D ouble Crochet Stitch

 (USA stitch name: Single Crochet Stitch)

Double crochet is one of the easiest crochet stitches to do, and many of the projects in this book will use this to help get you started. It creates quite a chunky, dense pattern, so is ideal for winter accessories and toys.

To practice the stitch, let’s start with a chain (ch) of 15 stitches.

Step 1: Insert your hook into the second stitch from the hook. You should see the two strands – the ‘V’– of the stitch on top of your hook. Wrap the yarn over the hook (yrh), then pull through the chain. You will now have two  loops on your hook.

Step 2: Yarn over hook (yrh), then pull through both stitches.

Step 3: You now have one loop on your hook and have completed your first double crochet stitch!

Step 4: Continue by working a double crochet stitch into each chain until you reach the end. Count to ensure you now have 14 stitches.

Step 5: Now make a “turning chain” by chaining one stitch (ch 1), then turning your work around so that you are ready to begin the next row. (Most crochet stitches will have a very crucial “turning chain” of one or more stitches, which will depend on the height of the stitch, that you must do at the start of each new row.)

Step 6: Start the next row by inserting your hook under the top two threads of the next stitch along, then continue to double crochet to the end again. Then check the number of stitches – at first it can be easy to miss the final stitch in the row!