How to Crochet: Corner to Corner Diagonal Box Stitch
By Erin Burger – 23 CommentsTired of the same back and forth? Creating the Box Stitch diagonally is a really neat way of completing a corner to corner crochet project. You can use this stitch to create anything from blankets, dishcloths, placemats, scarves, clothing … the possibilities are only limited by your imagination!
This tutorial is for both right and left handed people. For left handed pictures, roll your mouse over the image and it will change for you.
Repeat Row 3 with the beginning ch 6 block increasing the width of your project as you continue.
When you have met your intended width you can begin to decrease to finish your project.
Decreasing Row (photographed in a different color, just for fun):
To make a square continuing decreasing row until you are finished with the last corner block.
Finish off weave in all the ends.
To make a rectangle alternate the increasing Row 3 with a row of decreases.
Have any questions about the diagonal box stitch? Have any comments? Please don’t hesitate to be heard in the comments below!
It is a strange coincidence that I was just thinking this morning to search for something on the internet to remind me about how to make that beautiful stitch.It was a most pleasant surprise to find your wonderful tutorial as soon as I opened “Crochet spot”as I do every day.It seems as if you knew what I was wishing for.Thank you.
This would be a start of a GREAT baby blanket! You could even use Granny Squares with it too!
How awesome would that be! Thank Erin! Now…if I didn’t already have so many projects….. 
Smooth Fox also has this tutorial, funnily enough I made a square like this last night. They look so cool and depending on where you change colours it can end up making some very cool. Thanks for sharing!
Many of the women at Three Rivers Crochet in Pittsburgh use the diagonal stitch to make baby blankets for Project Linus and other charity projects (as well as gifts for family and friends). (If you’re ever in Pittsburgh on a Saturday afternoon, you might want to stop by. Search for our website for details!)
I have been searching for this stitch pattern, so was thrilled to find it. I had made a set of placemats and then an afghan for my brother from a pattern, but lost the paper. I like this one because I have never had good results from a foundation chain. With this I can decide as I go how wide and log my piece will be. I also made an afghan / bedspread by using four strands of worsted and a P hook that was heavier than a quilt.
Kudos to Crochet Spot !!!
It’s so pretty, but I find it very confusing.
My wife and I have been doing this for ages but never new what it was called (or new it by a different name). The lady that taught us didn’t know what it was called.
This is really a way to do the the stitch pattern. Also, being left handed helps to see correctly what I am doing. Would be nice if all sites were so left hand oriented.
Thank You.
I thought I knew lots of stitches but never did the diag. box stitch before.
what a great place to learn new things!
I have seen this stitch done with a variation that produces an edge with a step design creating a border at the time you crochet the center. As you work the stitch you are increasing the size of the item, and then you decrease to return to an ending corner. Are you familiar with it and the how to of the variation? I can not find it and I have been looking for over a year. All the examples I can find result in straight edges for the borders, like yours has. One lady told me it was Irish Crochet, but it is not like any Irish Crochet I have seen. Can you help me? Thank you.
Hi Elizabeth, I’m not familiar with the border. But if I do come across it I’ll let you know. Maybe someone else will chime in if they’ve seen it
My mother in law taught me this stitch last year, once you get it down it goes really quick. I made a baby blanket for my friend in no time, it looks great… =)
July 9.2011
Dear Pam, Does the stitch your mother-in-law taught you make steps on the outer
edges of the item? That is what eliminates the need to put on a decorative edge or border. The Diagonal Box Stitch I find only makes straight edges, needing a decorative edge or border. Can you send me any instructions for yours? I will provide my postal address if needed. Thank you.
If you make 4 triangles and join their straight edges, it will leave the steps all around the outside of the square.
Grandi,
Thank you for your suggestion about the triangles. The step border I am looking for instructions for is created on each row. When increasing the width of the item, a new block is added right and left for each row end. When decreasing the width, one block is decreased right and left on each row end. I feel that I am just missing a step. I will keep trying to figure and practice it out. Somewhere someone may know.
Diagonal square pattern, Decreasing row, you instructions show (sl st in next 3 dc and sl st in next ch 3 space, ch 3, 3 dc in NEXT ch-3 space.
should the word NEXT be SAME ch-3 space, repeat row across…..
This is my first time making this pattern.
Thanks
Lorraine
Started the decreasing rows. After the first decreasing row there is no chain 3 space at ends if I’m reading pattern right. Mine seems to be looking a little curved at ends. Will this straighten out when I put finishing edge on?
Love that you have the lefthanded views
THANK YOU I’ve done this stitch for years but can never remember how to start. I’ve stopped at the “halfway” and made shawls.
I was given a baby afghan before my oldest son was born made in this stitch. My grandmother stared at it for hours trying to figure out how they made it. It was so durable. It lasted through 3 sons and two grandsons. I plan on making one for the newest baby in our family. Thanks for posting this pattern on your site.
I rec’d baby blankets from my mother in law for both my son and daughter with this stitch. I asked het what it was and she told me “irish stitch”. Been searching for ditections on how to do so when I found this I was very happy! Thankyou. Now I can make a baby blanket for a friend who is expecting!
Once I got the width I wanted, I started the decrease stitch at one end & the increase at the other. Can I make the blanket longer than it is wide? How do I do that?
And I soooo needed this right now. Thanks for an excellent as always tutorial!