How to Double Crochet (DC)
Hey there! It’s time for another how to crochet tutorial, this one being the Double Crochet! With crochet season starting, I thought maybe its time for yet another easy crochet picture tutorial. I’ve had a few beginners ask me to make a tutorial on how to Double Crochet. So here’s the super easy crochet tutorial!
The Double Crochet Explained:
The Double crochet is like the big sister to the single crochet and half double crochet. It’s created out of two loops in the middle of the stitch, which gives it that extra height over the two smaller crochet stitches. This stitch is also looser than the single crochet and half double crochet, which makes it perfect for a scarf or maybe a slouchy beanie. The double crochet is also mostly used in Granny Squares, which are also super fun to make!
Double Crochet abbreviated is DC. As the name suggests, the double crochet is higher than the single crochet and half double double crochet. If you’ve mastered the single crochet and half double crochet, you will find this stitch easy to try next.
Techniques you need to know before you start:
- Creating a foundation chain
- Yarn over
If you’re an absolute beginner, check out this super easy tutorial where you will learn everything about how to crochet. In addition to learning how to crochet, you will also learn how to single crochet.
Materials needed for this Double crochet tutorial:
Any yarn and it’s corresponding hook. I used some left over #4 worsted weight yarn and a 5mm (US H/8) crochet hook. It’s also handy to keep a few stitch markers and a pair of scissors close!
You can use something like Red Heart Super Saver!
After you’ve mastered the double crochet stitch:
Be sure to check out some of the easy patterns I have available on my blog like:
- The Shelly Twisted Headband
- Super easy Crochet Beanie Pattern
- And the brand new Braided Headband Crochet Pattern
All of my patterns are absolutely FREE of course!!
Let’s begin!
This stitch is so easy to crochet, it doesn’t need any more introduction. Let’s do this!! 🙂
In this quick and easy tutorial I will be showing you how to DC in just a few steps:
1. Crochet a Foundation Chain
After Choosing your yarn and hook, make a slip knot and chain 23 or as much as you want plus 3 extra chains.
Because the stitch is bigger/higher than the sc and hdc, you need to add 3 extra chains to get to the height of the stitch.
2. Start in the correct chain
Remember don’t count the chain that’s on the hook. When starting, count from the chain below the hook.
When you crochet in rows you always start your work with a turning chain. This helps you to maintain the correct height of your work when you turn.
The turning chain for double crochet is a chain 3.
3. Yarn Over and insert your hook
So to begin, yarn over and insert your hook into the 4th chain from the hook.
Note: You would do the same first step with a half double crochet – the double crochet just has one extra step.
4. Again, Yarn over and pull through the chain stitch
Yarn over again and pull your hook through the chain stitch.
You now have 3 loops on your hook.
5. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops
Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on your hook.
You now have 2 loops on your hook.
5. Lastly, Yarn over and pull through all loops
For the last step of the Double crochet, Yarn over once again and pull through the last remaining loops on your hook.
You just made your first Double crochet!
Good job!! 🙂
To make it easier to find this stitch when you continue to row 2, place a stitch marker in this first stitch.
6. Repeat and Complete your first row
Continue to the next chain stitch and repeat steps 3 to 5.
Keep on crocheting into the foundation chain and DC into each chain stitch until you reach the end.
If you also made 23 chains in the beginning, you will end up with 20 Double crochets in your first row and every row from now on.
7. Chain 2 and turn for the second row
To start the second row, chain 3 and turn our work.
8. Start the second row in the correct stitch
Insert your hook into the stitch directly next to the chain three. For this tutorial, the chain three does not count as a stitch.
Note: some patterns may say that the chain 3 counts as a dc, then you will crochet directly into the 2nd stitch of the row.
This stitch is the last Double Crochet you made in the previous row however the only time you should skip this stitch is when a pattern directs you to do so.
If the chain three confuses you in the beginning, you can use a stitch marker to mark your last stitch you made in the previous row. This way you will know what stitch to work into after you turn.
9. Continue to make your DC down the row
Continue to DC down the row in each stitch across until you reach your first stitch marker. You will again have a total of 20 double crochets.
Then continue to row 3 by following steps 7 and 8 again.
10. Repeat the steps
Repeat the DC down the rows and make as many rows as you want to keep practicing.
Summary of the Half Double Crochet
- Make a foundation chain
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the designated stitch
- Yarn over and pull through (3 loops on the hook)
- Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on the hook
- Lastly, Yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops on your hook.
- Begin a new row with a chain 3 and turn your work. Continue down the row in each of the previous double crochet stitches.
- Keep on practicing until you feel comfortable using this stitch!
And that’s all there is to it!
Finally, you can crochet just about anything with the Double crochet for example, scarfs, shawls, the corner to corner stitch, granny squares, etc.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and I’m sure you will master this easy technique in no time!
Feel free to share this tutorial on all social media platforms and be sure to tag me in your projects!
Until the next tutorial!
-Nadine 🙂
