The Latest Crochet Trends for This Year

We are well into the year now, but for the past few weeks, I have spotted a few new crochet trends popping up on the scene. If something crochet-related makes me feel excited about my favorite yarny craft, then the first thing I want to do is write about it, so here we go…!

Crochet Trend Predictions

There are currently loads of new creative directions that are happening in the world of crochet and it is very exciting! I have spent the last couple of weeks listing new styles, techniques and ideas, thinking about which ones might be part of the next crochet zeitgeist. Or maybe, it’s just the ones that I want to be part of the next crochet zeitgeist?!

I love jumping on a bandwagon or two, it is so inspiring to discover what new things we can do with crochet. What is everyone into at the moment? What’s just around the corner in terms of the next crochet trends? Let’s get a lovely list together. Read on to learn what I predict will be some future crochet trends. I may be wrong but I don’t actually care. This is excellent fun, regardless of the outcome!

A caveat before we begin: I am not going to include granny squares or much that’s granny related (although there are a couple of projects because I love it!). I think we all know that Granny Square fashion has had a massive resurgence over the last few years. Will she stay around? I think so but let’s focus on what else crochet can provide.

Stash Busting Yarn & Sustainability

With sustainability high up on everyone’s agenda, using up precious collections of yarn is the best way to save on buying new clothes and accessories. By using what yarn you already have in your stash, you can save a lot of money.

Last night I spent half an hour digging through my stash to find yarn to add to a new project. There is so much joy in rediscovering what you have in your collection. You can literally “shop” from your own collection! I am not going to mention that I couldn’t find the yarn I wanted because I had already used it in the perfect stash-busting pattern, The Wayward Sisters. Duh. Whatever, I had a good time.

Because colour makes us happy, it’s great to throw lots of shades together to see what happens. There is freedom in stash-busting and crocheting scrap yarn projects. There don’t need to be restrictions on colour use, nor restrictions on yarn weights, fibres or textures. Grab everything and put it together for truly unique crochet.

When you use up your yarn stash, what then? Choose to focus on sustainability. Think about plant-based fibres or recycled yarn. You can even buy second-hand sweaters to unravel and reuse [my notes for this post say “frog chazza jumpers”, which I think is funny!].

Crochet Patterns for the Stash Busting

Picture below are: Zig Zag Crochet Tote and Cotton Bucket Hat – Both free crochet patterns on my Free Patterns Page.
Starburst Granny Cowl – You can buy the pattern or watch the video tutorial for a cute granny square on YouTube.
Bermuda Triangle Market Bag – I love these crochet triangles! Find the crochet market bag here.
The Wayward Sisters Granny Stripe Shawl – A modern granny stripe shawl pattern here.

Advent Yarn Minis

This crochet trend started a couple of years ago and I think it will only get bigger. There has been a very noticeable increase in patterns for using advent yarn minis and makers go mad for them at Christmas.

There is nothing to say you can’t use those patterns with your stash yarn too. Minis from advents are on people’s radars. Just watch, maybe around November time you will start to see more colourful crochet patterns emerge. Whatever you can use for a mini, you can use to bust the stash you already have.

Mohair and Other Fluffy Yarns

My favourite crochet trend right now and forever! I am addicted to using fluffy yarn in my crochet projects! It’s awesome!! As well as mohair yarn, which I have used a lot, I am also really into brushed alpaca yarn this year. Dreamy, light and drapey, the soft halo in a crochet project that uses floof is a delight!

Check out my Top tips for using mohair yarn and other Fluffy fibres here. I have one more tip to add actually, a recent dawning. Ready? When swatching fluffy yarn it can be a pain to see stitches. So, add one stitch marker just before a stitch. Then, laying your swatch flat, measure 10cm (or 4 inches, if that’s what you use) from the stitch marker. Place another stitch marker there. Hold it up to the light and count. You can see each stitch clearly where in other circumstances, they can be hidden by the floof they’re encased in. Do the same for rows. Boom, a new mohair yarn top tip!

Crochet Patterns Using Mohair or Alpaca

Above are some of my favourite crochet patterns that incorporate mohair yarn, or other fluffy yarns (I also have two new crochet garments on their way soon – look out for Fuzzy Duck & Ducky Fuzz):
The Cirrus Shawl – a crescent shawl that uses mohair paired with beautiful boucle yarn.
A Black & Blue granny square sweater.
Wheatfields Shawl.
Miu Miu inspired granny stripe scarf (I am trying very hard not to talk about granny too much!)
A proper scrap yarn rib stitch hat with mohair.
The Isca Cowl is a knit-look cowl with bobbles. Talking of knit-look…

Knit Look Crochet Stitches

Has this crochet trend had its day yet? I don’t think so. The thing about knit-look crochet is that it’s accessible to crocheters who love the look of knitting but don’t want to wrestle with two needles or struggle with knitting for other reasons.

Knit-look crochet patterns use very simple stitches that are often worked in the back loop only to push the rows forward into ridges. This is what creates the knit look effect. It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea as a lot of the patterns require row upon row of slip stitches. The results are incredible but the commitment can be intense.

Oh goodness! I have resisted the temptation to design a ribbed “fisherman’s” style crochet sweater. There are so many excellent patterns available. I definitely have some in my collection, waiting to be made. The Nantucket Ribbed Cardigan by Two of Wands has been waiting a while, it’s gorgeous. I’ll make it one day. Just the Worsted has a few sweater designs that fit this category too.

If you are put off by whole garments that use, for example, Yarn Over Slip Stitches (less challenging than basic slip stitches and quite rhythmic), why not just use them for the ribbing at cuffs and waistband? Check out my tutorial for the best crochet ribbing. You’ll find fab alternatives to slip stitches too.

The Houndstooth Stitch

Have you spotted the crochet Houndstooth Stitch on your Instagram feed recently? It is gaining traction and I’m here for it. I LOVE Houndstooth stitch, it is classic crochet through & through.

Whether it’s the scrumptious texture of the stitch or the fun you can have with the colour choices, I have noticed that the houndstooth stitch is riding a wave in current crochet trends.

The great thing about classic crochet stitches is that they are very versatile. You can use these stitches in many ways. Scarves, shawls, hats? Check! Sweaters and cardigans? Check! A cute purse? Check!

The houndstooth stitch is such a simple crochet stitch pattern; just US single and double crochets (AKA UK double and treble crochets) sitting together in pairs to replicate the classic textile of the same name. In one colour, these stitches are often referred to as the Lemon Peel Stitch but when you introduce two colours, on top of each other in tidy rows, a little bit of magic happens. It’s so pretty!

Depending on which side you look at the fabric, one colour will stand out more than the other. Both sides look fab and you get to choose your favourite “right” side.

Have you seen my Barking Mad crochet scarf pattern? It uses the Houndstooth Stitch worked on the bias. I also have a couple of other Houndstooth crochet accessories that will be joining the scarf soon. Watch this space because the houndstooth stitch is one of the crochet trends on the rise.

Crochet Plaid & Argyle Patterns

Moving on from the simpler crochet check patterns from last year more plaid patterns are arriving on the scene. It seems like a natural progression.

I’ve seen styles and techniques in a few different forms: Basic colour changes, assigned colour pooling yarns, mosaic crochet, entrelac crochet and surface crochet. There is definitely more plaid about right now.

I heard mention of argyle patterns too. I wonder if this has anything to do with Only Murders in the Building?!? I am a latecomer to this marvellous TV show but now I have a dedicated Pinterest board, Only Sweaters in the Building! What a glorious collection of cosy knitwear. I want Mable’s wardrobe.

Neutrals and Neons

I went to Unravel yarn festival last Friday and a group of us were drooling over this year’s Pantone Mocha matched with neon yellow! Wow, what a combo! Neutrals and neons together is a pairing that makes me swoon quite a lot.

Being at a yarn festival is a great opportunity to see what is popular. I was so pleased to see all the fluffy yarn! But it was also fascinating to see many neutral shades of yarn. It feels quite grown up. Are we moving away from bold crazy brights? It looks like the bold brights and neons are welcome in small doses. They are subtle pops of contrast, gentle nods to it rather than in your face. Yes, please!

Semi-solid and tonal yarns are pushing their way to the front after years of variegated yarn being the “It” yarn. This is very exciting because crochet stitches shine in tonal yarns. When you have beautifully complex colourways in a skein of yarn, crochet can translate it into pixelly blocks or, stitches can be overwhelmed. With a sophisticated semi-solid, the crochet stitches do all the talking.

Knitters Embracing Crochet!

Who’d have thought!!? In the last few months, it has become evident that knitters have been embracing crochet. What took you so long, knitters? Come in, grab yourself a hook and join the fun.

I am not sure where the new wave of knitters who crochet came from but it is so interesting to see this as one of the most recent crochet trends. I wonder if it is the crazy popularity of the granny square that might have been the tipping point. To see colourful crochet squares hit such highs since Lockdown, that power has reached far and wide. If you have any theories, let me know.

But whatever the reason, there are knitting designers introducing crochet patterns into their portfolios and I hope they also join our lovely community of crocheters!

Funnily though, I think this could be enough to convince me to pick up the needles again. I can knit a bit but it often hurts my hands so I can’t do it as much as crochet. However, what if I combined stitches and made a crochet & knit combo sweater?

Combined Knit & Crochet Patterns

Looking at the most popular patterns on Ravelry (filtered to crochet) there a handful of patterns that are a hybrid of both crafts. You will likely have already seen the Ariana cardigan by Amy Christoffers. The ribbing is knitted with the main body being crochet squares. Same for the Agnes Sweater and oof, how about Prarie Skies by Imke Von Nathusius. Sorry, they are all granny square related and I said I wasn’t going to focus on grannies. Oops! But that seems to be a draw for knitters and I’m Ok with that.

A lovely podcast that I’ve been watching recently called, Breathing Yarn regularly celebrates both knitting and crochet. I’m not going to pretend I know her name, I’m not sure she ever says it but the crafter behind the channel blends knitting and crochet really well. Mostly in different projects but one top is a granny square vest with knit ribbed edging. Beautiful.

And There Are Other New Crochet Trends Too…

My goodness, I have bleated on for a long time but I think I got over-excited by all the crochet possibilities!

However, I daresay I will be wrong on some of these, and/or there will be other crochet trends that crop up over the next twelve months. What do you think? Can you see the continuation of oversized sweaters? With or without roll necks? What about early nineties crochet trends as we move slightly onwards from the 80’s? Does that bring with it, slub yarns? More textural fabrics? Are we moving away from heavier yarn weights? I’d love to see more DK projects in crochet and merino with stunning stitch definition. I’m also not over vests and sleeveless tops (even though they don’t look good when I wear them, I love how they look on everyone else!).

Phew! What a lot of information. But honestly, this is just a bit of fun. It’s best not to be led too heavily by crochet trends. If in doubt go with your gut. I was saying to friends this morning that I love a bandwagon to jump on but have to resist and make sure I follow my own path. If that path includes neons & neutrals with a little bit of houndstooth stitch and some knit-look ribbing then so be it.

Cheers. x