Crochet Drop Loop Stitch Video Tutorial

Learn how to crochet drop stitches with this step-by-step video tutorial! These dropped loop stitches create a mesh stitch texture that’s great for summer garments and lacy home décor.

swatch of drop loop crochet stitch in cotton bamboo yarn with gold crochet hook

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The Drop Loop stitch is a very unique crochet stitch that uses a wooden dowel or knitting needle to create loops of yarn. Crochet chains are pulled up to form 'loops' and then the loops slide onto the dowel. We’ll then crochet into the loops which creates the vertical mesh texture. The loops are a great way to create sections of mesh in crochet garments or accessories that have a ‘knit-like’ look to them.

The Drop stitch is a simplified version of ‘Broomstick Lace Crochet’. Historically loops would be pulled over a broomstick handle and then clustered together to form different patterns. If you’d like to learn a more advanced technique you can try this Broomstick Lace tutorial!

photo of teal mesh crochet top and summer sweater

You can find the Drop Loop Stitch in the Summer Stream Tee and Sand Dune Sweater crochet patterns!

The Drop stitch works best when paired with another crochet stitch. I find that underneath the drop stitch, simple crochet stitches like single crochets, half double crochets or double crochets are great options.

The contrast between the solid stitches and the drop stitch really makes the mesh pop! But feel free to experiment with different stitches to see what interesting textures you can crochet.

When working directly into the loops, I recommend using either single crochets or half double crochets. The shorter, solid stitches are a lot easier to work into the loops and they help the loops fall neatly. If your drop stitches look a bit wavy or crumpled just give them a quick steam and they’ll magically straighten out!

Yarn

In the sample swatch I’m using LionBrand’s Coboo – a cotton and bamboo blend. This yarn is super soft, sleek and straight so it really helps to highlight the stitch texture and mesh like look of the Drop Loop Stitch. I’d recommend that when crocheting the drop stitch, look for yarns that have an even thickness throughout with a simple texture.

Fuzzy or textured yarns (e.g. bouclé yarns, faux fur etc.) make the loops difficult to crochet and you won’t be able to clearly see the looped mesh texture. Yarns that have good drape (like Lionbrand’s Coboo) also work well since the loops are more likely to lay flat.

Crochet Stitch

To crochet the Drop Loop Stitch, I used a 2.5cm / 1” diameter wooden dowel (that is just the centre of a paper towel holder hahaha) but you can also use knitting needles or crochet hooks. Any cylinder shape tool that has an even diameter will work! You can also use dowels with different diameters to create longer or shorter loops. The larger the diameter = the longer the loop.

There isn’t a huge difference between using the different tools but personally, I prefer using a dowel over the knitting needle. Dowel rods have the same diameter throughout their entire length. This means it’s easier to be consistent when crocheting the loops and it ensures that they’re all more or less the same length.

If you’re using a knitting needle just make sure that whenever you’re pulling a loop tight, the loop should be on the widest part of the needle. This makes the loops easy to slide off at the end and to be the same size.

Looking for more unique crochet stitches? Check out the Chevron Crochet Stitch!

chevron single crochet stitch step by step tutorial clover 12mm crochet hook

Video Tutorial

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close up of drop loop crochet stitch vertical mesh with gold crochet hook pinterest image

Materials

2.5cm / 1” dowel rod or knitting needle

Yarn (Swatch uses Lion Brand's Coboo Yarn)

Crochet hook

Notes:

*The sample swatch uses half double crochets as the base stitch.

*You can have any number of stitches.

*Each loop = 1 stitch

*To straighten the loops, steam block your crochet project.

STITCHES & ABBREVIATIONS

Ch = chain

St = stitch

HDC = Half Double Crochet

DLO = Drop Loop Stitch

SPECIAL STITCHES

DLO = Insert hook into next st, yarn over, pull through, ch 1, pull ch 1 loop over knitting needle, pull loop tight.

Drop Loop Stitch

To begin, crochet at least 1 row of a solid crochet stitch. (E.g. Single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet etc.)

DROP LOOP ROW 1: Ch 1, pull ch 1 loop over knitting needle, pull loop tight, DLO in each st until end, pinch the base of the last DLO, slide all loops off knitting needle, turn.

DROP LOOP Row 2: Still holding onto the DLO, insert hook into same DLO, yarn over, pull through, ch 1, HDC into first DLO, HDC in each DLO until end of row, turn.

You can either repeat more rows of the solid stitch or repeat DROP LOOP ROWS 1-2 until you reach your desired length.

Photo Tutorial

crochet drop stitch ch 1 loop on gold hook

DROP LOOP STITCH ROW 1: Ch 1, pull up ch 1 to create a loop ...

slide crochet ch 1 loop onto wooden dowel

... Slide loop onto dowel / knitting needle ...

... Pull tight.
Make sure the knot at the bottom of the stitch is tight or the loops can be pulled into different lengths.
*This counts as the first loop of the row.

loop on dowel with crochet hook inserted into next stitch

Drop Loop Stitch (DLO) – Insert hook into next st ...

yarn over and pull yarn through onto crochet hook

... Yarn over, pull through ....

... Ch 1, pull up ch 1 to create a loop

crochet loop slides onto dowel and pull yarn tight

Slide loop onto dowel/knitting needle, pull tight.

Repeat DLO steps in each stitch until end of row.

If your dowel/knitting needle is ‘full’ of loops, slide all of the loops off.

*The last loop will be 'loose' - if you tug gently on the loop the size will change. All loops except the last loop should be ‘fixed’ – meaning if you tug gently on the loop the length or size doesn’t change.