How To Crochet The Moon Fern Stitch (With Video Tutorial)

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I designed with another new stitch this week! The Moon Fern Stitch is an easy textured crochet stitch that creates raised, angled leaf clusters across your rows to look like botanical branches.

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Two textured Moon Fern Stitch swatches in mustard yellow, taupe, and green are shown side by side, with the stitch worked by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known author and crocheter.

Project Overview

This tutorial shows you how to create a thick, botanical fabric using simple stitch placements worked behind skipped stitches.

A mustard yellow Moon Fern Stitch swatch sits in front of a green and taupe version, showing the raised leaf-like texture Ariana Wimsett crocheted. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known author and crocheter.

BEST FOR: Blankets, warm scarves, cushions, tote bags, and winter accessories
PATTERN MULTIPLE: 2x+1
ROW/ROUND REPEAT: 4 row repeat
COLOR CHANGE: Every 4 rows

PATTERN TYPE: Textured, One-sided, Accent/Decorative Stitch
YARN USAGE: Heavy (Thick/Dense)
VIDEO TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp7nCDR-KDc&list=PLKCBBlbOlqZhgm9g5tPe4v2mT2C8MReb0&index=81&pp=iAQBsAgC

I came up with this stitch while playing around with my Sedum Stitch and testing different combinations of stitches and rows. At one point I looked at the raised stitches and thought, “This would look really great as a branch.”

The tricky part was making the leaves go in the opposite direction. It took quite a few tries to figure out how to make the bottom leaves angle one way and the top leaves angle the other way, so they looked like leaves growing along both sides of a branch.

Once I finally worked it out, the rows reminded me of little fern branches, which is where the Fern part of the name came from. The individual leaves also curve like little crescent moons, so I called my new stitch the Moon Fern Stitch.

This is my original stitch design, and I would love to show you how to make it so you can use those leafy rows in your own crochet projects.

If you found this post helpful, please like and share. Follow me on Pinterest for more crochet inspiration. Follow us on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook @CraftingHappinessCrochet.

A close-up of the yellow Moon Fern Stitch shows its raised rows along with tutorial views of hands using a crochet hook, and Ariana Wimsett made this stitch. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known crocheter and author.
Table Of Contents
  1. Project Overview
  2. Why this stitch is a great choice for your next project
  3. What projects can you make with the Moon Fern Stitch?
  4. Watch the step by step video lesson
  5. Yarn and hook choices for this sample
  6. A closer look at the sample swatches and color changes
  7. Crochet Abbreviations
  8. Special Stitches
  9. How to crochet the Moon Fern stitch
  10. Thank you for crocheting with me
  11. Looking for similar stitches to Moon Fern Stitch?
  12. Copyright

Why this stitch is a great choice for your next project

  • Thick relief: The modified cluster creates raised leaf shapes that stand out on the front of your fabric without complicated cabling.
  • Simple repeat: Once you see how rows two and four mirror each other, the four-row sequence is easy to memorize.
  • Looks great in multiple colors: It works well as a solid color, but changing colors every four rows makes each set of branches stand out.
  • Clean back side: The textured details stay on the front, leaving the reverse side smooth and comfortable against the skin.
Two Moon Fern Stitch swatches in mustard yellow, green, and taupe are arranged beside a crochet hook and yarn, with the stitch made by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known crocheter and author.

What projects can you make with the Moon Fern Stitch?

This crochet leaf stitch is best suited for projects where you want a dense, warm fabric with lots of structure. It makes thick, squishy baby blankets, textured throw blankets, and solid cushion covers that hold their shape.

You can also use this easy textured crochet stitch tutorial to make winter scarves, cozy cowls, or sturdy tote bags. Because the fabric is thick and dense, it creates warm accessories that keep out the chill.

A close-up view shows the thick texture of the Moon Fern Stitch in cream and dark brown yarn, crocheted here by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known crocheter and author.

Watch the step by step video lesson

I recorded a complete crochet leaf stitch with video tutorial to walk you through each step of the pattern.

You can watch exactly where to insert your hook behind the skipped stitches to make the leaves face both directions on my YouTube channel.

How To Crochet The Moon Fern Stitch

A mustard yellow Moon Fern Stitch swatch shows raised leafy rows and a blue crochet hook, with the stitch worked by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known author and crocheter.

Yarn and hook choices for this sample

For my swatches, I used an Aran weight acrylic yarn with a 5mm crochet hook to give the leafy clusters clear definition. You will also need a pair of scissors and a tapestry needle to weave in your ends.

You can make this stitch with any yarn weight you prefer, from lightweight cotton to chunky wool. Just match your yarn choice with the recommended hook size on the yarn label to get the right tension and drape.

A closer look at the sample swatches and color changes

I made two different swatches so you could see how the texture looks in a solid color versus stripes.

The yellow swatch is worked in one solid shade to showcase the pure stitch definition, while the green and taupe swatch uses color changes every four rows right at the start of each new pattern repeat.

A mustard yellow Moon Fern Stitch swatch shows repeating raised leaf-like rows, worked by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known author and crocheter.
Ariana’s Moon Fern Stitch in mustard
A green and taupe Moon Fern Stitch swatch shows alternating color sections and textured raised rows, crocheted by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known crocheter and author.
Ariana’s Moon Fern Stitch in green and taupe

Crochet Abbreviations

Written in US terms using Craft Yarn Council abbreviations.

  • sk – skip
  • Esc – Extended single crochet
  • Mdc2tog – Modified double crochet 2 together
  • STsc – Stacked single crochet

Special Stitches

Stacked single crochet (STsc) – This stitch is made out of 2sc one on top of the other. The result is a taller stitch that looks like a double crochet.

Make 1sc as usual, insert hook behind the left loop of the sc , yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through the 2 loops

Three close-up tutorial views show hands working the STsc crochet technique into a green foundation chain with a blue crochet hook for the Braided Leaves Stitch. The Braided Leaves Stitch was created by Ariana Wimsett, a known crocheter and author, and the crochet work shown here was also made by her.

Extended single crochet (esc) – insert hook in the stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through only the first loop on your hook, yo and pull through the 2 remaining loops on your hook

Three close-up tutorial views show hands working the Esc crochet technique with green yarn and a blue crochet hook as part of the Braided Leaves Stitch. The Braided Leaves Stitch was created by Ariana Wimsett, a known crocheter and author, and the crochet work shown here was also made by her.

Modified Double Crochet 2 Together (Mdc2tog) – this is a regular dc2tog modified to have a longer shape that looks like a leaf.
*Insert hook into the stitch, yo and pull up a loop, yo and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook. Leave the incomplete dc stitch on the hook* x 2 (you will have 3 loops on your hook), yo and pull through first 2 loops (2 loops on your hook), yo and pull through the 2 remaining loops on your hook.

Five close-up tutorial views show hands working the Mdc2tog crochet technique with green yarn and a blue crochet hook for the Braided Leaves Stitch. The Braided Leaves Stitch was created by Ariana Wimsett, a known crocheter and author, and the crochet work shown here was also made by her.

How to crochet the Moon Fern stitch

Starting Chain: Chain 21

A mustard yellow starting chain for the Moon Fern Stitch rests beneath a blue crochet hook, worked by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known author and crocheter.

Row 1: hdc in 2nd st from the hook, hdc in each remaining st, ch1, turn = 21

The first row of the Moon Fern Stitch is shown in mustard yellow yarn beside a blue crochet hook, worked here by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known author and crocheter.

Row 2: *esc, sk1, Mdc2tog in next, go back and sc in skipped st (behind the Mdc2tog)*, repeat ** until you have 1st left, sc, ch1, turn

Step-by-step views show Ariana Wimsett working Row 2 of the mustard yellow Moon Fern Stitch with a blue crochet hook. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known crocheter and author.

Row 3: sc, sc in 3rd loop only in every stitch until you have 1 st left, sc, ch1, turn

A close-up sequence shows Ariana Wimsett working Row 3 of the Moon Fern Stitch and forming a raised textured row in yellow yarn. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known author and crocheter.

Row 4: *esc, sk1, esc in next, go back and Mdc2tog in skipped st (behind the esc)*, repeat ** until you have 1st left, esc, ch1, turn

A mustard yellow Moon Fern Stitch sample is held to show the texture formed in Row 4, crocheted by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known crocheter and author.

Row 5: hdc in every stitch, ch1, turn

A close-up of the mustard yellow Moon Fern Stitch shows the raised leaf-like row formed in Row 5 by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known author and crocheter.

Repeat rows 2 – 5 until you have the desired length to your work 

A mustard yellow Moon Fern Stitch sample is held between two hands, showing the repeating textured rows Ariana Wimsett worked. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known crocheter and author.

If you found this post helpful, please like and share. Follow me on Pinterest for more crochet inspiration. Follow us on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook @CraftingHappinessCrochet.

A taupe and green Moon Fern Stitch swatch is shown with a crochet hook and a closer view of the raised texture, a stitch created and worked by Ariana Wimsett. Ariana Wimsett of Crafting Happiness is a known author and crocheter.

Thank you for crocheting with me

Thank you for choosing my tutorial and making this stitch with me. I hope you enjoy watching the leafy branches grow across your rows.

Happy Crocheting.

Looking for similar stitches to Moon Fern Stitch?

Copyright

© 2026 Crafting Happiness. All rights reserved.
The photographs in this tutorial are subject to copyright and are the property of Crafting Happiness. Don’t use them to advertise your own creations. You may use photos from this post only if you directly link back to this tutorial.

Crochet Designer Ariana Wimsett

About the Author: Ariana Wimsett is a professional crochet designer and the author of Amigurumi Loveys & Blankets. She specializes in creating modern, easy-to-follow patterns that bring a touch of handmade joy to every home.

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