How to Crochet the Pineapple Stitch

The pineapple stitch is the popular term for a motif used in vintage crocheted lace. It is a recognizable motif that makes beautiful designs, and you may be surprised to discover that it's actually really easy to make. Once you start crocheting pineapples, you might not want to stop!

Variations on Pineapple Crochet

This tutorial will show you how to crochet one basic pineapple motif. It is the most common way of making the design. There are, of course, many variations to this method though, so you may discover others out there if you work regularly with pineapple crochet patterns.

Pineapple Crochet Stitch

When people refer to pineapple crochet, they are almost invariably talking about the kind of lace motif that we are exploring in this guide. However, there is an antique stitch pattern that also is called the pineapple stitch. It is a rare stitch that you won't come across often but be aware that this might be something you find when looking for more information about pineapple crochet.

Beyond the Pineapple Crochet Motif

This crochet tutorial shows you how to make one basic crochet pineapple. This design can be made in thread or yarn and worked in various sizes. Like all crochet motifs, pineapples can be used individually as appliqués or doilies or stitched together to make various other projects. Once you learn this pineapple motif, you should find it easy to follow most pineapple lace crochet patterns.

Pineapple Lace Crochet Patterns

Pineapple crochet patterns typically use the tutorial you will learn here, or some variation of it, in combination with rows or rounds of other stitches. Pineapple lace is frequently used to make crocheted tablecloths, shawls, and skirts, but can be used in a range of other patterns as well.

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How to Crochet Pineapple Lace: Step One

Kathryn Vercillo

The first step in pineapple lace is to create a very short chain. This will ultimately form the base of the pineapple crochet motif. So, for step one, simply chain 4.
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How to Crochet Pineapple Lace: Step Two

Kathryn Vercillo

Now you will work the first row into your foundation chain. You will work all stitches into the fourth chain from hook.

Crochet 1 double crochet stitch (dc).

Chain 2.

Crochet 2 dc.

The starting chain forms the first dc so effectively you now have a row of 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc. This is the base of your pineapple.
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How to Crochet Pineapple Lace: Step Three

Kathryn Vercillo

Now you're going to turn the work and work thirteen treble crochet (tr) stitches into the chain 2 space from the previous row. Here is how to do that.

Turn.

Chain 4 (counts as first tr).

Crochet 12 tr into ch 2.
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How to Crochet Pineapple Lace: Step Four

Kathryn Vercillo

Turn the work and chain 4. This, again, counts as the first treble crochet stitch.

Now you're going to ch 1, tr into each treble across.

Your last treble should end in the top of the first treble of the previous row.

At the end of this step, you should have 13 treble crochet stitches separated by ch-1 spaces.

Continue to 5 of 8 below
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How to Crochet Pineapple Lace: Step Five

Kathryn Vercillo

Now you start a process of working a bunch of ch 3, single crochet (sc) stitches, which is more or less what you'll be doing for the rest of the motif.

So, turn your work.

Chain 3 and then sc in the first ch-1 space.

Repeat that (ch 3, sc) across the entire row, working into each ch-1 space across the row.

You will finish with 12 ch-3 spaces.
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How to Crochet Pineapple Lace: Step Six

Kathryn Vercillo

You're basically going to repeat Step Five here and throughout, with one exception: each time you will skip the first ch-3 space.

So, turn the work.

Skip the first ch-3 space.

Ch 3, then sc in the next ch-3 space.

Repeat that (ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space) across row.

You will end this row with 11 ch-3 spaces.
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How to Crochet Pineapple Lace: Step Seven

Kathryn Vercillo

Continue repeating Step Six. Each row will have one fewer ch-3 space (since you're skipping the first one) until you finally end with only one ch-3 space at the top. That is the top of your crochet pineapple motif. End off and weave in your ends.
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Pineapple Crochet Tips and Information

Kathryn Vercillo

The pineapple crochet motif was frequently used in vintage patterns. Try exploring old vintage lace patterns, replacing the thread and small hooks with yarn and larger hooks to create new designs. You can make blankets and rugs using pineapple crochet motifs.

You might wonder how the pineapple motif came to be so popular. Apparently, it is considered to be a symbol of hospitality. People frequently made doilies using this motif so that their home was always welcome to guests that might come join them in their homes.

Pineapple crochet doilies are often started by working for a basic circle in the round and then creating a series of pineapples in the subsequent rounds. As a result, some of the initial steps may differ from what you see here but this guide provides a solid introduction to the basics of the stitch pattern so that you'll get a sense of what needs to be done when adapting to other designs.