How to Double Crochet: The Stitch Behind Granny Squares
Double crochet is twice as tall as single crochet and twice as fast. Learn the yarn-over-first technique, the turning-chain rule, and how to keep straight edges.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Beginner
- Yarn
- Smooth worsted (#4) yarn
- Hook
- 5 mm (H-8)
- Time
- 20 minutes to learn
In this post
The double crochet (dc) is the stitch that makes granny squares, most blankets and countless garments. It's tall — about three chains high — so it grows fabric quickly and drapes softly.
The quick version: yarn over, insert, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through two loops — twice.
In UK patterns this is a treble crochet (tr). Check which terms your pattern uses before you start.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
How to double crochet, step by step
- Step 1 — Yarn over first: Wrap the yarn over the hook before inserting it. This is what makes it a double.
- Step 2 — Insert: Push the hook through the stitch, under both top loops.
- Step 3 — Pull up a loop: Yarn over and draw through the stitch. You have 3 loops on the hook.
- Step 4 — First pull-through: Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops. 2 loops remain.
- Step 5 — Second pull-through: Yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops. One double crochet made.
Practice swatch
- Row 1: Ch 17. Dc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. (15)
- Row 2: Ch 2 (doesn't count as a stitch), turn. Dc in the first st and in each st across. (15)
- Rows 3–10: Repeat Row 2. (15)
The turning-chain question
Patterns handle the start of a dc row in one of two ways, and mixing them up is the number-one cause of wonky edges:
| Method | Start of row | First stitch | End of row |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Ch 3, counts as a dc | Skip the first st, dc in the 2nd | Last dc goes into the top of the previous ch 3 |
| Modern | Ch 2, doesn't count | Dc in the first st | Last dc in the last dc |
The modern method makes neater, gap-free edges. Use whichever your pattern says — it affects the stitch count.
Fixing common double crochet problems
- Gaps at the edges: switch to the ch-2, non-counting method, or try a "stacked" first stitch.
- Leaning stitches: pull up the first loop to the height of the stitch before it — about the height of two chains.
- Holes between stitches: normal for dc. For a denser fabric, use a smaller hook.
Where to use double crochet
- Granny squares — clusters of 3 dc.
- Blankets — fast, drapey fabric.
- Shell stitch and waffle stitch — both built from dc.
Common questions
Is double crochet harder than single crochet?
Only slightly — there's one extra yarn over and one extra pull-through. Most people learn single crochet first, then double crochet the same day.
How tall is a double crochet?
About three times the height of a chain, or roughly twice a single crochet.
Why does my double crochet row look loose?
Double crochet naturally has more space between stitches. If it's looser than the pattern's gauge, go down half a hook size.
Ready for granny squares now? You've earned them. 🧶
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