There is no prettiest crochet stitch for every project. I might love a raised stitch in a small swatch and decide against it once I imagine wearing an entire sweater made from it. The question I ask instead is: what should this fabric do?
For drape: try open stitches
A simple V-stitch or an airy shell pattern lets the yarn move. These can work beautifully for a summer layer, especially when you want to see the color of the top underneath. Make a swatch large enough to feel how it hangs; tiny swatches can hide a garment's true drape.
For texture: try raised details
Puffs, bobbles and popcorns catch the light and invite a closer look. I would use them where I want a focal point rather than cover every inch of a heavy garment. Textured stitches use more yarn and often change the stretch, so measure your swatch before committing.
For color: let the stitch be simple
With several shades or a bold motif, a straightforward stitch can let the color do the work. Granny-square layouts are a good example: changing the placement of the squares can have more impact than choosing an intricate stitch. See how granny squares change a design.
Compare stitches using the same yarn
To judge the effect of a stitch, remove some of the other variables. Make a plain sample, an openwork sample and a textured sample using the same yarn. Use a hook that makes a suitable fabric for each one and record it. This gives you a fairer comparison than looking at unrelated photographs made with different fibers and lighting.
Make the samples large enough to include several repeats. Wash and dry them according to the yarn's care instructions, then compare the finished fabric. Hold each vertically and drape it over a curved surface. Notice whether it folds softly, springs back or stands away from the body.
Choose texture for the place it will be worn
Raised stitches can be beautiful across a yoke, along a border or in a single panel. Think about how that texture will feel under a coat or where a bag strap rests. A heavily textured sleeve may feel bulkier at the elbow than a smooth one. These are practical design choices, not rules against using the stitch you love.
Openwork has its own considerations. Look at it over the color of the clothing you expect to wear underneath. A pattern that looks subtle on a white table may become very graphic over a dark top. Check the size of the openings as well as their arrangement.
Let color and stitch work together
A highly varied yarn can hide a complicated stitch. Try a small sample before committing to a large project. If the texture disappears, a quieter yarn may show it better. Conversely, a simple stitch can give a multicolored yarn enough space to show its changes clearly.
For motifs, lay several samples together. The joins and spaces between them become part of the design. A single square may look balanced, but repeating it across a garment can create a much stronger effect. Photograph the layout from a little distance as well as close up.
Check the edges and the shaping
The center of a swatch is only part of the story. Examine the sides, the first row and the final row. Will the stitch make a neat opening edge? Does it need a border? Can you increase or decrease while keeping the repeat understandable? A beautiful stitch may be easier to use in a rectangular panel than around a shaped neckline.
If you are following a garment pattern, use its specified stitch unless you are prepared to redesign the gauge and shaping. Changing to a stitch with the same number of foundation chains does not guarantee the same width or length.
Make the decision with the whole garment in mind
Consider making time, yarn consumption, comfort and care alongside appearance. Repeated puffs can be satisfying for one maker and tiring for another. Fine lace may be perfect for a special layer but less suited to the everyday sweater you want to finish quickly. Choose the fabric that supports the purpose of the garment. The best-looking result often comes from a simple stitch used with thoughtful color, good proportions and careful finishing.
The prettiest stitch is the one that looks right in the yarn, fits the garment and feels good to make. My crochet tension guide can help you compare swatches, and my sweater and cardigan patterns show different ways to use texture in clothing.
Crochet flower mesh: an openwork stitch tutorial
Explore an open flower-mesh stitch in my video tutorial. Swatch it in your chosen yarn before deciding how its openness and drape suit a project.
For subtitles or automatic translation, open the video on YouTube and check the caption settings. Availability varies by language.