Trail Stitch Tutorial | KT and the Squid

This post contains affiliate links. A big thanks to Plymouth Yarns for supplying the lovely yarn for this tutorial.

Lets learn the Trail Stitch today!
The Trail stitch was named by my sister and designed by me. A while ago I wanted to create a stitch that was similar to the one I used for THIS RUG. I wanted the new stitch to be thinner and less dense so I could use it for a sweater.

Not only did I come up with something that was the drape and texture I wanted but by switching up the stripes I got a completely different look.

This swatch was done all in one color.

For this one I did all odd numbered rows in the main color and used contrasting colors for all even rows.

Here, I changed colors every other row which created almost a clam shell look.

Lets get started!

What you’ll need

Any weight yarn.
- I used Plymouth Encore Worsted in Dove, Lagoon and Living Coral.
- you can purchase the yarn HERE from Annie’s or HERE from Craftsy.
Appropriate size hook and a second hook .5 mm larger. I used an H (5mm hook) and an I (5.5 mm) hook.
- I used THIS hook by Crochet Dude.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Abbreviations

Ch = chain
St = stitch
Sc = single crochet
Esc = extended single crochet
Eesc = extra extended single crochet
Rs = right side
Ws = wrong side
FLO = front loop only

Special Stitches

Extended single crochet (esc): Insert hook into indicated st, pull up a loop, yarn over pull through one loop on hook, yarn over pull through 2 loops on hook.

Extra extended single crochet (eesc): Insert hook into indicated st, pull up a loop, (yarn over pull through one loop on hook) twice, yarn over pull through 2 loops on hook.

Instructions

Scroll down for a photo tutorial

With larger hook ch a multiple of 4 +1
Row 1 (rs): With smaller hook esc in the 2nd ch from hook and each ch across.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO esc in each st across.
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO esc in the 1st 3, *eesc in the unworked front loop of the next st 2 rows below, esc in the next 3; repeat from * until 1 st remains, esc in the last st.
Row 4: Repeat row 2.
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO esc in the 1st st, *eesc in the unworked front loop of the next st 2 rows below, esc in the next 3; repeat from * until 3 sts remains, eesc in the unworked front loop of the next st 2 rows below, esc in the last 2.
Repeat rows 2-5 until desired length.

Photo Tutorial

With larger hook ch a multiple of 4 +1. I chained 25 (photo 1).
Row 1 (rs): With smaller hook esc in the 2nd ch from hook and each ch across.
To work an esc, insert your hook in the next ch (photo 2), pull up a loop (photo 3), yarn over, pull through ONE loop on the hook (photo 4),

yarn over pull through 2 loops on hook (photo 5).
Photo 6 shows row 1 completed.
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO esc in each st across.
Photo 7 is showing inserting the hook into the front look of the first st. All other front loops are highlighted in pink.
Photo 8 shows row 2 completed on the wrong side.

Photo 9 shows row 2 completed on the right side. Notice the unworked loops of row 1, you’ll need those for row 3.
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO esc in the 1st 3 (photo 10), *eesc in the unworked front loop of the next st 2 rows below (highlighted pink in photo 10).
To work an eesc insert your hook into the indicated st (photo 11), pull up a loop,

yarn over, pull through 1 loop (photo 13), yarn over, pull through 1 loop (photo 14), yarn over, pull through 2 loops (photo 15).
Note: When working the eesc you will leave the stitch of row 2 behind the eesc unworked. In photo 16 the unworked stitch is highlighted pink and the hook is being inserted in the next stitch.

Row 3 (cont.): Esc in the next 3; repeat from * until 1 st remains, esc in the last st (photos 17, 18 and 19)

Row 4: Repeat row 2 (photo 20).

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, working in the FLO esc in the 1st st, *eesc in the unworked front loop of the next st 2 rows below, esc in the next 3; repeat from * until 3 sts remains, eesc in the unworked front loop of the next st 2 rows below, esc in the last 2 (photo 21).

Repeat rows 2-5 until desired length.