Crochet How To Basics: Double Crochet (dc)

Today's tutorial is on how to make a double crochet (abbreviated dc). For this tutorial you will need to know how to make a chain stitch as well.
First, chain 10.

Now, yarn over (pass the yarn around the crochet hook). Put the crochet hook into the middle of the 4th chain from the hook. When making double crochets, it is standard to skip the first 3 chain stitches, and count those first 3 stitches as one double crochet stitch.

Then, draw the yarn through the chain stitch. You now have 3 loops on the crochet hook.

Draw the yarn through the first 2 loops on the crochet hook. Now you have 2 loops on the hook.

Draw the yarn through the last 2 loops on the crochet hook. You have made a double crochet stitch!

Make a double crochet in the next chain in and in all the remaining chains. You now have 8 dc (7 real dc and 1 "honorary" dc made by the first 3 chain stitches). What you have just done would typically be written like this: Ch 10, dc in 4th ch from hook (first 3 ch count as dc), dc in remaining ch: 8 dc.

Now we are going to add a row. The first thing to do is ch 3 (make 3 chain stitches). Then turn the work without turning the hook.

Once again, these 3 chain stitches count as a dc. Yarn over and insert the hook through the top loops of the 2nd dc from the hook. (We have already made a "dc" in the first stitch with our ch 3.)

Continue to make the double crochets as before.

Make a dc in each remaining dc. For the last stitch, make the dc in the top chain of the chain 3 from the last row. The instructions for the 2nd row you have just made usually look like this: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), turn, dc in 2nd dc and each remaining dc.

This is all you need to know to make dc stitches! Why not try making a scarf with your new double crochet skills? Get a really soft worsted weight yarn (6 oz) and use a size H crochet hook.
Row 1: Ch 32, dc in 4th ch from hook (first 3 ch count as dc), dc in remaining ch: 30 dc
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), turn, dc in 2nd dc and each remaining dc.
Rows 3+: Repeat row 2 until scarf reaches desired length. Fasten off. (Fasten off means cut the yarn. Enlarge the loop on the hook until it is about 3 inches long and cut the yarn at the top.)
Weave in ends. (This means hide the yarn ends at the beginning and end of the work in the piece, either with the crochet hook or a tapestry needle.)
If you want to get creative with it, try alternating rows of single crochet and double crochet. That way you practice your single crochet too!

Have fun and keep learning! -Jennifer

Crochet Finishing Tips - Working In the Round

Today's tip will help you finish your crochet pieces so that they look more smooth and professional.

First, let's look at how to tie in the yarn so that the last stitch looks seamless. The first step is to leave yourself enough yarn when you fasten off to be able to add your finishing touches to the piece. To finish off the last stitch you only need about 4-5", but in this case I have left about 18" because I am finishing the slip stitch join on every row as well (see below). Here's a picture of a hat worked in the round, with the last stitch joined with a slip stitch.

I find it easier to finish pieces with a tapestry needle, though you can use a crochet hook as well. If using a tapestry needle, thread it now. Then skip the first two stitches of the round and pass the needle under both loops of the third stitch.

Draw the yarn through and pass the needle from the top down through the loop left from the last slip stitch worked and under the back loop of the second stitch of the round.

Draw the yarn through and either tie in the end or move on to the next finishing step. As you can see the last stitch now looks like any other stitch in the round.

Here is a picture of a hat worked in the round. Pieces worked in the round with a slip stitch join at the end of every round (rather than spiral) always have a visible break at every joining, shown here:

For double crochet pieces, you can close up these breaks by following these steps. First, leave a very long tail when you fasten off, about three times the length of the piece. Thread this tail onto a tapestry needle, and work on the back side of the piece. Thread the tail through the chain 3 at the beginning of every round as shown in these pictures.

In the first picture, you are working through the bottom of the dc to the left of the ch 3 and then through the middle of the ch 3.

 In the second picture, you are working through the top of the dc to the right of the ch 3 and through the top of the ch 3.

Continue weaving back and forth like this for the rest of the rounds. Be careful not to pull the finishing yarn too tight or you will have gaps to the left and right of the dc you are working with. 

Here is a picture of the hat after finishing. The end of each round is still visible, but it looks much smoother.

I hope this tutorial makes your finished pieces look that much more special!

-Jennifer

Crochet How To Basics: Adding Rows

As promised, this post is about how to add rows of sc.

After you have made your first row of sc, which you can do by following my previous post, ch 1 (or make one chain stitch), and turn the piece.

Then, insert your crochet hook into the top of the last stitch you made in the row before:

Yarn over and draw the yarn through the stitch.

Yarn over again and pull the yarn through both loops on the hook. You have now made the first sc of row two.

Now sc in the remaining stitches of the previous row. Congratulations, you have made 2 rows! What you have just done would normally be written like this: ch 1, turn, sc in 1st sc and remaining sc across.
You can now add as many rows as you want by repeating the instructions for row 2.

-Jennifer

Crochet How To Basics: Single Crochet

Today I am writing about how to make a Single Crochet stitch. I have written how to's on Chain Stitch and Slip Knot in earlier posts.
To get started, make a chain of 6 chain stitches. Then insert the hook into the middle of the second chain stitch from the hook. (The first single crochet will almost always be made in the second chain. The first chain is there to bridge the gap between the row of chain stitches and the top of the single crochet stitch.)

Now, yarn over and draw the yarn through the chain stitch. You now have two loops on your hook.

Yarn over again, and draw the yarn through both loops on the hook.

Congratulations, you have made a single crochet (abbreviated sc)! You now have one loop on your hook. Sc in the the remaining 4 chains.

The pattern instructions for what you just did will typically look like this: Ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in remaining 4 ch: 5 sc. ("5 sc" indicates how many stitches your row should have.)In the next entry, I will show how to add more rows to a crochet project.
-Jennifer
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Crochet Basics: Chain Stitch

The chain stitch is the foundation of almost every crocheted piece. This post will show you how to make one.
I have already covered the slip knot in an earlier post. You will need to make a slip knot in order to get started. With your slip knot on your crochet hook, hold the little tail coming off the hook to keep your work steady. Hook the yarn coming off the skein or ball with the crochet hook. (This is called "yarn over," or "yo".)

Now, pull the hooked yarn through the slip knot. You have made one chain stitch. This is abbreviated ch.

To make another chain stitch, simply yarn over and pull the yarn through the loop on the hook again. In patterns the instructions will say "ch 3" or "ch 20" or some other number. This is telling you to make a string of 3 or 20 or however many chain stitches. In the picture below, you see 6 chain stitches, or "ch 6." The slip knot and the loop on the hook do not count as stitches.

Now you know how to start most pieces, but you can't make an entire piece just from chain stitches. Next time, I will show you how to make a "single crochet" stitch, or "sc."
-Jennifer

Crochet Basics: Slip Knot

This is the first in a series of basic crochet stitches. In order to start almost any crochet project you have to make a slip knot, so that's where my series is starting. A slip knot isn't really a stitch so most patterns don't even tell you to make one. You just need a slip knot in order to make your first real stitch.

To make a slip knot, make a loop in your yarn and put the crochet hook through the loop.

Hook the yarn coming out of the skein or ball, and pull the yarn through the loop on the crochet hook.

Now pull the knot in the yarn snug, and tighten the yarn around the crochet hook a bit. Leave the yarn on the crochet hook loose enough to slide easily on the hook.

You have made a slip knot and you're ready to crochet!
-Jennifer