How to crochet the MINI BEAN STITCH (flat)

Today I am going to teach you how to work the Mini Bean Stitch (“MBS”)! It’s a great textured stitch that creates a lot of visual interest, but it’s relatively easy to create! Typically, due to the alternating slanting nature of the mini beans in each row, this is a stitch that is only worked flat (because turning your work creates the alternating row slants), but I have a simple little hack for you to be able to work this stitch in the round as well (with an almost invisible seam, might I add!). To cut down on length (and confusion!), this particular post will be focusing on how to work the stitch FLAT, but for a tutorial on how to work it in the ROUND, see *THIS* post!

This is the stitch that is used in my One-Skein-Wonder Cowl designs! You can find out more about the One-Skein-Wonder Cowl (DK) HERE and the One-Skein-Wonder Cowl LITE HERE!

There is also a video tutorial to go along with this post/the cowl patterns if you prefer a video platform to learn! Whether you use these tutorials in my patterns or in your own crochet projects, I hope you love the Mini Bean Stitch as much as I do!

When working this stitch flat, you will want to being with a starting chain divisible by 2+1. The amount of mini bean stitches you have will always be 1/2 the number of total stitches that you have. (for example, in my pattern swatch I started with 25 chains, and was able to work 12 MBS over my 24 stitches)

Row 1: Insert your hook into the 3rd chain from the hook. yarn over, pull up a loop. yarn over, insert hook into same chain space, yarn over, pull up a loop (You should now have four loops on your hook). Yarn over, pull through all four loops, then chain 1 to close the mini bean. Skip the next chain, *Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert hook into same stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all 4 loops on your hook to close your mini bean stitch. Chain 1 between each mini bean stitch. Skip the next stitch*

Repeat ** until you reach the end of the chain. TURN.

Rows 2+: Chain 2, “MBS” into the same stitch. Continue working the MBS around, slip st into the starting chain 2. TURN.

Now let me show you how to work it!

*please note that the swatches shown are in a bulky/5 weight yarn and an L/ 8mm crochet hook. This is not what the cowl patterns call for, but they have been used to show the stitches in larger form for the sake of photos. There is also a ribbing section along the bottom of the swatch to mimic the cowl that is not part of the Mini Bean Stitch itself.

Insert hook into stitch…

…yarn over, pull up a loop (just like a regular single crochet)

…Yarn over, insert hook into same stitch (like you were about to do a half double or double crochet)

…Yarn over, pull up a loop… (there are now 4 loops on your hook)

…Yarn over, pull through all 4 loops on your hook

Chain 1 between each mini bean stitch.

And that’s how to work the Mini Bean Stitch! For more details on working it in a pattern, check out the video tutorial! To see how I “hack” it into working it into a stitch you can work in the round, see THIS post! Enjoy! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram (@fiber.and.fox) in your Mini Bean Stitch creations!

If you’re interested in the cowl pattern, you can get all the info you need about the One-Skein-Wonder Cowl DK or the One-Skein-Wonder Cowl LITE in these videos!: