If you’re interested in designing crochet clothing, then knowing how to crochet box pleats is a neat skill to have in your arsenal. They aren’t as hard or complicated as you might think! The most important part of creating crochet box pleats is the initial set up row.  

Crochet box pleats are used traditionally in my Lillian Pleated Skirt Pattern as a simple way to create positive ease and flair over the hips. In fact, designing the first version of the Lillian Pleated Skirt way back was the reason I first learned how to make crochet box pleats.

Around that time, I even shared a tutorial for how to create them on the blog which you can see here, but today I’m sharing an updated version.

A single pleat can also be used to create a unique visual detail, , like the sleeve in my Lyerly Embroidered Pullover.

Once you know the basic construction, you’ll be able to use crochet box pleats in lots of different ways to create cool design elements.

How To Crochet Box Pleats

Note: I crochet lefthanded, so the pictures reflect that. However, you can hover your mouse over the pictures and they will flip for you righthanded crocheters out there. ;)

Box pleats are worked into a previous row, whether that be a foundation row (see FSC tutorial here) or regular double crochet, single crochet, etc row, that is a multiple of the total number of base stitches in a single pleat – in this case, 16.

1.) Begin pleats by working into FLO (The part of the ‘v’ at the top of the dc st closest to you).

2.) 1 STSC (see Stacked Single Crochet tutorial here) in first st (counts as first dc), 3 dc in next 3 sts, turn.

3.) Pleat should look like this so far.

4.) In BLO, 4 dc in next 4 sts, turn.

5.) Work 4 FPDC in next 4 sts. Do not turn.

6.) Pleat should look like this.

7.) Work 8 FPDC. (Though this number can be altered depending on how wide you want your box pleat to be) Do not turn.

8.) To finish last side of pleat, FPDC next 4 sts, turn, in BLO 4 dc in next 4 sts, turn, in FLO 4 dc in next 4 sts. Repeat 3 more times for each panel. Turn.

You can repeat these steps to make more box pleats along your foundation row. Once pleat set up row is complete, all other rows after can be worked as normal, just make sure to work into every stitch, especially around turns/corners.