How to crochet

A double crochet (dc) stitch is one of the most commonly used crochet stitches. It creates a taller, more open fabric than a single crochet, making it perfect for blankets, scarves, and garments.

The Beginning

To begin, you will need yarn and a crochet hook that matches your yarn weight. Start by making a slip knot. To do this, create a loop with your yarn, leaving a short tail, and pull the working yarn (the long end connected to the skein) through the loop to form a slip knot. Insert your crochet hook into this slip knot and tighten it around the hook, but not too tightly.

Next, create a foundation chain. Yarn over—meaning, wrap the yarn over your hook from back to front—and pull it through the loop on your hook. Repeat this process until you have the number of chains needed for your project. For practice, you can start with about ten chains.

Once your foundation chain is ready, add three more chains. These act as a turning chain and will count as your first double crochet stitch. Insert your hook into the fourth chain from the hook, making sure to go under both loops of the chain or just the back loop, depending on the pattern’s instructions.

Now, yarn over again and pull the yarn through the chain stitch. At this point, you should have three loops on your hook. Yarn over once more and pull through the first two loops on your hook, leaving two loops remaining. Yarn over again and pull through the last two loops. You should now have only one loop left on your hook, and this completes your first double crochet stitch.

To continue across the row, yarn over, insert your hook into the next chain, and repeat the same steps: yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on the hook), yarn over and pull through two loops (two loops remaining), yarn over again and pull through the last two loops. Continue working double crochet stitches into each chain across the row.

When you reach the end of the row, you need to turn your work. To do this, chain three, which serves as the turning chain and helps maintain the stitch height. Turn your work so you can begin the next row.

For the next row, start by working a double crochet into the second stitch (not the turning chain, unless the pattern states otherwise). Continue working double crochets across the row, making sure to insert your hook into the top of each stitch from the previous row.

As you work, try to maintain even tension so your stitches are neither too tight nor too loose. Counting your stitches at the end of each row will help ensure consistency in your work.

With practice, double crochet will become easy and versatile, allowing you to create a variety of textured patterns. 

How to Increase and Decrease in Double Crochet

Once you’re comfortable with basic double crochet stitches, you can learn how to increase (add stitches) and decrease (reduce stitches) in your work. These techniques help shape your project, whether you’re making garments, blankets, or amigurumi.

Increasing in Double Crochet

An increase simply means adding an extra stitch in the same space to widen your work.

1. Start by working double crochets as usual until you reach the point where you need an increase.
2. Yarn over, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (three loops on the hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (two loops remain).
4. Yarn over again and pull through the last two loops. You have now completed one double crochet.
5. To increase, yarn over again and insert your hook into the same stitch where you just worked your previous double crochet.
6. Repeat the double crochet process as before, working a second double crochet into the same stitch.

Now, you have two double crochet stitches in one stitch, which increases the total stitch count. You can repeat this increase as many times as needed, depending on your pattern.

Decreasing in Double Crochet

A decrease, also called a dc2tog (double crochet two together), combines two stitches into one, helping to shape the fabric by reducing the number of stitches.

1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the first stitch where you want to decrease.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on the hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (two loops remain on the hook).
4. Instead of completing the stitch, yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
5. Yarn over and pull up a loop (four loops on the hook).
6. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (three loops remain on the hook).
7. Yarn over one last time and pull through all three loops on the hook.

Now, you have turned two stitches into one, decreasing the stitch count.