Crochet star stitch

The star stitch is also sometimes called the "Daisy Marguerite" stitch. It is a 5 spike Marguerite stitch that looks like a star. While this is a single stitch, it takes up the equivalent of 2 stitches horizontally compared to some of the more common stitches such as single crochet, half double crochet etc. It took me a little while to figure out how to do this stitch but it was worth the time it took as I enjoy making this stitch and I really like how it looks.

The way you do the first row is a little different to subsequent rows and the first stitch of each row is slightly different to the rest of the stitches in the row so I’m adding instructions on what I did for each.

For the standard repeat, you need to make a starting chain that is a multiple of 2 + 1 plus an extra 3 for your starting chain. For the purpose of making my swatch for my stitch challenge, I began with a starting chain of 14 (2 x 5 + 1 + 3 - this will give me 5 star stitches across).  

First stitch into starting chain

Insert your hook in the 2nd chain from hook and pull up a loop, [insert your hook in the next ch from hook and pull up a loop] 4 times {6 loops on hook}. Pull the 5th and 6th loops on hook up slightly higher than the other loops {this will help you when you do the next stitch}, yarn over and pull through all the loops on your hook. Close the stitch with a chain 1.

Second stitch into starting chain 

Insert your hook into the “eyelet” created by the ch 1 and pull up a loop, insert your hook through the 6th loop of the previous stitch and pull up a loop, insert your hook into the chain at the base of the previous stitch and pull up a loop, [insert your hook into the next ch and pull up a loop] 2 times {6 loops on hook}. Pull up the last 2 loops a little higher and pull through all the loops on your hook. Close with a ch 1.

Continue with this second method until you get to the end of your row.

Making the first stitch of row 2

To begin the next row chain 3 {I’ve changed colour to make it easier to see the new row}. Insert your hook into the 2nd ch from hook and pull up a loop, insert your hook into the next ch from hook and pull up a loop, insert your hook into the ch 1 space {formed when you closed the last stitch of your previous row} and pull up a loop, insert your hook into the next st and pull up a loop, insert your hook into the next ch 1 sp {of the previous row} and pull up a loop. Pull up the last 2 loops slightly higher than the first 4 on your hook, yarn over and pull through all the loops on your hook. Close with a chain 1. 

Make your second stitch {and subsequent stitches in this row} in the same way that you made the second stitch of your first row except that your 4th, 5th and 6th loops on your hook will be from the sts of your row instead of from the next chains from your starting chain. You can see in the photos below how your star stitches look from the front {below left} and back {below right} with the second row completing the star shape begun in your first row and beginning the next set of star stitches.

In a project I recently completed, one of the designers had made a round of star stitches and in the next round had added 2 hdc in each “eyelet” {ie ch 1 sp} to create the top of their star stitches and that looked very effective too. In the photos below you can see the effect of adding 2 hdc in each eyelet instead of a new row of star stitches. As you can see, the front and back of the star stitches look the same from either side {red stitches front in the left, back on the right}