Lesson 5: How to Crochet a Double Crochet Stitch

Hello Lovely!
You’ve learned the single and half double crochet stitches — now it’s time to add a little more height and texture with the Double Crochet (DC) stitch. This stitch is taller, drapier, and perfect for creating open, airy fabrics like shawls, blankets, and garments.

What You’ll Need

Your yarn and crochet hook
A small chain (about 14 stitches) to practice with
Scissors

Step 1: Make Your Foundation Chain

Begin with a foundation chain of 14 stitches. For this stitch, you’ll skip the first three chains from your hook — those skipped chains count as your first double crochet in most patterns.

Lovely tip: When counting chains, never count the loop on your hook — start with the next one down.

Step 2: Yarn Over and Insert Your Hook

Yarn over once (wrap the yarn over your hook from back to front).
Insert your hook into the fourth chain from your hook.
Yarn over again and pull the yarn through the chain. You’ll now have three loops on your hook.

Lovely tip: Keep your tension soft and your movements steady — this helps your stitches stay even.

Step 3: Yarn Over and Pull Through Two Loops

Yarn over again.
Pull through the first two loops on your hook.

You’ll now have two loops left on your hook.

Step 4: Yarn Over and Pull Through the Last Two Loops

Yarn over once more.
Pull through the remaining two loops on your hook.

Lovely — that’s your first double crochet stitch complete! You’ll have one loop left on your hook, ready for the next stitch.

Lovely tip: The top of each double crochet stitch looks like a little “V” — that’s where you’ll insert your hook for the next row.

Step 5: Continue Across the Row

Repeat the same steps across your chain until you reach the end. Each double crochet will add a tall, soft stitch to your foundation row.

When you reach the end, you’ll have a neat first row of tall, even stitches — and you’re ready to start learning how to build up rows!

Practice Exercise

Make a few rows of double crochet stitches, counting carefully as you go. Try keeping the same number of stitches in each row to form a neat rectangle — this will help you prepare for turning and row work in the next lesson!

Lovely tip: The chain-3 at the end of a row acts as your “turning chain” — we’ll explore that in detail next time.

Next Lesson

Now that you’ve mastered the double crochet stitch, it’s time to learn how to turn your work and crochet in rows — this is where your projects really start to take shape!

Next Lesson: Crocheting Rows and Turning Your Work

Thanks Lovely, and happy crocheting!

Love Claire x

Hello Lovely, I hope you found this written tutorial helpful. To watch the accompanying video tutorial, click below.

Crochet Basics: Learn the Double Crochet Technique Easily