same stitch
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(You’ll have 6 loops on the hook)
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Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops
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Chain 1 to close the stitch
🔁 That chain 1 is crucial — it gives the bean its definition and creates the space for the next row’s stitch.
🧶 Materials Needed
Here’s what you need to get started with a simple bean stitch project:
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Yarn: Worsted weight (#4) yarn works beautifully. Cotton is great for dishcloths; acrylic is good for scarves and blankets.
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Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook is standard, but go up or down depending on your yarn and tension.
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Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker (optional)
🧵 Stitch Abbreviations (US Terms)
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | chain |
| st | stitch |
| sk | skip |
| yo | yarn over |
| bean st | bean stitch (see below) |
| sc | single crochet |
🪡 The Bean Stitch – Step-by-Step Instructions
You can follow this as a practice swatch, or turn it into a dishcloth, scarf, or baby blanket depending on how wide and long you go.
🔹 Foundation Chain:
Start with an odd number of chains. This is because the bean stitch takes up two chains: one to work the bean into, and one to skip. Example: ch 25.
🔹 Row 1 – First Row of Bean Stitches:
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Bean stitch in the 3rd chain from the hook:
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Insert the hook into the ch
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Yo, pull up a loop (2 loops)
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Yo, insert into the same ch, pull up (4 loops)
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Yo, insert into the same ch, pull up (6 loops)
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Yo, pull through all 6 loops
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Ch 1 to close
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Skip the next chain, then repeat:
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Bean stitch in the next ch
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Skip 1 ch
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Repeat across the row
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👉 You’ll end the row with a bean stitch in the second-to-last chain. If you want clean edges, place a sc in the final chain.
🔹 Row 2:
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Ch 2, turn your work. (This does not count as a stitch.)
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Work a bean stitch into the chain-1 space of the first bean stitch in the row below.
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Repeat bean stitches in each ch-1 space across.
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End the row with a single crochet in the top of the last bean stitch (optional but tidy).
🔁 Repeat Row 2
Repeat this row until your project reaches the desired length.
Optional Final Row:
For a clean finish (especially on blankets or cloths), work a final row of single crochet:
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Sc in the top of each bean and each ch-1 space across.
🧣 Sample Pattern – Bean Stitch Dishcloth
Here’s a quick project you can try today!
🍽 Bean Stitch Dishcloth
Materials:
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Worsted-weight cotton yarn
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5 mm hook
Pattern:
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Ch 25
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Row 1: Bean stitch in 3rd ch from hook, sk 1 ch, bean st in next ch; repeat across.
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Row 2: Ch 2, turn. Bean stitch in each ch-1 sp across. End with sc on top of last st.
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Repeat Row 2 until the square.
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Final Row: Sc across. Fasten off, weave in ends.
🔄 Stitch Repeat
Want to adapt this pattern to your project? Just remember:
Foundation chain = any odd number
Repeat row = always work bean stitches in the chain-1 spaces from the row below
Finish with sc row for a clean edge
🪄 Customization Ideas
Here’s how you can take the bean stitch to the next level:
🧸 Baby Blanket
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Start with ch 101 (for approx. 30” width)
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Work 60–80 rows for a square shape
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Add a sc or crab stitch border
🧤 Infinity Scarf
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Chain 151 for wraparound length
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Work 10–15 rows
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Sew ends together or add buttons
🧺 Washcloth Set
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Make several 7” x 7” bean stitch cloths
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Mix and match colors
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Add a looped hanging tab at the corner
🎨 Stripes & Color Blocking
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Change colors every few rows
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Carry yarn up sides or weave in ends
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Alternate two or three favorite colors
💡 Pro Tips
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Keep your loops loose when pulling up—tight loops make it hard to finish the stitch.
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Use stitch markers at the start of rows if you struggle to find the last stitch.
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Practice with a light-colored yarn first to better see the stitch structure.
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Use variegated or speckled yarns to highlight the bean texture!
🎯 Final Thoughts
The bean stitch is one of those wonderfully satisfying stitches to work with: rhythmic, plush, and packed with personality. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature, and it lends itself to endless project possibilities—scarves, blankets, washcloths, bags—you name it.
Video Tutorial:
Certainly! To help you master the Bean Stitch, here’s a highly recommended video tutorial by Modern Made channel that provides clear, step-by-step instructions:
This video guides you through the process of creating the Bean Stitch, making it easy to follow along and practice at your own pace.
For additional guidance, you might also find this tutorial helpful:
“How to Crochet the Bean Stitch” by Rich Textures Crochet: This video offers a detailed explanation of the stitch, including tips on maintaining consistent tension and achieving uniform stitches.
Both tutorials are excellent resources for visual learners and can complement the written instructions provided earlier. Happy crocheting!
