The Bavarian Crochet Stitch is simply stunning. Reminiscent of a stained glass window, this textural stitch featuring bold diamond shapes is just so much fun to incorporate into your patterns. In this crochet tutorial, we’ll walk you though the stitch step by step.

Bavarian Crochet Stitch Tutorial

The 8-bptr dec is always worked using the last 4-tr group of 1 shell and the first 4-tr group of the next shell.

When working into beginning ch, insert hook under top two loops of ch to avoid stretching the chain and leaving a large hole.

Rnd 1:

With first color ch 22, sc in 2nd ch from hook, [skip 4 chs, sm shell in next ch, skip next 4 chs, sc in next ch] twice. Working in opposite side of starting ch, skip 5 chs, sm shell in next ch, which will be the same ch as sm shell on the opposite side of the ch, skip next 4 chs, sc in next ch, skip next 4 chs, sm shell in next ch which will be the same ch as sm shell on the opposite side, skip last 5 chs, join to beginning sc and fasten off. (4 sc, 4 small shells)

Rnd 2:

Join next color with a sc in first sc, *ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 space, ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 space, ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5*, sc in next sc, repeat between * once, join to beginning sc. (2 8-bptr, 4 4-bptr, 6 sc)

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Rnd 3:

Ch 1, sc in first sc. lg shell in top of first 4-bptr dec (corner), sc in next sc, sm shell in top of next 8-bptr dec, sc in next sc, lg shell in top of next 4-bptr dec (corner), sc in next sc, lg shell in top of next 4-bptr dec (corner), sc in next sc, sm shell in top of next 8-bptr dec, sc in next sc, lg shell in top of last 4-bptr dec (corner), join to beginning sc and fasten off. (2 sm shells, 4 lg shells, 6 sc)

Rnd 4:

Join next color with a sc in first ch 1 space of first corner shell, *ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 space, [ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 space] twice, ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 space, ch 5, 8-bptr dec*, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 space, repeat between * once, join to beginning sc. (10 sc, 4 4-bptr dec, 6 8-bptr dec)

Rnd 5:

Ch 1, sc in first sc, *lg shell in top of next 4-bptr dc, sc in next sc, [sm shell in top of next 8-bptr dec, sc in next sc] twice, lg shell in top of next 4-bptr dec, sc in next sc, sm shell in top of next 8-bptr dec*, sc in next sc, repeat between * once, join to beginning sc and fasten off. (6 sm shells, 4 lg shells)

Rnd 6:

Join next color with a sc in first ch 1 space of shell in first corner, *ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 space, [ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5, sc in next ch 1 space] 3 times, ch 5, 4-bptr dec, ch 5, [sc in next ch 1 space, ch 5, 8-bptr dec, ch 5] twice*, sc in next ch 1 space, repeat between * once, join to beginning sc. (14 sc, 4-4bptr dec, 10 8-bptr dec)

Rnd 7:

Ch 1, sc in first sc, *lg shell in top of next 4-bptr dec, sc in next sc, [sm shell in top of next 8-bptr dec, sc in next sc] 3 times, lg shell in top of next 4-bptr dec, [sc in next sc, sm shell in top of next 8-bptr dec] twice*, sc in next sc, repeat between * once, join to beginning sc and fasten off. (14 sc, 10 sm shells, 4 lg shells)

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Next Rounds:

To make the rectangle larger, continue repeating Rounds 6 and 7 alternatively, working 2 rounds of each color until desired square size. You will be adding 1 sm shell to each side of rectangle with every 2 rounds worked.
To make a longer rectangle, work beginning ch in multiples of 10 plus 2 more. Each small shell repeat uses 10 chs.

Are you ready to practice this new stitch? Check out these great patterns using the Bavarian stitch!

Bubble Gum Scarf

Lavender Bavarian Throw