Making and Comparing Single, Double and Treble Crochet Stitches

The first thing I teach to crochet beginners is a sampler of chains, single, double and treble crochet stitches. I have found this makes for a really solid foundation, regardless of where my students hope to take their crochet journey after that.

You can get to grips quickly with these techniques by making samples. I am going to help you to produce a series of little rows of crochet stitches, that create a small test swatch. My written instructions, video tutorial and photographs will have you hooking perfect single, double and treble crochet stitches in no time.

• Single Crocheting.
• Double Crocheting.
• Treble Crocheting.

Single (sc), Double (dc) and Treble (tr) are standard crocheting terms, yet I have found that they cause a lot of confusion for new crocheters. Firstly, because they aren’t the same in English and American crochet terminology, and secondly because the differences between them are subtle. 

You’re new to crochet, so I’ll break the process down into steps. Follow along with the YouTube tutorial, or check the photographs and written instructions below. 

The Foundation Chain

To start making your sample we’ll need a foundation chain, also written in patterns as ‘ch’.

Ideally, I recommend using a firm, cotton based worsted weight yarn and a 4mm crochet hook. But any fairly tight yarn type and appropriately sized hook will be fine.

Casting Onto Your Crochet Hook

• Cast your yarn onto your hook by extending your finger and draping the yarn over twice.

• Lift the back loop over the front loop.

• Lift your new back loop over the front loop and finger.

• Put your hook through the loop of yarn.

• Pull the yarn gently to secure the loop to the hook.

Creating Tension

• Your dominant hand will be holding the crochet hook.
• Wrap the yarn around your non-dominant hand’s little finger, and over the back of your hand. Your first finger of this hand will create tension.

• This hand will also pinch the yarn tail or stitches you create between the thumb and third finger to hold the yarn in place.

Crocheting Your Chain

• Pick up your yarn with the crochet hook.

• Pull the yarn through the loop on your hook.

• To make a chain, repeat the last two steps, yarning over the hook and pulling it through the loop on the hook.

The Single Crocheting Technique

You’ve got a foundation chain to work into now, so let’s dive into your single crochets. You’ll find this written in patterns as ‘sc’.

• Skipping the first loop of your chain closest to the hook, put the hook through the second chain space.

• Yarn over the hook, turn the hook to pick up the yarn securely, and pull it through the chain. You should now have two loops on your hook.

• Yarn over the hook again, and pull through both loops on the hook.

• You have made a single crochet!

• Repeat this process in each chain space. Hook through the next stitch, yarn over, pull back through the stitch, yarn over, pull through the two loops on the hook.

Creating more single crochet rows

To practice another row of single crochets, make a chain of one stitch at the end of your row. This will form your first single crochet.

Then turn your work over.

You can now skip the first stitch and make a single crochet into each of the stitches in the row. Just like before, push your hook through the next stitch, yarn over, pull it back through the stitch. Then yarn over and pull it through the two loops remaining on the hook.

Double Crocheting

Moving on to Double Crochets, begin by making a chain of two stitches. This will form your first double crochet, also written as ‘dc’.

• Turn your work over, so you are crocheting into the reverse side.

• Make a loop of yarn over the hook.
• Skip the first stitch (that the chain emerged from), and make your new double crochet into the next space along.

• Yarn over and pull the yarn back through the stitch.

• You will have three loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through two of the loops.

• Yarn over again and pull through the remaining two loops.

How Single and Double Crochets Differ

The main difference between single and double crochet stitches is in height. You will however also find that the taller stitch feels less dense, because the width is the same but the height is greater.