How do you double crochet?

To double crochet, yarn over first, then insert your hook into the stitch and pull up a loop so you have three loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops, then yarn over and pull through the last two. That completes one double crochet.

What is the turning chain for double crochet?

Double crochet usually uses a turning chain of three at the start of each row, and in many patterns that turning chain counts as the first double crochet stitch. Always check your pattern, since this affects your stitch count.

Is double crochet taller than single crochet?

Yes. Double crochet is about twice as tall as single crochet, because it is made with a yarn over before the hook goes in and is worked off in two steps. This makes it quicker to build height and gives a more open fabric.

Is double crochet good for beginners?

Yes. Double crochet is one of the most useful beginner stitches. It is easy to learn once you can single crochet, works up quickly, and is used in a huge range of blankets, garments, and everyday projects.

What does dc mean in crochet?

In US patterns, dc means double crochet, a tall stitch made with one yarn over before inserting the hook. Note that in UK patterns, dc means single crochet, so always check which terms a pattern uses.

What is double crochet used for?

Double crochet is used for blankets, shawls, garments, scarves, and many decorative stitches that need height, such as shells and clusters. Its speed and soft drape make it one of the most popular stitches in crochet.

Crochet Stitches

How to Double Crochet: Step by Step for Beginners

Published July 7, 2026

The double crochet is one of the most useful stitches you will ever learn. It is tall, quick to work, and endlessly versatile, appearing in blankets, garments, shawls, and countless decorative stitch patterns. If you already know how to single crochet, the double crochet is a natural and rewarding next step that opens up a whole new range of projects. This guide shows you exactly how to double crochet step by step, including the turning chain, common mistakes, and the projects it suits best. It is part of the crochet stitch library.

What Is Double Crochet?

The double crochet, abbreviated dc in US patterns, is a tall stitch made with a yarn over before you insert the hook, then worked off the hook in two steps. It stands about twice as tall as a single crochet, which means it builds height quickly and creates a lighter, more open fabric with lovely drape. Because it grows fast and looks neat, double crochet is one of the most popular stitches for everyday crochet, and it is the base of many taller decorative stitches too.

When to Use Double Crochet

Double crochet is the stitch of choice when you want speed and drape. It works up blankets and afghans quickly, gives shawls and wraps a soft flow, and suits garments where you want lightness rather than stiffness. It is also the foundation of decorative stitches like shells, clusters, and the bobble, which are built from groups of double crochets. When you want a project to grow fast and feel soft, double crochet is usually the answer.

What You Need

Use a smooth, light colored, medium weight (worsted) yarn and a 5.0 mm to 5.5 mm hook to practice double crochet. As with any stitch, light, smooth yarn makes the taller stitch easy to see. You will begin with a foundation chain, so make sure you are comfortable with the slip knot and chain from the crochet basics first. Because double crochet is tall, it uses a taller turning chain than single crochet, which we will cover in the steps below.

Step by Step: How to Double Crochet

Start with a foundation chain. Step one: yarn over, then insert your hook into the fourth chain from the hook. Step two: yarn over and pull up a loop, so you have three loops on the hook. Step three: yarn over and pull through the first two loops, leaving two loops. Step four: yarn over and pull through the last two loops. That completes one double crochet. Work a double crochet into each chain across. To start a new row, chain three to turn, which usually counts as your first double crochet, then work across.

The Turning Chain Explained

Double crochet needs a taller turning chain than single crochet, usually three chains, to bring your work up to the height of the stitches in the row. In most patterns this chain of three counts as the first double crochet of the row, so you skip the first actual stitch and work your next double crochet into the second stitch. This is a common source of confusion and of miscounted stitches, so read your pattern's rule carefully, as explained in how to read a crochet pattern, and handle it the same way every row.

Common Double Crochet Mistakes

The most common mistakes involve the turning chain. If the chain of three counts as a stitch but you also work into the first stitch, you add a stitch and the work gets wider. If you forget to work into the top of the turning chain at the end of the row, you lose a stitch and it gets narrower. Forgetting the starting yarn over turns the stitch into a shorter one by mistake. Counting your stitches each row, as in how to count crochet stitches, catches these quickly.

Best Projects for Double Crochet

Double crochet is perfect for blankets and afghans that you want to finish quickly, for drapey shawls and wraps, for lightweight garments, and for the many stitch patterns built from it. It is one of the most used stitches in the beginner pattern hub, so learning it well unlocks a huge number of makes. Combined with single crochet and the half double crochet, it gives you the full range of everyday stitch heights, and you can compare them in half double crochet vs double crochet.