Crochet guide
The basic crochet stitches compared
The basic crochet stitches differ mainly in height. A taller stitch starts with more yarn wrapped round the hook or takes more steps to finish, and it makes a looser, more open fabric. This guide sets the five stitches side by side, with their United Kingdom names.
On this page 8 parts
The five stitches side by side
Stitch names on this page are United States terms. The second column gives the United Kingdom name of the same stitch. The stitches are in order of height, shortest first. A yarn over is one wrap of the yarn round the hook.
| Stitch | United Kingdom name | Yarn overs before the hook goes in | Loops on the hook once a loop is pulled up | How the loops are worked off | The fabric |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slip stitch (sl st) | UK slip stitch (ss) | None | No extra loop | The yarn is pulled through the stitch and the loop on the hook in one move | Almost no height. Used to join rounds and pieces |
| Single crochet (sc) | UK double crochet (dc) | None | 2 | Both together | Dense and solid, without holes |
| Half double crochet (hdc) | UK half treble (htr) | 1 | 3 | All three together | Solid, a little looser than single crochet |
| Double crochet (dc) | UK treble (tr) | 1 | 3 | Two, then two | More open and flexible, with drape |
| Treble crochet (tr) | UK double treble (dtr) | 2 | 4 | Two, then two, then two | Loose and open. Used in light, lacy fabrics |
Watch the names. "Double crochet" is a different stitch in each country, and so is "treble". The US and UK terms chart lists every pair.
Turning chains
The chain made to turn a row lifts the yarn to the height of the stitches that follow, so its length follows the same order.
| Stitch (United States name, with the United Kingdom name) | Usual turning chain | Does the chain count as a stitch? |
|---|---|---|
| Single crochet (UK double crochet) | 1 | No |
| Half double crochet (UK half treble) | 2 | Varies. The standard rule counts it; many patterns do not, and ours do not. Read the pattern's note. |
| Double crochet (UK treble) | 3 | Yes, unless the pattern says otherwise |
| Treble crochet (UK double treble) | 4 | Yes, unless the pattern says otherwise |
In single crochet (UK double crochet) the turning chain never counts as a stitch. In double crochet (UK treble) and treble crochet (UK double treble) it counts unless the pattern says otherwise. In half double crochet (UK half treble) patterns differ, so go by the pattern, and where the pattern is silent choose one way and keep to it.
More in turning chain.
Single crochet and double crochet
- Single crochet is short. Its fabric is dense and firm, with no holes. It is the usual stitch for stuffed toys.
- Double crochet is taller. Each row adds more height, so a piece grows faster. Its fabric is more open and more flexible, and it drapes.
Choose single crochet where the fabric must be firm or closed. Choose double crochet where it should hang and fold, as in a blanket or a scarf.
Single crochet and half double crochet
A half double crochet is made like a single crochet with one yarn over before the hook goes in. That leaves three loops on the hook, and all three are worked off at once. The stitch is taller than single crochet and shorter than double crochet. Its fabric is still solid, and a little less tight.
Half double crochet and double crochet
These two start the same way: yarn over, hook in, pull up a loop, three loops on the hook. They differ at the end. A half double crochet works off all three loops together. A double crochet works off two, then the last two, and that extra step is what makes it taller.
Double crochet and treble crochet
A treble crochet has one more yarn over at the start, which puts four loops on the hook, and one more step at the end. It is the tallest of the five, and its fabric is the loosest and most open. The next stitch up is made the same way with one more yarn over still. In United States terms it is the double treble crochet (UK triple treble).
Slip stitch and single crochet
Both begin with the hook going in and the yarn caught. A slip stitch then pulls that yarn straight through the stitch and the loop on the hook, so it adds almost no height. A single crochet pulls up a loop first and works the two loops off in a second step. A slip stitch is used to join the end of a round to its beginning and to join pieces together.
Where to go next
- To choose a stitch for a piece, see which crochet stitch to use and crochet stitches for blankets.
- To learn the stitches in order, start with how to crochet.