The double crochet stitch is arguably the most essential stitch in every crocheters repertoire – it's a stitch that is frequently used and forms a smooth, firm surface.
It's the first proper stitch that many people learn and we recommend that learning how to make a double crochet stitch is the first thing you should try once you know how to crochet chain stitch
What is double crochet used for?
Double crochet stitches are used in almost every crochet project at some point. Some projects such as amigurumi (soft toys made from crochet) are made almost exclusively from double crochet stitches, however they're used for many different purposes, from creating solid edges to achieving intricate colourwork designs.
The best part is that once you've mastered how to double crochet, every other stitch should come naturally as it's just a case of adding and taking away more loops in the stitch process!
What is single crochet?
It is a bit confusing, but what we call a double crochet stitch in UK terminology would be called a single crochet stitch in US terminology - so if you're looking for 'how to single crochet' then this is the same stitch. A UK double crochet stitch is made in exactly the same way as a US single crochet stitch!
In UK terms there is no single crochet stitch, so if you're ever unsure if a pattern is written in UK or US terms just remember that if you see SC or single crochet written anywhere then you know it has to be a US pattern. Similarly, if your pattern ever starts with a ch1 followed by a double crochet stitch, then you know you are almost certainly working from a UK pattern.
There are a few other stitches which have different names depending on the terminology you use, and you can find out more in our handy crochet abbreviations and conversions guide.
If you need any further help learning how to make a double crochet stitch, you can either watch our video tutorial below or check out our step-by-step picture guide below. If you’re completely new to crochet, you can find loads of helpful information and resources in our crochet guide for beginners!
