Double Crochet Tutorial
The Double Crochet is a popular stitch used in many crochet projects, such as blankets, scarves, sweaters and even decorative pieces. It is also a main component of several stitch combinations or special stitches. Stitch combinations or special stitches are multiple stitches done in groups as one stitch to create a decorative effect. When reading a pattern, Double Crochet will be abbreviated as DC.
Differences and Similarities to Single Crochet and Half Double Crochet
Double Crochet is similar to Single Crochet and Half double crochet in that they’re worked into the stitches in the same way. For the foundation row, you will work into the single loop on the back side of your chain stitch, and for each subsequent row, you will work into the top 2 loops of the previous row. You will also yarn over before working your stitch, similar to the Half Double Crochet.
So what is different? Well, to start with, the stitch is taller than the Single Crochet and Half Double Crochet. The Double Crochet is about twice as tall as the Single Crochet. Because the stitch is taller, this also means that the turning chain needs to be longer. Another difference is that the turning chain counts as the first stitch of your row. I’ll go into more about how that works when we get to working our second row in the tutorial.
Let’s Get Started
Enough talking, let’s get hooking!
Start by making a chain of 16. Once you have your chain, locate the 4th chain from the hook. For Double Crochet, this is the stitch we are going to work our first DC into.
To begin your stitch, yarn over, and insert your hook into the single loop on the back side of the 4th chain from the hook. It is important to work into this loop, to give the bottom edge of your fabric a finished look, like the top edge of your fabric.
Once you have inserted your hook into the stitch, you want to pull up a loop by using your hook to grab your working yarn and pulling it back through the stitch. You will now have 3 loops on your hook.
Until this point, the stitch is worked just like the HDC. Here is where it starts to be worked differently.
Yarn over. Remember to use your hook, if you’re moving your other hand to wrap the yarn around your hook, your tension can be affected, and you’re also doing WAY more work than you need to!
Pull this loop through the first two loops on your hook ONLY.
You will now have 2 loops on your hook, the one you just pulled through the top two loops, and the last loop from the chain you made.
Yarn over one last time, and pull through both loops on your hook to finish your stitch.
Let’s move onto our next stitch. This time, I am going to write out the steps in a list for quick reference.
YO
Insert hook into stitch
Pull up a loop
YO
Pull loop through first two loops on hook
YO
Pull through remaining two loops on hook
Do this across the row. You will have completed a total of 13 Double Crochet in this row.
Turning Chain and Row 2
Once you finish your first row, you’re going to need to create your turning chain. For a Double Crochet, you need a turning chain of 3 stitches. So, chain 3, and turn your project.
Next, we are going to need to start creating stitches. I mentioned earlier, that the turning chain counts as the first stitch of your row. This is important to remember in the beginning and ends of your rows from here, until the end of your project.
Locate the first and second stitches of your previous row. Since the turning chain is considered the first stitch of your row, you SKIP the first stitch, and do your first double crochet into the SECOND stitch of this row.
Yarn over. Insert your hook into the second stitch, under both top loops of the stitch from the previous row, and pull up a loop. Now, yarn over again, and pull that loop through the next 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over one more time, and pull the loop through the last two loops on your hook.
Continue to do this down the project, until you get to the last stitch from the previous row. You will make 12 Double Crochet stitches. Now, we will make the 13th stitch.
Do you remember where I told you that the turning chain counts as the first stitch in your row? Well, now you need to crochet into that stitch. So, at this point, you need to insert your hook into the turning chain from the previous row. If your previous row is the very first, or foundation, row, your turning chain is the last few chains of your initial chain. If you recall, we started our Double Crochets in the 4th chain from the hook. Those 3 chains we skipped are the “turning chain” for that row.
So, yarn over, insert your hook into the turning chain, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2, yarn over, pull through 2. You have now completed 13 Double Crochet stitches in this row.
Continue to practice your stitches with rows of 13. Here are the quick reference steps for rows 2 and beyond for double crochet.
Chain 3, turn.
In 2nd ch from hook:
YO
Insert Hook, pull up loop
YO
Pull through 2 loops
YO
Pull through final two loops
Repeat across row
Complete last stitch of each row in turning chain from previous row.
Repeat as necessary.
I know that was probably quite a bit to take in. It can be a bit confusing to remember to skip the first stitch and finish your row in the turning chain. Practice will make it easier. I promise!
Once you’re comfortable, switch it up! Add a few rows of single crochet and half double crochet!
