Lesson 2.1: Double Crochet
What You'll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll know how to:
Understand what a double crochet stitch is.
Make a double crochet step by step.
Work into a foundation chain.
Turn your work and begin another row.
Count your stitches.
Recognize common beginner mistakes.
1. What Is Double Crochet?
Double crochet, abbreviated DC in U.S. crochet patterns, is a basic stitch that's taller than both single crochet and half double crochet.
It creates a fabric that is relatively flexible and works up faster than shorter stitches.
Single Crochet (SC)
Short, compact stitches.
Half Double Crochet (HDC)
Medium-height stitches.
Double Crochet (DC)
Taller stitches with a more open fabric.
2. Gather Your Supplies
You'll need:
Worsted-weight yarn (#4), preferably a light color.
A 5.0 mm or 5.5 mm crochet hook.
Scissors.
A yarn needle for finishing.
Use the same yarn and hook you practiced with in your earlier lessons if you can. That way, you can compare your stitches more easily.
3. How to Make a Double Crochet
The double crochet has a few more movements than the stitches you've learned so far, but we'll take it one step at a time.
Step 1: Yarn Over
Wrap the working yarn over your crochet hook before inserting the hook into a stitch.
Step 2: Insert Your Hook
For our practice row, insert your hook into the fourth chain from the hook. The first three chains will serve as the turning chain.
Step 3: Yarn Over and Pull Up a Loop
Wrap the yarn over your hook again and pull it through the chain. You should now have three loops on your hook.
Step 4: Yarn Over and Pull Through Two
Wrap the yarn over your hook and pull it through the first two loops. You should have two loops remaining.
Wrap the yarn over your hook one last time and pull through the remaining two loops.
Congratulations! You've made one double crochet stitch!
4. Remember the Double Crochet Formula
YO → Insert → YO → Pull Up a Loop → YO → Pull Through 2 → YO → Pull Through 2
Here's the loop count to remember:
Start: 1 loop on your hook.
After pulling up a loop: 3 loops.
After the first pull-through: 2 loops.
After the final pull-through: 1 loop.
5. Practice Your First Row
Let's make a small practice swatch.
Chain 13.
Row 1:
Yarn over.
Insert your hook into the fourth chain from the hook.
Complete your first double crochet.
Continue making one DC in each remaining chain.
You should finish with 10 double crochet stitches, counting the starting three chains as the turning chain for this row.
6. Turn Your Work and Make Row 2
When you reach the end of your row:
Chain 3.
Turn your work.
Yarn over and insert your hook into the first actual stitch of the previous row.
Complete one double crochet.
Continue across the row.
For this lesson, we'll count the chain-3 turning chain as a stitch. This is a common method in double crochet patterns, so keep the convention consistent throughout your project. Some patterns use a different turning-chain method, so always follow the patterns instructions.
You should aim to maintain 10 stitches per row, including the turning chain in the count.
7. Common Beginner Mistakes
Pulling through all three loops at once
Double crochet is completed in two pull-through stages: first through two loops, then through the remaining two.
Skipping the starting chain
For this practice exercise, begin in the fourth chain from the hook.
Losing stitches at the edges
Use a stitch marker to identify the first and last stitches while you're learning.
Making stitches too tight
Keep your hands relaxed and let the hook move smoothly through the loops.
8. Homework: Make a Double Crochet Swatch
Practice making a small rectangle with approximately 10 stitches across and 10 rows tall.
As you work, check that:
Your stitches have a similar height.
Your edges stay reasonably straight.
You maintain the same stitch count from row to row.
You can identify the top V of each stitch.
Don't worry if your first swatch looks a little uneven. You're building muscle memory, and practice makes a real difference!
Lesson Summary
Today you learned the double crochet stitch, its abbreviation (DC), how to work it into a foundation chain, how to turn your work, and how to count your stitches.
Keep that hook moving, and have fun!
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