Welcome to Sofasaurus Crochet! I’m Sofia and in this beginner-friendly tutorial I’ll guide you through the art of crocheting double crochet – one of the four fundamental crochet stitches. Whether you’re a crochet enthusiast looking to refine your technique or a complete beginner eager to dive into the world of crochet, this step-by-step guide is designed with you in mind. I’ll break down the process into simple, easy-to-follow steps, ensuring that you not only understand the basics but also gain the confidence to crochet double crochet without a second thought. Grab your yarn and favorite hook and we’ll get started! Don’t forget to subscribe for more crochet tips and tutorials. If you’re interested in a printable, ad-free version of this post, you can check it out in the shop! Happy Crocheting!

In UK Terms, this stitch is called the treble crochet.

Right Handed? Tap Here!

First Time Crocheter? This is the recommended order for anyone learning how to crochet.

Please note

All instructions are in US terms. Please treat the techniques used in this post as recommendations – crochet is an art form and experimentation is the best way to figure out what works best for you! Also, I only recommend products and services that I would use myself and all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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Materials

Yarn: Any medium or worsted-weight yarn
Hook: 5.5mm crochet hook

Video Tutorial

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Written Instructions

Everything you need to understand what, why, and how!

What is a Double Crochet?

The double crochet is one of the most popular and commonly known crochet stitches. It’s considered one of the four basic (beginner) stitches upon which all the other stitches are based and built. The biggest difference between the double crochet and the other beginner stitches is that the double crochet is the size of two single crochet stacked on top of each other. This is accomplished by adding a “yarn over” before inserting your hook into the stitch to add a third loop.

The double crochet is a versatile stitch that can be used to create a variety of projects, such as blankets, scarves, hats, and more. It’s an important stitch for beginners to learn and it’s relatively easy to master.

How do you crochet Double Crochet?

These are quick notes, for an in-depth explanation scroll just a little more.

For the beginning chain, you can start with however many chains you like. The number of chains you make will determine the width (or height) of your project.

Start by working into the fourth chain from the hook.

Yarn Over
Insert your hook into the stitch
Pull up a loop
Yarn over
Pull through the first two loops on the hook
Yarn over again
Pull through the last two loops
Repeat

Tips + Tricks

Make sure to yarn over one time before inserting your hook into the stitch. This will set the foundation for a taller stitch.
Try to keep your loops slightly larger than the body of your hook. This will help you create uniform stitches and help you with tension and measuring gauges later on.
Even stitches and proper tension come with practice as you develop muscle memory.
You will need two or three chains for your turning chain (3 is the standard). This turning chain also counts as a stitch, so be sure to work into the top of it when you get to the end of your row!
The body of the double crochet is often referred to as the “post” of the stitch.

Foundation Row

You’ll need at least four chains to get started, but you can use as many as you like. I would recommend starting with 20-25 chains for your first swatch.

Yarn Over

To yarn over, you need to pay attention to the head of the hook. Make sure it’s facing you and then bring it down in front of the yarn and then back up behind the yarn. Then rotate your right wrist toward you to turn the head of the hook down. At this point you have two loops on your hook.

Insert your hook into the stitch

Hold the chain between the right middle finger and thumb. You want to position your middle finger directly behind the chain you plan to work into (in this case, the fourth chain from the hook) and your thumb should be right at the base of that same chain (the bottom of the “V). Push the tip of your hook into the center of the chain (the center of the “V”) Then use your thumb to help guide that top loop onto the hook. This is considered “insert your hook into the stitch” in crochet language. Push the hook all the way through and yarn over again (this is the second yarn over). You should have two loops, the chain stitch, and the second yarn over on your hook at this point.

Pull up a loop

To pull up a loop, slowly guide the hook back through the chain stitch while also keeping the yarn wrapped around the hook. Pinch the chain with your right middle finger and thumb and pull it down slightly so that the hook doesn’t get caught on the stitch. Then push all three loops back onto the body of the hook.

Yarn over again

Before you yarn over again, use your right middle finger and thumb to pinch the chain that you just pulled through and pull it underneath your hook. This will give you additional control and help you maintain tension as well. Now yarn over again (this is the third yarn over).

Pull through two loops on the hook

Then continue to pinch with your right middle finger and thumb and pull down slightly while pushing up your hook to create tension with the loops. This will prevent the hook from getting stuck on the loops. Then guide the yarn through the first two loops on the hook – one loop at a time. You will have two loops remaining on the hook.

Yarn over again

Before you yarn over again, use your middle finger and thumb to pinch the section that you just pulled through and pull it underneath your hook. Now yarn over again (this is the fourth yarn over).

Pull through two loops on the hook

This time, guide the yarn through the last two loops on the hook – one loop at a time. You will have one loop remaining on the hook and the stitch is finished!

Repeat until the end of the chain

Then move your right middle finger and thumb to the next chain. Place your middle finger behind the chain stitch and your thumb at the bottom of the stitch. And point your hook into the center of the chain and pick up the top loop. Then repeat all the steps until you’ve reached the end of the row.

Second Row of Double Crochet

Chain 3 for your turning chain.

TIP: Decide whether you want to “chain and turn”, or “turn and chain” NOW for all of your projects. Creating a habit of either (not both) will help you remember to add your turning chains. Forgetting about the turning chain is the most likely reason your square/rectangle starts looking like a trapezoid!

You will insert your first stitch into that first gap (or first “V”) at the base of the chain. Place your right middle finger behind that stitch/gap/V and rest your left thumb on the bump in between the stitches.

Then push your tip into that first gap and use your right thumb to make sure you pick up both loops of the “V.” Then repeat all the other steps for the double crochet.

Note that the turning chain DOES count as a stitch for the row – this means that your last stitch of each row will go on top of the turning chain of the previous row.

And that’s it! If you’re still confused, check out the photo tutorial below!

Animation

Hopefully, this animation can help you understand the concepts a little better!

Coming Soon!

Photo Tutorial

Are you more of a visual person but don’t have the patience to watch a video right now? Take a look at this photo tutorial and don’t forget to save it for later!

Coming Soon!

Illustrated Guide

Are you more of a visual person but don’t have the patience to watch a video right now? Then take a look at this illustrated guide and don’t forget to save it for later!

Coming Soon!

Crochet Chart Symbols

Crochet Charts are a great way to avoid common language barriers and clarify difficult crochet patterns. These symbols are used to help you visualize where stitches go and how they align with one another. Don’t forget to add this image to your crochet toolbox!

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you’ll find a collection of common issues and troubleshooting tips! If you’d like to add your own question, just leave a comment on this post!

How do I count my double crochet stitches?
How do I count my double crochet rows?
Wait, I thought this stitch was called a treble crochet?
What is tension?
How can I get more even stitches?
What is the difference between double crochet and single crochet?
What are some mistakes to avoid with double crochet?

The easiest way to count the double crochet is by counting the individual posts of the stitch. Just make sure you’re also counting the turning chain at the beginning of the row!

The easiest way to count double crochet rows is to count each post again, only this time from the bottom to the top. If you’re working with a smaller yarn and hook to create smaller double crochet, you may want to count your rows by two instead.

In US terms this stitch is considered the “double crochet,” however, in UK terms this stitch is considered the “treble crochet.”

It’s important that you pay attention to what terminology individual patterns use. You may think that a UK pattern will be just fine because English is English, but it can have a drastic impact on your project if you were to use US treble crochet when the pattern actually called for a US double crochet.

The short version is that tension is a term used to describe the evenness and size of stitches in relation to others. The only way to truly improve tension is with practice – over time your hands will develop the muscle memory required to achieve “even tension.”
Tension can also be used to reference the size of the stitch. The theory is that you can “control your tension” to create smaller or larger stitches to achieve a different effect. I don’t recommend this practice. Just go up or down a hook size – if your stitches are all even in size you do not have to “adjust your tension” to match a pattern.

Practice is the best way. BUT I did mention a few tricks that have helped my students in the past
– Make sure the loop is always either as big or only slightly bigger than the body of the hook. Take care not to choke your hook. You should never struggle with pulling the yarn through the loop on your hook because it’s too small.
– At a minimum, hold the yarn by either wrapping it around your left index or middle finger. I wrap mine around the pinky for extra control, but keeping your hand from flailing around like crazy helps SO MUCH
– Use your left middle finger and thumb to control the bottom of your stitches. Get used to doing that now and you will thank yourself later – especially when you start working those puff stitches!

A double crochet is twice the size of a single crochet. You’re essentially “doubling” the stitch by adding a “yarn over.”

The biggest complaints about the double crochet are regarding the turning chain. It’s easy to forget the turning chain for any stitch, but it can be detrimental to your double crochet project.

Therefore, decide early on if you’re going to add your turning chain at the end of a row (before you turn) or at the beginning of a row (after you turn). This will help you form a healthy habit of never forgetting the turning chain.

Another issue is working into the top of the turning chain. Many look for ways to skip this step, but it will throw off your stitch counts.

I do have a secret tip that you can use if you absolutely hate the turning chain: Instead of chaining two or three to start your row, chain one and add your first double crochet into that very first stitch at the base of the chain. This will make your edges less straight (the chain-1 will stick out) but it won’t throw off your stitch counts. I would only use this method if you plan on adding a border to your project.

How to Crochet Double Crochet Left Handed

Please note