Note: I also refer to this stitch in some of my patterns as a modified single crochet.
How to complete a modified waistcoat Stitch (modified single crochet):
The modified waistcoat stitch creates a dense, warm fabric with moderate stretch and a knit-like appearance. This stitch is similar to a basic single crochet, with subtle adjustments to technique and stitch placement.
To complete the modified waistcoat stitch:
Insert your hook only through the right post arm on the right side of the fabric (do not pass through both the right and left post arms on the wrong side of the fabric).
Use the hook to gently pull the right arm toward the right, then slip the hook through to the opposite side of your work.
The hook should exit on the opposite side directly beneath the front and back loops. Avoid letting the hook exit through the legs of the stitch, as it would in a traditional waistcoat stitch.
Yarn over and pull through, drawing the loop slightly higher than your usual working height. This adjustment makes the next round easier to complete.
Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook to finish the stitch.
The modified waistcoat stitch results in a dense, warm fabric, with moderate stretch and has an appearance similar to a knit stitch. The modified waistcoat stitch is almost identical to a basic single crochet, with some minor tweaks to technique and stitch placement. To complete the modified waistcoat stitch, only insert your hook through the right post arm on the right side of the fabric only (do not exit through the right and left post arms on the wrong side of the fabric). I find the technique of using the hook end to pull the right arm toward the right and then slipping the hook through to the opposite side of your work. The hook should exit on the opposite side directly under the front and back loops (it should not exit through the legs of the stitch on the opposite side as it would with a traditional waistcoat stitch). Yarn over and pull through drawing it up a tad higher than working height (this well make the next round easier to execute). Yarn over and pull through.
This technique works best in patterns stitched in the round to maintain consistency, as turning the fabric can disrupt the stitch alignment and texture.
Pictures are shown worked in the round, with no turning between rounds.
Differences Between the Traditional and Modified Waistcoat Stitch
The traditional waistcoat stitch (also called the knit stitch in crochet) mimics the appearance of a knit fabric and creates a dense, structured texture. This stitch involves inserting the hook between the “legs” of the single crochet stitch, exiting through both the front and back loops of the previous row. The hook passes through the entire post of the stitch.
The modified waistcoat stitch, on the other hand, alters this technique slightly:
Instead of inserting the hook through both post arms (the front and back legs of the stitch), the modified version passes the hook only through the right post arm on the right side of the fabric.
The hook does not exit through the legs of the stitch on the opposite side. Instead, it exits directly below the front and back loops.
The resulting stitch still creates a dense fabric, but it has a slightly different texture compared to the traditional waistcoat stitch.
Key Differences in Appearance:
Traditional Waistcoat Stitch: Produces a cleaner, tighter knit-like texture that is nearly identical to stockinette in knitting. The fabric has less stretch but more uniformity.
Modified Waistcoat Stitch: Creates a slightly more textured surface with a unique look, while still resembling knit stitches. It retains moderate stretch and is less rigid.
Both versions work best in patterns stitched in the round to maintain consistency, as turning the fabric can disrupt the stitch alignment and texture.