Today we’re going to learn how to create the double crochet and half double crochet stitches. So, grab your hooks and let's dive right in!

Before we get started, let's make sure you have everything you need. I’m using a 5.5 mm hook, or size I and the Loops and Threads Cotton.

When you start a new double crochet row, you’ll want to chain 2. Remember for single crochet, we chain one, but since the double crochet is a taller stitch, we need a taller ladder up for this row. So we have our chain two, flip your work, then yarn over, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through, Then yarn over and pull through two of the loops on your hook, then yarn over one more time and pull through the remaining two loops.

Let’s do that again. Yarn over, insert, yarn over pull through. Yarn over pull through two, yarn over pull through two. Nice work!

Don't worry if it takes a few tries to get the hang of it. Practice makes perfect, and soon you'll be double-crocheting like a pro!

Let’s take a look at the difference between the single crochet and the double crochet. You can see that the double crochet stitches are just about twice as tall as the single crochet stitches. If you spread it out a little you can see how much more room there is between stitches on the double crochet. It’s also taller than the single stitch, which makes this a great stitch for blankets and scarves, as the project will work up a lot faster.

Alright, let’s continue on with the half-double crochet.

For this stitch we’re only going to chain one on the end, flip your work. Yarn over, then Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull through then yarn over and pull through all three loops on your hook.

When we get to the end of the row, chain one, turn your work and continue with the half double crochet. Yarn over, insert, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all three.

Now that we have different stitches on our swatch, let’s take a look them. You can see the half double crochet looks pretty similar to the single crochet, it’s just a little bit thicker. Half double is great when you’re working on a project that needs a tighter stitch but you want it a bit thicker than a single stitch.

And there you have it – the double crochet and half double crochet stitches. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

Happy crafting!