CROCHET UNRAVELLED Learn the DC stitch
Stitches are the key to creating crochet fabrics of all shapes and sizes, and the first stitch most crocheters learn is a double crochet. Double crochet is the smallest crochet stitch and the simplest one to work, so it’s great for beginners. Double crochet is often used for amigurumi and other projects where you need a fabric that’s dense with almost no gaps. Crocheters in the US call it ‘single crochet’, but the technique is just the same. It’s abbreviated as ‘dc’ in UK patterns and ‘sc’ in US patterns. Once you can work a neat, even chain, you’ll be ready to make dc stitches. We’ll show you exactly what you need to do to make your first row of dc stitches, worked into a chain length.
Once your chain is prepared, you’ll be ready to work stitches into the chain. Take up your hook and wrap the yarn around your non-hook hand. As you work, you’ll also need to hold onto the chain with your non-hook hand, moving your fingers along the chain as you work.
To start the first dc, skip the first chain (the turning chain) and insert the hook into the second chain from the hook, which is the chain with the stitch marker. You need to insert the hook into the front of the chain, under the top two strands of the chain, which is where the stitch marker is placed so let it guide you.
Your inserted hook should look like this.
Now work yrh (yarn round hook), as shown.
Pull the new loop of yarn back towards the chain loop and all the way through the chain. You should now have two loops on the hook, as shown. Use the hook to pull the loop up so it’s fairly loose and sits slightly away from the chain – if the loop is too tight then your
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dc stitch will be too tight. This whole step is referred to as
‘pull up a loop’.
Work yrh and pull this new loop through the two existing loops on the hook… like this.
Your first dc is finished!
Now you can work a dc into each chain across the row by repeating the process from Step 1, but insert the hook into the next empty chain each time. Once you reach the end, you can remove the stitch marker. You should have 10 dc stitches, but it’s a good idea to count them at the end of every row. You can either count each little ‘v’ shape along the side of the fabric or each little plaited chain-like shape along the top. Don’t stop there! Now chain 1 (to create a new turning chain) and repeat steps 1-8 to grow your fabric.
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