CROCHET Corner to corner crochetCrochet stitches kd 4 min read

How to C2C: Corner to Corner Crochet Basics

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Corner to corner crochet is a hot trend in today’s crochet world. Used to make everything from accessories to home décor, this technique will stretch beginnersand challenge experienced crocheters. If you’re not familiar with the technique, check out the basics from the book Corner to Corner Crochet [affiliate link] by Jess Coppum, excerpted below, to learn how it’s worked.

Above: Working corner to corner crochet. All images from Corner to Corner Crochet by Jess Coppum.

“Once you learn the basics of how to C2C, I’m guessing you too might start to look at the world through pixelated lenses!”

– Jess Coppom, author, Corner to Corner Crochet

The corner to corner crochet technique (often abbreviated C2C) is worked exactly as it sounds—diagonally from one corner of a square or rectangle to the other. C2C employs a stitch called the diagonal box stitch and it can be worked using double crochet or half double crochet stitches. While using double crochet is faster, half double crochet allows for more detailed yarn “illustrations” because each tile is smaller. The projects in this book will call out which stitch to use.

How to Read a C2C Pattern

C2C patterns usually include some combination of a graph and/or written instructions. Each pixel in a graph represents one C2C “tile”. Each tile is typically made with three double crochet or half double crochet stitches. C2C blankets with designs in them are often called “graphghans”, because they are an afghan made from a graph.

The patterns in this book include both a graph as well as written line-by-line instructions. You may find it faster to work predominantly from the written pattern, but I recommend checking your completed progress against the graph every few rows so you can catch any mistakes sooner rather than later (I’ve learned this the hard way!).

Corner to corner crochet chart
A C2C chart from Corner to Corner Crochet

Each project begins in the lower right corner of the graph, even for left-handed crocheters. You’ll increase by one tile per row until the longest row(s) of the pattern has been completed. At this point, you’ll begin decreasing by one tile per row until you’ve reached the final tile in the upper left corner of the graph.

Working corner to corner crochet
Increasing in corner to corner crochet

How to Increase

In C2C, we refer to “increasing” as adding one tile per row. The first half of any project involves increasing at the beginning of each row. Once you have finished the longest row in the graph, you will begin decreasing at the beginning of each row.

How to Increase Using the Double Crochet C2C Stitch

C2C Crochet increase in double crochet steps 1-4
C2C increase in double crochet, Steps 1-4

Row 1:

Step 1: Ch 6
Step 2: DC into the fourth ch from the hook
Step 3: DC into the next 2 chs, turn

C2C Crochet increase in double crochet steps 5-8
C2C increase in double crochet, Steps 5-8

Row 2:

Step 4: Ch6
Step 5: DC into the fourth ch from the hook and into the next 2 chs
Step 6: Skip the next 3 dc, then slst into the space created by ch-3 at end of tile
Step 7: Ch 3 quite tightly
Step 8: DC 3 into the same space, turn (1 tile made)

Row 3 and Beyond:

Repeat Steps 4-8 to begin each row. As rows increase in number of tiles, repeat Steps 6-8 in each remaining tile of row.

How to Increase Using the Half Double Crochet C2C Stitch

C2C Crochet increase in half double crochet steps 1-4
C2C increase in half double crochet, Steps 1-4

Row 1:

Step 1: Ch 5
Step 2: Hdc into the third ch from the hook
Step 3: Hdc into the next 2 chs, turn

C2C Crochet increase in half double crochet steps 5-8
C2C increase in half double crochet, Steps 5-8

Row 2:

Step 4: Ch 5
Step 5: Hdc into the fourth ch from the hook and into the next 2 chs
Step 6: Skip the next 3 hdc, then slst into the space created by ch-2 at end of tile
Step 7: Ch2 quite tightly
Step 8: Hdc 3 into the same space, turn (1 tile made)

Row 3 and Beyond:

Repeat Steps 4-8 to begin each row. As rows increase in number of tiles, repeat Steps 6-8 in each remaining tile of row.

How to Decrease

The “decrease” term in C2C can be slightly confusing because it has a different effect than we think of in traditional crochet. In C2C, a decrease eliminates one tile from each row, thereby creating a flat edge. You’ll work the C2C decrease stitch at the beginning of each row once you’ve completed the longest row in your graph.

How to Decrease Using the Double Crochet C2C Stitch

C2C Crochet decrease in double crochet steps 1-4
C2C decrease in double crochet, Steps 1-4

Step 1: Ch 1, slst into the next 3 dc
Step 2: Slst into the ch-3 turning chain
Step 3: Ch 3 quite tightly
Step 4: Dc 3 into the ch-3 turning chain of previous row

Repeat Steps 6-8 of the tutorial “How to Increase Using the Double Crochet C2C Stitch in each remaining tile of row.

How to Decrease Using the Half Double Crochet C2C Stitch

C2C Crochet decrease in half double crochet steps 1-4
C2C decrease in half double crochet, Steps 1-4

Step 1: Ch 1, slst in the next 3 hdc
Step 2: Slst into the ch-2 turning chain
Step 3: Ch 2 quite tightly
Step 4: Hdc 3 into the ch-2 turning chain of previous row

Repeat Steps 6-8 of the “How to Increase Using the Half Double Crochet C2C Stitch” tutorial in each remaining tile of row.

Changing Color In C2C

When your C2C chart or graph indicates that it’s time to create a tile in a new color, you will actually begin the color change in the last yarn over of the original colored tile.

While the instructions below explain how to change colors when working in double crochet, the technique is exactly the same when using half double crochet stitches; simply work half double crochet tiles instead of double crochet tiles.

Changing colors in C2C crochet steps 1-4
Changing colors in C2C crochet, Steps 1-4

Step 1: Do not complete the last yarn over of third dc
Step 2: Instead, yarn over with the new color to complete the dc
Step 3: Skip the next 3 dc, then slst tightly into the space created by ch-3 at end of tile. Ch 3 tightly, using new color
Step 4: Using new color, work 3 dc in ch-3 sp as you usually would

Repeat Steps 1-4 each time it’s necessary to change colors in the graph.

Beginning a Row with a New Color

When changing colors at the beginning of a row, you’ll do something very similar depending on whether you’re working an increase or decrease tile.

When beginning an increase row in a new color, the color change will take place in the last final yarn over of the previous row. Ch 6 with the new color and proceed as usual.

For a decrease row, begin the row by using the previous color to slst 3 up the edge of the last tile in the previous row. Switch to new color to complete fourth slst and proceed as usual.


Once you’ve worked a couple of rows, you’ll find that this technique goes quickly! For more complicated designs, you’ll need to think about yarn management—check out Jess’s tips! For so many more great tips and techniques, plus 15 patterns, get Jess’s book Corner to Corner Crochet [affiliate link] today!

Related: Jess Coppom on the Inspiration Behind Her Book

Originally published 11/2/2018. Updated 1/20/2023.

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