Loopy PandaHow to Double Crochet
To double crochet (dc), yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, then yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops. It is about three chains tall. In UK patterns this stitch is called treble (tr), and US “dc” means something different in UK terms.
What you need
- Medium (worsted) yarn in a light colour
- Crochet hook in the size on the yarn label, usually 5.0 mm (H-8) for worsted
Step by step
- Make a foundation chainTo practise, chain 13.
- Yarn overBring the yarn over the hook once before inserting it. You have 2 loops on the hook.
- Insert the hookInsert the hook into the 4th chain from the hook. On later rows, insert it under both top loops of the next stitch.
- Pull up a loopYarn over and pull the yarn back through the stitch. You now have 3 loops on the hook.
- Pull through 2Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook. 2 loops remain.
- Pull through 2 againYarn over and pull through the last 2 loops. One loop remains. That is one double crochet.
- Work across the rowWork 1 double crochet in each chain to the end. The 3 skipped chains usually count as the first stitch, so with 13 chains you have 11 stitches.
- TurnChain 3 and turn. In most traditional patterns the chain 3 counts as the first double crochet, so skip the first stitch and work the next dc in the 2nd stitch. Work the last dc into the top of the turning chain.
US vs UK: the name trap
The same stitch has a different name in US and UK patterns. It is a very common source of mistakes.
| Stitch | US term | UK term | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| No yarn over first; pull through 2 once | single crochet (sc) | double crochet (dc) | 短针 X |
| Yarn over once, pull through 3 | half double crochet (hdc) | half treble (htr) | 中长针 T |
| Yarn over once, pull through 2 twice | double crochet (dc) | treble (tr) | 长针 F |
| Yarn over twice, pull through 2 three times | treble crochet (tr) | double treble (dtr) | 长长针 E |
So “dc” in a UK pattern is a US single crochet. Check which terms your pattern uses before you start. More in US vs UK crochet terms.
How double crochet appears in patterns
| Pattern style | What you will see | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| US written | ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in each st across | Double crochet row with a counted turning chain |
| UK written | ch 3 (counts as tr), tr in each st across | The same row in UK terms |
| Chinese written | F; 4F = 4 dc | 长针, double crochet |
| Chart | A T with one diagonal slash | See the double crochet symbol |
Double crochet in the round
Circles, granny squares and hats are often worked in rounds of double crochet. Unlike single crochet amigurumi, these rounds are usually joined: start each round with a chain 3 (it counts as the first dc), work around, then slip stitch into the top of that chain 3 to close the round. Do not turn unless the pattern says so.
To keep a flat circle flat, each round adds the same number of stitches as the first round had, usually 12 for double crochet. See how to crochet a flat circle and the granny square.
Increasing and decreasing in double crochet
To increase, work 2 double crochet into the same stitch. A pattern writes this as 2 dc in next st; Chinese patterns often write FV. To decrease, work a dc2tog: two unfinished double crochets in two neighbouring stitches, joined at the top. Both have their own video on crochet decreases and increases.
Common mistakes
- Pulling through 3 loops at once. That makes a half double crochet. In dc you pull through 2, then 2.
- Rows get narrower. You are skipping the top of the turning chain at the end of the row. If the chain 3 counts as a stitch, work into it.
- Rows get wider. You are working into the first stitch when the turning chain already counts as that stitch.
- A gap next to the turning chain. The chain 3 is thinner than a dc. Some patterns use chain 2 instead, or a “stacked” single crochet; follow your pattern's note.
If your double crochet looks wrong
- Loose, loopy stitches. The first loop is pulled up too high. Pull it up only to the height of the yarn over on the hook, then finish the stitch.
- Stitches lean or twist. The yarn over is wrapped the wrong way. Always wrap from back to front, over the top of the hook.
- Big holes between stitches. Double crochet is an open stitch, but large gaps mean the tension is loose. Try a smaller hook, see tension too tight or loose.
- The piece grows or shrinks. The turning chain is counted on some rows and not on others. Count stitches every row, see why crochet gets wider.
Left-handed double crochet
Left-handers hold the hook in the left hand and the yarn in the right, and work from left to right along the row. The steps are the same, only mirrored. The video below is the demonstration above flipped left to right, so you can copy it hand for hand.
Stitches built from double crochet
Once you can double crochet, many popular stitches are only a different arrangement of it: the V-stitch (dc, ch 1, dc in one stitch), the granny square (groups of 3 dc) and the blanket stitch.
Double Crochet Symbol
Double crochet (dc) is drawn as a T with one diagonal slash through the stem. Each slash stands for one yarn-over before inserting the hook. In Chinese it is 长针, often written “F”; in UK patterns it is called treble (tr).
| US name and abbreviation | Double Crochet (dc) |
|---|---|
| UK name and abbreviation | Treble (tr) |
| Chinese name | 长针 |
| Chinese written shorthand | F |
| Japanese name | 長編み |
Why does a UK pattern say treble when the chart shows a double crochet?
The stitch is the same. UK terms are one step “taller” in name: US dc = UK tr.
What does “F” mean in a Chinese crochet pattern?
F is shorthand for 长针, the US double crochet.
Chart symbols on this page
Frequently asked questions
What does dc mean in crochet?
In US patterns dc means double crochet: yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop, then pull through 2 loops twice. In UK patterns dc means the US single crochet, and the US double crochet is called treble (tr). Check which terms the pattern uses.
What does 2 dc in next stitch mean?
Work 2 double crochet into the same stitch. It is an increase: one stitch becomes two. If the pattern says dc in next 2 sts instead, work 1 dc in each of the next 2 stitches.
What is double crochet in UK terms?
Treble crochet (tr). US dc = UK tr. And UK “double crochet” is the US single crochet, so always check which terms a pattern uses.
What does F mean in a Chinese crochet pattern?
F is 长针, the US double crochet (UK treble).
Does the chain 3 count as a double crochet?
In most traditional patterns, yes. Some modern patterns use a chain 2 that does not count. The stitch count after each row tells you which method the pattern uses.
How many yarn overs are in a double crochet?
Four: one before you insert the hook, one to pull up a loop, and one for each of the two “pull through 2” steps. The single slash on the chart symbol stands for the first one.
Is double crochet used in amigurumi?
Not often for the body, because it leaves gaps that show stuffing. It appears in flat parts like skirts, ruffles, petals, blankets and hats.
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