How do you crochet a double crochet?

Double crochets are, together with single crochets, one of the most used stitches in crochet. If you can crochet a chain, single and double crochet, you are able to work on almost any pattern. Double crochets are a variation on the single crochet. Because you yarn over more often in the double crochet, the stitch will be twice as long and twice as high as a single crochet (hence the name 'double crochet'). Double crochets are very supple and moderately thin. That's why these stitches are best in projects that you will wear such as crocheted shawls, garments or blankets. Because they're supple and thin you can often see through the stitches. This is a good thing because it helps the suppleness of the fabric. However, if you do not like it, consider using a smaller crochet hook than indicated on the ball band.

To crochet a double crochet isn't very hard, once you've done it a couple of times. To help you get started I made a video tutorial and a photo tutorial on how to master the double crochet. You can get started right away!

How to crochet a double crochet

1. Yarn over.

2. Insert hook in stitch.

3. Yarn over, again.

4. Pull up a loop.

5. Yarn over, again.

6. Pull through first 2 loops on hook.

7. Yarn over, again.

8. Pull through remaining loops on hook.

Repeat steps 1-8 for each double crochet.

Chains counting as double crochet

Sometimes the first two or three chains in a row or round count as double crochet. If this is the case, it's indicated in the pattern like this: 'ch3 (counts as first double crochet)'. You need to do this because a double crochet is higher than the average crochet stitch. If you would crochet a double crochet into the first stitch of a row right away, your first stitch would look very crumpled up and compressed. By crocheting multiple chains on top of each other as a first stitch you reach the height of a double crochet and your stitches will look much better. You can treat the chains as a regular double crochet in the next row or round and just crochet in the top chain as if it were a double crochet.

Abbreviation for double crochet in crochet charts

Double crochets are always abbreviated to 'dc'. For example: 2dc, 16dc, 20dc.

Symbols

A double crochet is always represented as a T-shape with a horizontal or diagonal bar through the stem of the T.

If you want to know how many horizontal bars represent which stitch, keep in mind that the horizontal bars represent the number of yarnovers you do before you insert you hook into a stitch. For a double crochet you yarn over once in step 1, so the stitch symbol is represented with one bar (a triple crochet yarns over twice before inserting, so that stitch would be represented with two horizontal bars!).