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Crochet Basics: How to Double Crochet for Absolute Beginners

How to Double Crochet for Beginners. http://www.itchinforsomestitchin.com

Hi ya crochet newbies!

By now you have probably mastered the slip-knot, foundation chain, and the single crochet stitch.  If not, simply click on the link to be directed to easy step-by-step tutorials.  For those of you who already have solid experience with these stitches, it’s time to move on to the double crochet stitch!

The Double Crochet Stitch

The double crochet stitch is one of the most commonly used crochet stitches and is considered one of the essential basic stitches.  It is an extremely useful stitch found in most crochet patterns.  It produces a fabric that is solid, but not as stiff as one crocheted using the single crochet stitch.  Once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be making afghans, shawls, sweaters, and more in no time!

The double crochet is about as twice as tall as the single crochet stitch and super easy to learn.  It is abbreviated (dc) in crochet patterns and has the T with a diagonal slash in the middle as a symbol in diagrams or charts.

The Double Crochet Stitch http://www.itchinforsomestitchin.com

Tutorial:  How to Double Crochet (dc)

Foundation & Row 1

Step One

Make a slip-knot.  You can learn how in How to Make a Slip-knot.

Step Two

Make a foundation chain.  I chained 15 chains for the foundation chain in this tutorial, so that’s what you should do as well so you can follow along.  You can learn the foundation chain stitch in How to Crochet a Foundation Chain (Chain Stitch).

Step Three

Chain 3 more chains for the turning chain and turn your work. Read more about the turning chain in How to Crochet a Turning Chain.   So, at this point you will have 18 chain stitches.

Step Four

Yarn over (yo), make sure you do this from back to front.  Learn more about yarning over in How to Yarn Over in Crochet.  You will have 1 loop  and 1 wrapped yarn on your hook.

NOTE:   Other tutorials may count the wrapped yarn as a loop.  Thus, at this point, they would say that you will have 2 loops on your hook.  But, I think this can be confusing since the wrapped yarn doesn’t actually make a full loop at this point.  So, in this tutorial I will distinguish between actual loops and wrapped yarn.

Step Five

Insert your hook into the 4th chain from the hook.  There are actually several ways to do this.  For now, your hook goes between the 2 loops that create a “V” on the foundation chain and under the back bump of the loop.

NOTE:  when doing a double crochet you will never work in the first chain from the crochet hook unless the pattern you are working specifically tells you to do so.

How to Double Crochet Step 5 . http://www.itchinforsomestitchin.com

Step Six

Yarn over (yo) the hook and pull the wrapped yarn through the chain stitch (the V).  You will have 3 loops on your hook.

Step Seven

Yarn over (yo) the hook.  You will have 3 loops and 1 wrapped yarn on your hook.  Pull the wrapped yarn through the first 2 loops on the hook.  You will now have 2 remaining loops on the hook.

Step Eight

Yarn over (yo) the hook.  You will have 2 loops and 1 wrapped yarn on your hook.

How to Double Crochet_Step 8. http://www.itchinforsomestitchin.com

Step Nine

Pull the wrapped yarn through the last 2 loops on the hook.  You have now completed one double crochet stitch. You will have 1 loop remaining on your hook.

To finish your first double crochet row, repeat steps 5-10, inserting your hook into the next chain of the foundation chain as you go.  Each successive double crochet stitch will take you closer and closer to the slip-knot.

You should have 16 double crochet stitches in your first row.  The 15 stitches you made, plus the 3 turning chain stitches, which actually count as 1 double crochet.

Rows 2+

To work the second and all remaining rows of double crochet, follow these steps:

1.  Chain 3 to make the turning chain.

2.  Turn your work so that the back side is facing you.

NOTE:  In many tutorials and patterns you may see steps 1-2 reversed.  This is totally fine.  It doesn’t really matter.  I have found that this order simply works best for me.  Try it both ways to find which way works best for you.

3. Yarn over the hook (yo).

4. Skip the first stitch of the row directly below the turning chain, insert your hook in the next stitch.  This will be the 5th stitch from the hook–3 chain stitches of the turning chain & 2 double crochet stitches, the second double crochet stitch is where you insert the hook.

5. Repeat Steps 5-10 from the previous section in each of the next 14 double crochet  stitches.

6. Make 1 double crochet in the top chain, which is also the third chain, of the previous row’s turning chain.  Make sure to place your hook in the center of the V and the back bar.  This is your 15th double crochet.

Remember that the turning chain counts as 1 double crochet.  So, you actually have 16 double crochet stitches in Row 2.

Repeat steps 1-6 for each additional row of double crochet. You should continue until you feel comfortable working this stitch.


There you have it folks, the double crochet!   Now that wasn’t difficult, was it?

Remember, practice makes better!

Until next time… Happy Crocheting!

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