How to Corner to Corner Crochet [Complete Guide for Beginners] (2024)

What You'll Learn About C2C Crochet

With these step-by-step photo and video tutorials, you'll be ready to master any corner to corner crochet pattern you'd like. Here's some of what you'll learn in this complete beginner's guide:

• the difference between crocheting a square and a rectangle
• how to change colors and when to cut your yarn
• how to increase and decrease
• how to add a border

Jump straight to the C2C tutorial here.

Why you'll love learning how to C2C crochet!

The Basic Technique

Almost all corner to corner crochet projects are based on a square or rectangle design. Even exceptions like this C2C crochet sweater pattern are still built from several rectangle shapes.

So learning how to crochet a C2C rectangle (or square!) is the most foundational skill to master. But don't worry, we'll walk through it step-by-step.

Tips for Choosing a Beginner Pattern

I recommend choosing a simpler corner to corner crochet pattern when you're just starting out.

Here are some more tips on how to identify the easiest patterns for beginners:

How to Corner to Corner Crochet Tutorial

In order to crochet a C2C square or rectangle, you need to know how to both increase and decrease using the diagonal box stitch.

Combining those two skills is how you'll create any dimensions you want for your square or rectangle.

Increasing vs Decreasing

I’d like to clear up something that can be confusing to beginners. In the first tile of every C2C crochet row, you're always increasing or decreasing. There's no such thing as a regular, non-increase or non-decrease first stitch.

Decreasing is simply the term for not increasing any more and therefore not making your project any wider/taller on that edge. You can also think of decreasing like "reducing." As in, you're reducing each row by one tile.

Learn by Video Tutorial

If you'd prefer to have me talk you through how to increase and decrease in corner to corner crochet, check out this How to C2C Crochet video tutorial.

In this step-by-step video, I also explain more about how to create a rectangle versus a square.

How To Corner To Crochet Increase

In C2C, we refer to “increasing” as adding one tile per row. The first half of any project involves increasing at the beginning of each row. Once you have finished the longest row in the graph, you will begin decreasing at the beginning of each row.

Step-By-Step Instructions

This photo shows how to start a c2c crochet project. Check out the glossary below if any of these abbreviations are new to you.

(This is what most people are referring to when they learn how to crochet corner to corner.)

How to Crochet a C2C Rectangle

When you're crocheting a C2C rectangle, you'll use the same increasing and decreasing techniques as with a square.

The difference? To create a rectangle, there will be a series of rows in the middle of the pattern where you will increase at the beginning of one row and decrease at the beginning of the next.

During this section of your project, the total tiles per row remain the same.

In both cases, when you've reached the widest or tallest point in your graph, you'll use the corner to corner decrease stitch at the beginning of each row. (More on that below.)

How Do You Know When To Start Decreasing?

You will begin decreasing (aka eliminating one tile from each row) when your corner to corner crochet project reaches the widest/tallest point.

Squares

For C2C squares, this means you'll start decreasing at the beginning of each row once the piece is as wide and tall as you'd like. This is also the longest diagonal row and the mid-point of your project.

Rectangles

For C2C rectangles, you have two measurements to consider: the width and the height. Similar to a square, you'll begin decreasing on one edge as soon as it meets your desired measurement.

Again, you'll begin decreasing on the other edge as soon as it meets its measurement.

The difference is that with a square, you'll begin decreasing on both edges at the same time. With a rectangle, you'll begin decreasing at two different points in order to create a width that is different from the height.

How To Change Colors in C2C Crochet

Using one solid color, variegated yarn, or a self-striping cake yarn like Lion Brand Mandala) can be a quick and satisfying way to crochet C2C blankets. Although, I think the real fun begins when your design has two or more colors.

Changing Colors Mid Row

When your C2C chart or graph indicates that it’s time to create a tile in a new color, you will actually begin the color change in the last yarn over of the original colored tile.

In other words, this means you'll pick up the new yarn to pull through the last loop of your third double crochet (or half double crochet.)

Carry the yarn underneath the new color so it’s ready to be used again at a new spot.

• Benefit: This doesn’t add another skein to manage or another end to weave in. It can be convenient when you are only working a few tiles in the new color and using the “carried” color again.

• Drawback: If there’s too much of a difference between the “carried” color and the new color, the carried color can show through underneath.

As I mentioned, there’s some strategy involved and crocheters often use a combination of the above options. Head to this detailed guide to learn more about how to change colors in C2C crochet and when to cut your yarn.

So How Do I Manage All the Yarn?

Keeping small bobbins (or entire skeins) of a color attached helps minimize the ends to weave it. But of course, things can get a bit tangled without some specific strategies to manage yarn.

Here are the best ways I organize my yarn during a C2C project:

• Wind yarn onto small clips to create a bobbins. Clip bobbins to project when color is not in use.

• Be mindful of the direction you’re flipping your work. Think of turning your project at the end of a row like you’re re-reading the same pages of a book. If you turn the “page” from left to right at the end of one row, turn it back from right to left on the next row.

• Untangle as you go. It’s bound to happen – you’ll get all tangled up in the yarn and start to feel like a fly trapped in a spider web. Don’t despair! Take a couple moments to straighten out your yarn every few rows or at the end of a session of crocheting.

Worst case, you can always cut the yarn and reattach it to your project.

How to Weave in Ends for C2C Crochet

Let’s face it. Weaving in yarn tails is just part of a stunning corner to corner crochet project.If you want to avoid weaving in ends at all costs, choose a C2C pattern with minimal color changes.

Otherwise, read on for some tips to make the process more doable and even improve the look of your project in the process.

Making it More Manageable

Some crocheters choose to weave in ends every few rows, while others may do them at the end of each day. Others still save them all for one glorious weaving session at the conclusion of a project.

Weaving in the ends is an opportunity to tidy up any areas of your project where you’d like the individual tiles to be more visually connected.

To do this, simply use a yarn tail to do few whip stitches where you want the tiles to appear less separate. Then proceed with weaving in the end as described below.

TIP: Weaving in ends is usually done with a tapestry or upholstery needle, but a small crochet hook can also be used for dense projects. (I like to use 2-3 mm smaller than my main project hook.)

Weaving In Ends Step-By-Step

Step 1: Thread yarn tail onto tapestry needle. Insert needle through the bottom “meatiest” section of a tile.

Step 2: Pass needle back through tile in opposite direction, taking care to pick up one vertical strand of yarn from the tile you’re working through.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2.

Step 4: Snip yarn tail and celebrate being one step closer to a finished C2C project!

Here are some important things to know about reading a written corner to corner crochet pattern.

• Row # is always the same as the number of tiles in that row. (Row 27 = 27 total tiles)

• Color or word indicates which color of yarn to use.

• Number indicates how many tiles of each color to work.

• [WS] or [RS] indicates which side of project is facing up while this row is crocheted.

Therefore, for this example, you'd be working a wrong side row with 27 total tiles. You’d work 9 tiles in the main color (typical C2C stitches), 1 tile in grey, 8 tiles in white C2C crochet popcorn stitches, 1 tile in grey and 8 tiles in the main color.

How to Design Your Own C2C Crochet Graphs

If you're anything like me, you'll get hooked on corner to corner crochet. Then almost immediately you'll start wondering how to design C2C crochet charts yourself!

You can design your own patterns using graph paper, a spread sheet, or my personal favorite StitchFiddle.com. With a free account on Stitch Fiddle you can:

• design your own graph from scratch using words or illustrations

• upload a photo and convert it to a graph pattern or

• create written line-by-line instructions from your graph

• track your progress as you crochet.

Head to this step-by-step guide to learn how to design corner to corner crochet patterns.

What Yarn is Best for C2C Crochet?

When I'm "illustrating" with yarn, I like to have as many colors in my toolbox as possible. A few worsted weight yarns I like that have a great variety of colors are:

• Lion Brand Vanna's Choice - over 70 color options!

• Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling - combines well with Vanna's Choice within a project

• Lion Brand Color Theory - beautiful palette of sophisticated colors

Since a C2C graph can be worked in any yarn, experiment with changing the yarn weight and hook size to change the scale of any C2C project.

Similarly, you can swap out double crochet stitches for half double crochet and visa versa to change the size scale of a project.

Corner to Corner Crochet Stitch Variations

Wondering what other crochet stitches can be used for C2C? Many stitches can be worked in a diagonal. You might have seen the moss stitch or even basic single crochet crocheted diagonally.

Here though we’re specifically talking about stitches that are worked in the typical C2C method. These stitches all create a “stair step” effect with each row. Each row fits into the last like a puzzle.

To use half double crochet stitches instead of the typical double crochet:

• Begin each new tile with 5 chains instead of 6.
  
• Work into the third chain from the hook. Half double crochet in each remaining chain.
  
• In the middle of each row, you'll chain 2 instead of 3 to create a new tile.
  
• The rest of the basic concepts are the same as C2C crochet using double crochet stitches.

C2C Popcorn and Bobble Stitches

It's also possible to crochet corner to corner using popcorn or bobble stitches. These squishy stitches can add a ton of texture when used to accent classic double crochet C2C. This tutorial will show you how to crochet C2C puff stitches.

Here are some examples of how puff stitches can jazz up corner to corner crochet:

• C2C Crochet Santa Blanket Pattern
  
• Best in Show C2C Dog Blanket Pattern
  
• C2C Crochet Rainbow Blanket Kit

How to Add a Border to C2C Crochet

This is my favorite simple border that can serve as the foundational border on any corner to corner project. Once your "foundation" border is complete, you can get fancy with more elaborate trims.

Attach yarn in between any two tiles.

Step 1: Ch 1.

Step 2: Insert hook in same space yarn was attached in, single crochet (sc) in that space (sp).

Step 3: Ch 2, skip tile.

Step 4: Single crochet in next space between tiles.

At corners, work 2 single crochet into corner point.

Rep steps 3-4, working corners as described above. At end of round, ch 2 and slip stitch to first single crochet of round to join.

Alternatively, simply single crocheting around your project can serve as a C2C border as well.

More C2C Crochet Blanket Border Ideas

Here are more ideas for adding creative borders to finish your corner to corner projects.

FAQs About Corner-to-Corner Crochet

Here are answers to some common questions I get about learning how to C2C crochet.

More C2C Tutorials To Check Out

• How to Seamlessly Join Pieces of C2C Crochet
  
• How to Change Colors in C2C Crochet
  
• Tips For Managing Yarn During Corner to Corner Crochet
  
• Browse all our C2C crochet tutorials

Where to Find More Free C2C Patterns

I hope this post has answered some of your questions about how to corner to corner crochet. If you can't wait to find your next C2C pattern, here are some fantastic resources:

Invitation to our Facebook group

Come discuss crocheting C2C patterns and lots of other free crochet patterns and techniques in our Make & Do Crew Facebook group. Here thousands of helpful crocheters answer each others questions and share their stitches. Come join us here.

More Crochet Techniques and Tutorials

If you love learning new crochet techniques as much as I do, you might also enjoy these step-by-step guides:

How to Corner-to-Corner Crochet Step-by-Step

Learn how to corner to corner crochetbeginning with the basic increase stitch.

Approx Time (varies by skill level): 30 minutes mins

Yarn Cost: $5