How to Foundation Double Crochet (Stretchy Tall Start)
Foundation double crochet is the taller cousin of foundation single crochet, and it is a brilliant way to start any project worked in double crochet. Like its shorter relative, it builds the foundation chain and the first row together, giving you a stretchy, even edge with none of the frustration of a tight starting chain, and it does it with quick, tall double crochet stitches. This guide shows you how to foundation double crochet step by step. It is part of the essential crochet techniques.
What Is Foundation Double Crochet?
Foundation double crochet, usually abbreviated FDC, is a starting technique that makes the foundation chain and the first row of double crochet at the same time. Each stitch creates its own chain at the bottom and its own double crochet on top, so you build the base and the first row together in one pass. The result is a loose, even, stretchy starting edge with tall stitches, perfect for projects where a plain tight chain would be too rigid or hard to work into.
Why Use It?
A traditional foundation chain worked in double crochet can be tight and inflexible, and the bottom edge will not stretch. Foundation double crochet fixes this by giving you an edge that stretches with the fabric and is always easy to work into, while starting with the tall stitches you want. Because double crochet covers width quickly, foundation double crochet is a fast, comfortable way to begin large projects like blankets and shawls. It saves you from making and then working back into a long, fiddly starting chain.
What You Need
You need your usual yarn and hook, and a smooth, light colored yarn helps you see the parts of each stitch while learning. You should be comfortable with the double crochet first, since foundation double crochet is built from it. As with foundation single crochet, the key idea is that each stitch has a chain part at the bottom, which is where your hook goes to start the next stitch. Learning to spot that chain part is the main new skill.
Step by Step: How to Foundation Double Crochet
Step one: chain three. Step two: yarn over, insert your hook into the third chain from the hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, so you have three loops on the hook. Step three: yarn over and pull through just the first loop, which makes the chain part of the stitch. Step four: yarn over and pull through two loops, then yarn over and pull through the last two loops, which completes the double crochet part. That is one foundation double crochet. Step five: for the next stitch, yarn over, insert your hook under the two loops of the chain part you just made, and repeat the whole sequence. Continue for the number of stitches you need.
Finding the Chain Part
Just as with foundation single crochet, the trick is to find the chain part at the bottom of the previous stitch, because that is where your hook goes next. Look for the small chain like bump with two loops at the base of each finished stitch, and insert your hook under both loops to begin the next one. If your foundation looks off, you are likely inserting the hook in the wrong spot, so slow down until you can see the chain part clearly. It gets easy to recognize after a few stitches.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistakes are working into the wrong part of the previous stitch and forgetting the pull through one step that creates the chain, which leaves you with a plain double crochet and no foundation. Keeping your tension relaxed helps, since a tight foundation double crochet loses its stretch. Counting your stitches, as in how to count crochet stitches, ensures you finish with the right number for your first row. Practicing on a short foundation first builds confidence.
When to Use Foundation Double Crochet
Use foundation double crochet to start blankets, shawls, wraps, and garments worked in double crochet that need a stretchy, even edge, and to skip the fiddly tight starting chain. For shorter starting stitches, use foundation single crochet instead. These foundation techniques pair well with the shaping methods in the essential crochet techniques guide, and you can put them to work on projects in the beginner pattern hub.