Crochet Stitches

The triple crochet stitch, alternatively called the treble crochet stitch, is another stitch that is part of our beginner Learn to Crochet series. It’s a basic stitch that adds even more height to your crochet projects, and is the first stitch you’ll learn where you will have to yarn over twice before inserting your hook to perform the stitch. Triple crochet is abbreviated as tr when you are reading patterns.

Due to this stitch being taller in nature, it’s often used in a lot of patterns where you are crochet a mesh type of fabric, or you can even see this stitch combined with several stitches as a part of a cluster of stitches. It has an open feel to it and is great if you want to create a loose fabric, such as an oversized sweater, or shawl.

How to do the Triple Crochet Stitch

This tutorial demonstrates how to do the triple crochet stitch when you are right-handed and I use US Crochet Terminology for these instructions.

At the end of you foundation chain, start by yarning over twice and insert your hook into the 5th chain from the hook. If you are starting on the second row, you’d chain 4 to get to the height needed for triple crochet, and then you’d yarn over twice, and crochet into the second stitch.

Yarn over and pull your yarn through to the front so that you have four loops on your crochet hook.

Yarn over and pull through the first two.

Yarn over and pull through the second two.

And lastly, yarn over and pull through the final two loops on your hook to complete the stitch.

Watch How to Triple Crochet (Video Tutorial)

In this right-handed video demonstration, you’ll learn how to do the triple crochet (or treble crochet) stitch. Please note that all terms I use in this tutorial are based on US crochet terminology.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Triple Crochet Stitch

What is a treble stitch in the UK?

If you want to read more about the differences in US vs UK crochet terminology, please ready my post on it. A treble stitch in the UK is actually a double stitch in US terms.

Is treble crochet the same as triple crochet?

Yes, in US terms, it’s the exact same stitch. It’s simply known by two different names.

Is this the longest crochet stitch?

No. The longest crochet stitch is the quadruple treble. For this stitch, you yarn over four times to begin the stitch.

Thanks for reading! As always, let me know if you have any questions. Happy crocheting!

Double crochet is a stitch that is part of the beginner Learn How to Crochet series. In height, it is twice as tall as the single crochet stitch and thus will produce a longer fabric. The double crochet stitch is often used in making blankets, clothing, and accessories. It is also known as the fastest crochet stitch to complete.

Double crochet, abbreviated dc, can also be used in combination with other stitches to perform clusters, bobbles and puffs in order to create a texture that literally pops right off of your project.

How to Double Crochet

In this tutorial we will go over the written instruction, as well as a video on how to perform the stitch.

If you have completed your foundation chain (example, ch 27) and your next row is double crochet, you will yarn over, and place your hook into the fourth chain. Why forth? Because the double crochet is three chain lengths tall. This will begin your row ensuring that your first stitch is at the same height as the others. The chains on the end also count as your first stitch.

With your hook in the fourth chain, yarn over and pull the yarn through the stitch, giving you 3 loops now on your hook.

Yarn over and pull through two of those loops.

And yarn over and pull through the final two loops, finishing your stitch.

Repeat as the pattern reads, or until you get to the end of the row if you’re simply practicing.

Watch How To Double Crochet (Video Tutorial)

In this video, I will begin a new row with my double crochet stitches. The difference from beginning on an existing swatch (starting row 2 or above) and starting row one is a bit different. To begin, you chain 3 after turning your work, then proceed to yarn over and insert your hook in the second stitch from the end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you chain 2 or 3 to begin a double crochet?

You chain 3 to get to the height you need for the rest of the double crochet row. You’d chain 2 if you were doing a half double crochet row.

What is double crochet in the UK?

When I first picked up a crochet book, I was oblivious to the differences in US vs UK crochet terminology. In the US, this stitch is known as a double crochet, however in the UK it is known as a treble crochet. Make sure that as you learn, you understand the differences and what the pattern is written in.

Will double crochet leave gaps in my work?

Well, that depends on the type of yarn you are using, as well as the pattern. Double crochet is a taller stitch, so if you’re using a sport weight yarn, there will be a lot more space between each stitch than if you are using a super bulky yarn. If you’re worried about if you’re going to like the look of it, simply crochet a 4’x4′ swatch and see!

The one thing I will note is that I’m not crazy about the edges on double crochet. To me, they don’t appear straight, and I’m a bit of a perfectionist. A hack that I’ve seen performed many times is called a foundation turning chain. This would be performed in place of your chain 3, and includes doing two single crochets on top of one another to reach the height of a double crochet. At a later time, I’ll do a video on this method if anyone is interested.

I hope you’ve learned a lot about the double crochet stitch today. Happy crocheting!

The half double crochet stitch is a stitch that, in height, is between the single crochet and the double crochet. It’s one of the basic stitches that all beginners should learn and tends to not produce fabric with visible holes in it like some of the taller crochet stitches do. When you learn to crochet, this stitch would traditionally be the lesson that you’d take once you master the single crochet stitch.

The half double crochet (abbreviated hdc) is one of my favorite stitches to do. I think it has something to do with the way the hook glides through the three loops effortlessly. The instant gratification of the stitch isn’t it’s best feature, however; I would say that the texture of the fabric that it produces is my favorite part. 

The hdc will show up in many different types of patterns, and is used with all types of different yarns. It’s very versatile and can be used with a coordinating hook size. 

How to Do The Half Double Crochet Stitch (hdc)

I’m showing this tutorial on a current swatch. If you don’t have a swatch started and are starting out with your chain stitch, the same rule of two additional chain stitches at the end applies. 

(Example: Ch 12, hdc into the 3rd chain from your hook (giving you 10 total stitches in that row.)

At the end of the row, turn your work so that you are started in the correct direction (right to left) and chain 2. The chain 2 on the end will get your row to the correct height it needs to be at in order to match with the rest of the stitches within the row.

Yarn over once. 

Insert hook into second stitch from the end (stitch one will be the one attached to the chain two).

Yarn over and pull the yarn through, resulting in three loops on your hook.

Yarn over and pull the yarn through all three loops. 

Repeat until you get to the end of your row.

Video: Half Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial

This video demonstrates the written text above for how to do the half double crochet stitch. In the video, I am using worsted weight (size 4: medium) acrylic yarn and a size H/9 – I Boye aluminum crochet hook.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the half double crochet stitch and the double crochet stitch?

Height. The half double crochet stitch is just that, half the size of one double crochet. Therefore, if you’d like your project longer, use a double crochet, or shorter, use a half double crochet in your pattern.

Does half double crochet use more yarn?

Yes, and no. Typically the taller the stitch the least amount of yarn is used. So the half double crochet would use more yarn than a double crochet stitch, but less than a single crochet stitch, when you factor in the yarn used throughout the total project. 

When you insert your hook into the stitch in the row below, do you go through one loop, or two?

Go underneath both loops (the V) unless your pattern specifically tells you to only go through either the front or back loop and not both.

Is a hdc the same in US and UK terms? 

No. In UK crochet terminology, the US double stitch is known as the treble stitch. Therefore the hdc would technically be the half treble stitch in the UK.

I hope you’ve found this tutorial useful. Please let me know if you have any questions and follow along for more tutorials! I’d love to hear what you made with the half double crochet stitch!