Learn the Catherine’s Wheel Stitch: One of the Most Beautiful Stitches in Crochet

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I still remember the first time I saw a finished Catherine's Wheel blanket. It was at a little craft market, folded up on a table. I stood there for way too long just staring at it. Those perfect little pinwheels, all lined up in rows — it looked like something that would take years to learn.

Spoiler: it doesn't. But I'll let Brittany from B.Hooked explain, because she does it way better than I ever could.

What Is the Catherine's Wheel Stitch?

The Catherine's Wheel Stitch is a classic crochet stitch that creates a spinning, pinwheel pattern across your fabric. It goes by a few names — you might also see it called the Harlequin Stitch or the Starburst Stitch. They're all the same stitch.

It's an intermediate-level stitch. You'll need to be comfortable with single crochet, double crochet, and simple clusters. If you can do those, you're ready.

The best thing about this stitch? It's reversible. Both sides look great. That makes it perfect for scarves, table runners, and anything else where both sides will show.

Learn It from Brittany at B.Hooked Crochet

Brittany is a crochet and knitting designer with over 12 years of experience and 200+ published patterns. She has one of the clearest stitch tutorials I've seen for the Catherine's Wheel — slow enough to follow along, with every step shown up close.

Right-handed tutorial:

Left-handed tutorial:

You can find Brittany's full stitch guide, including her complete notes and tips, over at B.Hooked Crochet.

5 Beautiful Things You Can Make With This Stitch

Once you get the hang of the Catherine's Wheel, you'll want to put it on everything. Here are five projects from talented designers that show just how versatile this stitch really is.

1. Classic Catherine's Wheel Blanket — Daisy Farm Crafts

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This is the blanket that made me fall in love with the stitch all over again. Hannah from Daisy Farm Crafts made this beauty in white with soft pink, gold, and green stripes — and it looks like something out of a vintage shop, in the best way. The colorwork really shows off the wheel pattern.

See the full pattern at Daisy Farm Crafts →

2. Catherine's Wheel Waves Blanket — Daisy Farm Crafts

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This is a softer take on the classic — Daisy Farm Crafts added extra rows of single crochet between the wheel rows, which gives it a wavy, flowing look. It's a little easier to read your stitch count as you go, which is great if you're just getting started with this stitch.

See the full pattern at Daisy Farm Crafts →

3. Catherine's Wheel Stitch Scarf — B.Hooked Crochet

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Brittany made this scarf with Lion Brand Mandala yarn, and the self-striping colors do something magical with the wheel pattern. You barely have to think about colorwork — the yarn does it for you. It's finished at 80 inches long and 6.5 inches wide — perfect for wrapping up on a cold day.

See the full pattern at B.Hooked Crochet →

4. Catherine's Wheel Stitch Hat — B.Hooked Crochet

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Yes, you can crochet the Catherine's Wheel in the round! Brittany figured out how to adapt this stitch for a hat, and the result is a cozy, textured beanie with a real wow factor. It makes a great gift — people always ask what stitch that is.

See the full pattern at B.Hooked Crochet →

5. Noro Catherine Wheel Scarf — on DailyCrochet

We also have a gorgeous Catherine Wheel scarf right here on the site, worked in Noro yarn with a beautiful ruffled edge. If you love color and texture, this one's for you.

See the pattern here →

A Few Tips Before You Start

Use two colors. The wheels show up so much better with two contrasting colors. Try a light and a dark for maximum pop.

Count your stitches. This stitch has a specific multiple, so if you're off by even one stitch, the pattern won't line up. Count before you start and again every few rows.

Work a little loosely. The stitch has a lot of skips and clusters. If your tension is too tight, it's hard to get your hook where it needs to go.

Make a swatch first. Even just 4–5 pattern repeats on a small swatch will help you figure out the tension before you commit to a full blanket.

Don't panic on the cluster rows. The rows where you close everything together look strange mid-row. Keep going — it opens up beautifully once you finish the row.

You Might Also Like

• Catherine's Wheel Stitch Blanket: Step-by-Step Guide
• The Harlequin Stitch — Same Beautiful Look, Different Name
• Learn the Butterfly Stitch
• The Crochet Feather Stitch
• Cluster Stitch in Crochet: Step-by-Step Guide

Happy hooking!

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• pin now, crochet later!
• sharing is caring!
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• pin now, crochet later!
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