How to Make a Double Crochet Stitch (dc) for Beginners: Step-by-Step Tutorial

If there is one stitch that unlocks the entire world of cozy crochet blankets, classic granny squares, airy market bags, and modern sweaters, it is the Double Crochet stitch (dc)!

Standing roughly twice as tall as a Single Crochet (sc) and slightly taller than a Half Double Crochet (hdc), the Double Crochet stitch is every maker’s best friend for two huge reasons: it works up twice as fast, and it creates a soft, flexible, drapey fabric that never feels stiff or heavy.

In this complete beginner tutorial, you will learn how to double crochet (dc) in 5 simple movements, which chain to start in on Row 1, the secret Ch 2 vs. Ch 3 turning chain trick that eliminates gaps on your row edges, and how to increase and decrease in Double Crochet.

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⚡ Quick Summary: How to Double Crochet (dc) in 5 Steps

[!NOTE] The 5-Step Double Crochet Rhythm ("Pull Through 2, Pull Through 2"):

1. Yarn Over (YO): Wrap the working yarn over your hook from back to front.
2. Insert Hook: Push your hook into the next stitch (or the 4th chain from the hook on Row 1).
3. Yarn Over & Pull Up a Loop: Draw the yarn through the stitch (You now have 3 loops on your hook).
4. Yarn Over & Pull Through First 2 Loops: Draw yarn through only the first 2 loops on your hook (You now have 2 loops remaining on your hook).
5. Yarn Over & Pull Through Final 2 Loops: Draw yarn through the last 2 loops on your hook. One Double Crochet (dc) complete!

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📋 Double Crochet (dc) Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Before we pick up the hook, here are the essential specs you need to know whenever you see dc in a pattern:

Stitch Feature	Details
US Name & Abbreviation	Double Crochet (dc)
UK Name & Abbreviation	Treble Crochet (tr) (A UK Treble is the exact same stitch as a US Double!)
Chart Symbol	A tall "T" with one diagonal crossbar through the middle stem
Stitch Height	Approx. twice the height of Single Crochet (sc); equals 3 chains (ch 3)
Starting Chain on Row 1	Work your first dc into the 4th chain from the hook
Standard Turning Chain	Ch 3 (counts as the first dc of the new row) — or Ch 2 (if not counting as a stitch)
Best Projects for dc	Granny squares, throw blankets (like our Evermore Plaid Blanket), sweaters, scarves, and market totes

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🧶 Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Make a Double Crochet Stitch

To practice comfortably, grab a 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook and a ball of smooth, light-colored Medium #4 Worsted weight yarn.

Preparation: Make Your Foundation Chain

Start with a slip knot on your hook and chain 15 (ch 15). (Tip: Keep your starting chain relaxed so your bottom edge doesn’t curl—see our guide on Why Is My Crochet Curling? for the Two-Hook Trick!)

Step 1: Yarn Over (YO) and Find the 4th Chain from Hook

1. Wrap the working yarn over your crochet hook from back to front.
2. Count 4 chains back from your hook (remember: never count the loop currently on your hook!).
3. Insert the tip of your hook into the center of that 4th chain.
   • Why do we skip 3 chains? Those 3 skipped chains (ch 1, 2, 3) stand up right beside your stitch and count as the very first Double Crochet column of Row 1!

Step 2: Yarn Over and Pull Up a Loop (3 Loops on Hook)

1. Wrap the working yarn over your hook (YO) again.
2. Pull that loop of yarn back through the chain stitch.
3. Look at your hook: you now have 3 parallel loops sitting side by side on your hook shaft.

Step 3: Yarn Over and Pull Through the First 2 Loops (2 Loops Left)

1. Wrap the working yarn over your hook (YO).
2. Gently pull the hook through only the first 2 loops on your hook (stop right in the middle!).
3. Look at your hook: you now have 2 loops remaining on your hook.

Step 4: Yarn Over and Pull Through the Last 2 Loops (1 Loop Left)

1. Wrap the working yarn over your hook (YO) one final time.
2. Pull through the remaining 2 loops on your hook.
3. 🎉 Congratulations! You have just completed a Double Crochet stitch (dc), and you are back to 1 active loop on your hook!

[!TIP] The Mental Chant That Makes Double Crochet Effortless: Repeat this rhythm in your head as you stitch across the row: “Yarn over, go in, pull up a loop (3 loops)… Yarn over, pull through TWO… Yarn over, pull through TWO!” After just 10 stitches, your hands will memorize that “Pull through 2, pull through 2” cadence automatically!

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🔄 How to Start Row 2 in Double Crochet (And the No-Gap Turning Chain Secret!)

Once you work 1 dc into every remaining chain across Row 1 (if you chained 15 and started in the 4th chain, you will have 13 Double Crochet columns total, including the skipped 3 chains at the start), it is time to turn for Row 2!

There are two ways to start a new row of Double Crochet—the Traditional Ch 3 Method and the Studio Secret Ch 2 No-Gap Method:

Method 1: The Traditional Ch 3 Method (Counts as First Stitch)

This is what 90% of classic crochet patterns instruct you to do:

1. At the end of Row 1, Chain 3 (ch 3) and turn your work.
2. Because that tall ch 3 counts as your very first Double Crochet stitch of Row 2, you must SKIP the very first stitch (the one right at the base of the ch 3).
3. Work your first real dc under both top "V" loops of the 2nd stitch of the row!
4. Crucial Rule for the End of the Row: When you reach the end of Row 2, your final stitch must be worked into the top (3rd chain) of the previous row’s turning chain! Clip a locking stitch marker into that 3rd chain right when you make it so you never miss it (see How to Keep Crochet Edges Straight).

Method 2: The Studio Secret Ch 2 Method (Zero Edge Gaps!)

Do you notice a little keyhole gap between your ch 3 turning chain and your second stitch? Here is how professional crocheters eliminate that gap completely:

1. At the end of Row 1, Chain only 2 (ch 2) and turn your work.
2. Treat that ch 2 like a Single Crochet turning chain—it does NOT count as a stitch!
3. Work a real Double Crochet (dc) directly into the very first stitch (right at the base of the ch 2).
4. Clip your stitch marker into the top "V" of that real first dc, and ignore the ch 2 when you come back on the next row. Your blanket edges will be plump, solid, and 100% gap-free!

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📈 How to Increase and Decrease in Double Crochet

Once you want to shape a garment, beanie crown, or V-neck, you only need two simple variations of Double Crochet:

1. Double Crochet Increase (dc inc or 2 dc in next st)

To add a stitch and make your fabric wider:

• Simply work 2 complete Double Crochet stitches into the exact same stitch!

2. Double Crochet Decrease (dc2tog — Double Crochet 2 Together)

To merge two stitches into one and make your fabric narrower:

1. Yarn Over, insert your hook into the first stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).
2. Yarn Over and pull through the first 2 loops only (2 loops remain on hook—leave this stitch half-finished!).
3. Yarn Over, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook).
4. Yarn Over and pull through the first 2 loops (3 loops remain on hook).
5. Yarn Over and pull through all 3 loops on your hook at once! You just joined two Double Crochet bases into a single top "V"!

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🎨 3 Beginner Projects You Can Make Right Now with Double Crochet!

Now that you know how to Double Crochet (dc), you can make some of the most popular patterns on evercrochet:

1. The Evermore Plaid Granny Square Blanket (Free Pattern): Believe it or not, our entire woven-look tartan plaid blanket is crocheted using 100% Double Crochet stitches worked in the round!
2. Beginner Market Tote Bag Pattern (Free Pattern): Uses Double Crochet and chains ([dc, ch 1]) to create an expandable, sturdy mesh grocery tote bag.
3. Easy 10-Minute 3D Crochet Flower (Free Pattern): Uses Double Crochet clusters inside chain loops to form soft, rounded flower petals in minutes.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How is Double Crochet (dc) different from Half Double Crochet (hdc)?

Both stitches begin the exact same way: you Yarn Over, insert your hook, and pull up a loop so you have 3 loops on your hook.

• In Half Double Crochet (hdc), you yarn over and pull through all 3 loops at once (1 pull-through).
• In Double Crochet (dc), you yarn over and pull through 2 loops, then yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops (2 separate pull-throughs), making the stitch taller and softer!

Is a US Double Crochet the same as a UK Double Crochet?

No! In the UK, the term “Double Crochet” actually refers to a US Single Crochet (sc). The stitch you just learned in this tutorial (US Double Crochet) is called a Treble Crochet (tr) in UK patterns. (See our guide on How to Read a Crochet Pattern for the full conversion chart!).

Why are there gaps between my Double Crochet stitches?

Because Double Crochet is a tall stitch, it naturally has slightly more breathing room between vertical posts than Single Crochet. However, if the holes look overly wide or loose, try switching to a crochet hook 0.5 mm smaller (e.g., from 5.5 mm down to 5.0 mm) so the vertical posts sit snugly side by side!

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🔗 Explore the Complete Core Stitch Library:

• 🧶 How to Make a Single Crochet Stitch (sc)
• 🧶 How to Make a Half Double Crochet Stitch (hdc)
• 🧶 How to Make a Treble Crochet Stitch (tr)
• 🧶 Why Are My Crochet Edges Crooked? (How to Keep Straight Edges)
• 🌲 The Evergreen Yoke Sweater | Modern Crochet Pattern (PDF — $0+)