Double crochet grows quickly, but its tall turning chain can make the edge confusing. The stitch itself is straightforward. The important choice is whether the pattern counts that turning chain as the first stitch.
Here we use US double crochet, or dc. Its UK name is treble crochet. The practice example below counts a chain-three as one double crochet throughout, so the edge rule stays consistent from row to row.
Learn the two pull-throughs
Yarn over before inserting the hook. Insert into the next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop: three loops are now on the hook. Yarn over and pull through two loops. Yarn over again and pull through the final two.
Think of the hook as passing two checkpoints: three loops become two, then two become one. Pulling through all three at once makes a half double crochet instead. Forgetting the first yarn-over changes the construction too.
A twelve-stitch example, with the math visible
Chain fourteen. Work a double crochet into the fourth chain from the hook, then one into each chain left across. You have made eleven double crochets. The three skipped chains represent the first stitch, bringing the total to twelve.
| Part of the first row | Count |
|---|---|
| Skipped chain-three, counted as a stitch | 1 |
| Double crochets worked into the remaining chains | 11 |
| Total counted stitches | 12 |
For the next row, chain three and turn. That chain stands in for the first stitch, so skip the stitch directly at its base. Work across the remaining stitches, finishing in the top of the previous row’s turning chain. The new row still contains twelve counted stitches.
The last stitch may be a chain top
When a turning chain counts, it needs to be treated as a stitch on the return journey. That includes working into its top. If you stop at the last obvious tall post and ignore the chain beyond it, the row loses a stitch.
Put a marker in the top of the turning chain as soon as you make it. On the following row, the marker shows where the final double crochet belongs. Remove and replace it as you work rather than trying to reach around it.
What changes when the chain does not count?
Some patterns use a shorter turning chain that does not count as a stitch. In that arrangement, the first actual stitch usually goes into the stitch at the base of the chain, and the turning chain is left out of the stitch total.
Both conventions can work. Problems appear when you start with one and finish with the other. Write a small note on the pattern: “chain counts” or “chain does not count.” Follow any special edge instructions given by the designer.
Fixing a gap along the edge
A turning chain and a double-crochet post are different shapes, so a visible gap does not always mean the count is wrong. First count the row. If the total is correct, look at whether the chain is much looser than the surrounding fabric.
Do not quietly add a stitch to fill the gap. That may hide it for one row while widening the piece. Practice an alternative turning method on a separate sample before changing a project that needs specific dimensions.
Double crochet in a blanket
Taller stitches mean fewer rows may be needed to reach a chosen height, but they do not guarantee that a project uses less yarn or takes a fixed amount of time. Measure the actual fabric. Its openness, drape and final size depend on the yarn, hook and your tension.
For a baby-blanket project, choose a complete design with clear gauge and border notes. The twelve-stitch exercise is a way to learn the edges, not a universal foundation for a finished blanket.
Keep learning
Half double crochet · US and UK terms · Troubleshooting blanket edges