How to Double Crochet: US Stitch and Turning Chains

A US double crochet is made by yarning over, inserting the hook into a stitch or chain, pulling up a loop, then yarning over and pulling through two loops twice. The stitch abbreviation is dc in US patterns. This guide uses US crochet terms: in UK terminology, the same stitch is called a treble crochet (tr).

Before you start: check the pattern’s terminology

US double crochet (dc) is UK treble (tr); UK double crochet is US single crochet. King Cole’s chart confirms the distinction. See our complete conversion chart if you are switching systems.

Check the pattern notes or abbreviation key before you begin. The abbreviation dc by itself does not tell you which system a pattern uses.

What you need

• Smooth, light-colored yarn that is easy to see. A medium-weight yarn is a practical choice for learning, but it is a suggestion, not a requirement.

• A crochet hook that works with your yarn. Start with the hook size recommended on the yarn label, then adjust only if your fabric is too tight or loose.

• Scissors and a yarn needle if you want to fasten off and weave in the end of a practice swatch.

For this basic stitch lesson, no specific yarn brand, hook size, gauge, or finished size is required.

How to make a double crochet stitch

In a completed stitch, one active loop remains on the hook. The loop count during the stitch is a useful guide: after you pull up a loop, you should have three loops on the hook; after the first pull-through, two remain; after the second, one remains.

1. Yarn over. Bring the working yarn over the hook from back to front.

2. Insert the hook into the indicated stitch or chain. For a row of double crochet, work under the top two loops of the stitch unless the pattern says otherwise.

3. Yarn over again and pull the yarn through the stitch. You now have three loops on the hook.

4. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops. Two loops remain.

5. Yarn over once more and pull through the last two loops. One loop remains: you have completed one US double crochet.

The motion is yarn over, insert, draw up a loop, then pull through two loops twice. The Crochet Guild of America’s double crochet lesson supplies right- and left-handed illustrations.

Work a first row from a foundation chain

This example uses the common US convention where the initial chain-3 counts as the first double crochet.

1. Make a slip knot and chain 12.

2. Starting at the hook, skip the first three chains. Insert the hook into the fourth chain from the hook.

3. Make a double crochet in that chain using the five steps above.

4. Make one double crochet in each remaining chain to the end.

You will make nine full double crochet stitches. The three skipped chains count together as the first stitch, so the row has 10 stitches in total. The example is a way to understand stitch placement and counting, not a finished tested pattern.

Why chain 12 makes 10 stitches in this example

The three chains nearest the hook form the turning chain and count as one stitch. The other nine chains each receive one double crochet. That gives 10 stitches altogether: one represented by the turning chain plus nine worked stitches.

Some patterns use another convention. Follow the pattern’s stated starting-chain and turning-chain instructions rather than combining instructions from different tutorials.

Turn and work the next row

With the chain-3-counts convention:

1. At the end of the row, chain 3 and turn your work.

2. Treat the chain 3 as the first stitch of the new row. Skip the first stitch at the base of the chain.

3. Make a double crochet in the next stitch and in each stitch across.

4. At the end of the row, make the final stitch in the top of the previous row’s turning chain.

For this 10-stitch example, the next row again has 10 stitches: a turning chain counted as one, plus nine worked double crochets. This matches the placement convention in the Crochet Guild of America lesson. Count the final stitch in the old turning chain; do not stop one position early.

Some designers use a chain 2, or specify that the turning chain does not count as a stitch. In that case, use the designer’s stated placement and counting rule consistently. If the chain does not count, the first double crochet is generally worked into the first stitch at the base of the chain; if it does count, you skip that base stitch and work into the next stitch. The pattern instructions take precedence.

How to find the top of a stitch

The top of a crochet stitch looks like a small V. Unless the pattern says to use a different loop, insert your hook under both strands of that V. At the end of a row, the turning chain can be easy to miss; look for the chain at the edge and work into its top only when your pattern counts it as a stitch.

Common double crochet problems and fixes

My rows are getting wider

You may be working a double crochet into the stitch at the base of a turning chain that already counts as a stitch. Check the pattern’s turning-chain rule. If the chain counts, skip that base stitch and begin in the next one. Count the row before moving on.

My rows are getting narrower

You may be skipping the first stitch when your pattern says the turning chain does not count, or missing the final stitch at the edge. Place a stitch marker in the first and last real stitch of a row while you practice. At the row end, check whether the pattern expects a stitch in the turning chain.

The edges look uneven

Uneven edges often come from a missed or extra stitch at one end, or from treating the turning chain differently from row to row. Count each row and use the same convention throughout. A slight slant in individual double crochet stitches is normal; if the whole piece noticeably narrows, widens, or skews, check the stitch count at both edges.

My stitches look loose or full of gaps

Double crochet is taller and more open than single crochet, so some space between stitches is normal. If the fabric looks looser than you want, first make a small swatch and check the pattern’s gauge if you are making a project. A smaller hook may make a denser fabric. If the stitches are cramped and difficult to work into, a larger hook may help. Hook changes can affect the finished size, so compare your swatch with the pattern’s gauge before continuing.

I keep splitting the yarn

Insert the hook through the stitch rather than through the yarn strand itself. A smooth, light-colored yarn can make the stitch top easier to see while you practice. Keep the loops on the wider part of the hook shaft as you draw yarn through; pulling them tight against the narrow throat can make the stitch difficult to complete.

What can you make with double crochet?

US double crochet is a basic stitch used in projects such as blankets, shawls, garments, and lace patterns. Its height helps fabric grow faster than rows of single crochet, while spaces between stitches can make the fabric more open. The best stitch depends on the texture and drape a particular pattern calls for.

Frequently asked questions

Is US double crochet the same as UK double crochet?

No. US double crochet (dc) is called treble crochet (tr) in UK terminology. UK double crochet (dc) is US single crochet (sc). Always check the pattern’s terminology.

How many chains do I make for a row of double crochet?

It depends on how many stitches you want and whether the pattern counts the turning chain. With the common US method shown here, chain two more than the number of stitches wanted, work into the fourth chain from the hook, and count the skipped three chains as the first stitch. The pattern’s directions override this general example.

Your next step

Practice reading the count before choosing a complete pattern. Compare single crochet, revisit the foundation chain, or use our pattern-reading guide to decode the next row.

Sources and editorial note

Sources checked on 29 October 2026:

• Crochet Guild of America — double crochet and counted turning chains
• Craft Yarn Council — first rows and turning-chain arithmetic
• King Cole — US and UK conversions

AI assisted with drafting, editing and source checking. This is a researched text guide, not a filmed demonstration or a physically tested original pattern. Count examples are checked on paper. See our editorial policy and corrections process.