Crochet techniques
Double Crochet Stitch: US Steps & a Practice Swatch
US double crochet (dc) creates a tall stitch with two successive pull-throughs. It is called treble crochet (tr) in UK terms. Check the terminology first: UK double crochet is the much shorter stitch Americans call single crochet.
Some links in this guide are affiliate links. We earn a commission on purchases made through them, at no extra cost to you.
How to make one double crochet
- Yarn over, then insert the hook under both top loops of the next stitch.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop through that stitch. Three loops are now on the hook.
- Yarn over and pull through the first two loops. Two loops remain.
- Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops. One live loop remains. That is one double crochet.
Practice with 12 stitches per row
This exercise uses a chain-3 turning chain that counts as the first stitch. Keep that convention throughout the swatch; changing it halfway is a common cause of slanted edges.
- Chain 14. Make a dc in the fourth chain from the hook. The three skipped chains count as the first dc.
- Make one dc in each remaining chain: 11 actual dc plus the starting chain-3 gives 12 stitches. Mark the top of the starting chain-3.
- Chain 3 and turn. This new chain counts as stitch one, so skip the first stitch directly below it.
- Make one dc in each remaining stitch, then make the final dc into the top of the previous row's turning chain. You have 11 actual dc plus the new chain-3: 12 stitches. Repeat for six rows.
Choose one turning-chain convention
| If the turning chain… | First actual dc goes into… | Last stitch of the row goes into… |
|---|---|---|
| Counts as a stitch | The second stitch of the row | Top of the previous turning chain |
| Does not count as a stitch | The first stitch of the row | Last actual stitch, not the turning chain |
The second convention works too, and some patterns use chain 2 or a stacked stitch to reduce edge gaps. Follow the pattern's instructions rather than mixing methods. Our US/UK terms converter helps check stitch names before you begin.
Fix extra stitches, gaps and short rows
| What you see | What to check |
|---|---|
| Each row gets wider | With a counting chain-3, do not also work into the first stitch below it |
| Each row gets narrower | Remember the final stitch in the previous chain-3 |
| Stitches look too short | Pulling through all three loops together makes half double crochet |
| A large gap at the edge | Check the turning-chain tension and try the pattern's alternative turning method on a separate swatch |
What to make with double crochet
A plain double-crochet scarf is a useful next exercise because its long rows make changes in tension easy to see. Double crochet also appears in granny squares and shells, where several stitches may share one space. Those placements come from the pattern; they do not change the two-stage pull-through.
Questions
Is double crochet the same in the US and UK?
No. US double crochet is UK treble crochet. UK double crochet is US single crochet.
How many loops do I pull through?
After drawing up a loop you have three. Pull through two, then through two again, leaving one live loop.
Does the turning chain count?
In our practice swatch, chain 3 counts as the first stitch. Other patterns may say it does not; follow their first- and last-stitch instructions.
Stitch names follow the Craft Yarn Council abbreviation reference.
