Introduction to Crochet: Double Crochet Stitch

Ready to move on to the double crochet stitch (dc)?  Yay!  Also called the treble crochet stitch in UK terms, this stitch is even taller than the half double crochet stitch.  Because it is a taller stitch, we will need to allow for three chains from the foundation row to act as the first stitch.  This means that we will begin stitching in the fourth chain from the hook, shown by the triangle below.

This is a tall, two-step stitch, so we need to wrap the yarn once around the hook form the back and over the top before we get started.  This extra yarn wrap will let us build the stitch up in two steps.

Next, insert the hook from front to back under the top loop of the fourth chain from the hook.

Wrap the yarn around the hook again from the back and over the top and pull it towards you through the loop.  Now, you will have three loops on your hook:

Now it's time to build up the first level of the stitch.  Wrap the yarn around the hook again from the back and over the top:

Pull the yarn through the first two loops on your hook.  Careful!  Only the first two loops, not all three like for the half-double crochet stitch.  Now you will only have two loops on the hook.

Time for the second level of the stitch.  Wrap the yarn around the hook one last time from the back and over the top and pull it through the last two loops.

Here it is!  A brand new double crochet stitch!  This makes a total of two stitches in this first row.  The first stitch is the chain three that we initially skipped, and the second stitch is the one we just made.

When you come to the end of your row, you will need to "build up" to the next row.  A double crochet stitch is as tall as three chain stitches, so at the end of each row of double crochet we'll make three extra chains:

After flipping the work over, the chain three counts as the first stitch in the new row, so the next stitch will be made two stitches in, where the triangle points in the photo below: 

Let's take a look at this stitch from a different angle- after the initial row of stitches:

Because this is a taller stitch, we need to wrap the yarn around our hook before we begin.  This extra loop on our hook will allow us to "build up" the stitch.  The more initial wraps around the hook, the taller the stitch.

First, insert your hook from the font to the back of the fabric, under both loops of the next stitch (identified by the triangle in the photo above).  Wrap the yarn around your hook from the back and over the top and then pull it through to the front side of the fabric.  

Now you'll have three loops on your hook:

Now it's time to "build up" the stitch.  This is a double crochet stitch, so it is twice as tall, and we will have to build it up in two steps.  Wrap your yarn again around the hook from the back and over the top and then pull it through the first two loops on your hook.  Careful!  Just pull it through the first two loops, not all three.

Now there are only two loops left on your hook.  Those two remaining loops allow up to build the stitch up even higher with one more step.

Wrap your yarn around the hook once more from the back and over the top.  Pull the yarn through the last two loops on the hook all at once.

Ta-da!  We've just finished the second double crochet stitch in our new row!

Remember how we discussed ending/starting every row of double crochet with a chain three?  Don't forget that chain three when you come to the end of a row because it counts as a stitch, and you will need to make a new stitch in the top of that chain.  It might look like the row is finished, but there's one more stitch to make, shown by the triangle in the picture below.  I

Here's a finished row with the last stitch made in the top of the chain three from the previous row.  If you're ever unsure, remember to count your stitches (including the beginning chain three) to see if you've forgotten any.

Here is a finished square made with all double crochet stitches:

Have fun and happy crocheting!

Lots of love,

~Mersydotes