How do I work dc rows?
Here’s how to work a row of dc into a row of dc…
Now you’ve worked the ch1 t-ch, you can proceed with the rest of the dc row.
Step 1 Take some time to look at the foundation row of stitches – you’ll see that along the top of the row, there’s a series of 10 little loops that look a bit like chains. Underneath each loop, there’s a little gap that should be big enough to get your hook through. Insert the hook into the first of these gaps, underneath the first loop, which belongs to the first dc (that is, the dc closest to the hook).
Step 2 Your hook should now sit underneath the first loop. This is referred to in crochet as ‘inserting the hook into the top of the first dc on the row below’.
Step 3 Now you can work a dc stitch as you’ve done before. So work yrh and pull the new loop of yarn back through the stitch (two loops on hook). Use the hook to pull the loop up so it’s fairly loose and sits slightly away from the stitch below – if the loop is too tight then your dc will be too tight.
Step 4 Now finish the stitch as usual, working yrh and pull this new loop through the two existing loops on the hook. Your first dc of the new row is finished!
Step 5 To work the next dc, insert your hook into the top of the next dc stitch on the row below. It might help if you tilt the fabric towards you a little so you can see the top loops. Work a dc here as before, repeating Steps 3-4. Your second dc is finished.
Step 6 To create a straight piece of fabric, you need to work one dc into each dc stitch on the row below. So repeat Step 5 across to the end of the row. Count your stitches and make sure you still have the same number you had at the end of your foundation row. You can either count the little ‘v’ shapes on the side of the fabric, or the loops along the top. Sometimes you can accidentally miss a stitch (with some yarns it can be difficult to see the stitches), so it’s a good idea to count your stitches at the end of every row.
Step 7 Now you’re at the end of the row, you can now work more rows to make your fabric longer. To work more rows, ch1 (this is your t-ch), then repeat Steps 1-6. Here, we’ve worked a total of six rows – here’s how to count the rows.