Learn to Crochet: The Double Crochet Stitch (and what brackets symbols mean)

If you've been following along in this learn to crochet series, you should feel comfortable with the Foundation or Beginning Chain, and the Single Crochet Stitch. You need to at least feel comfortable working single crochet into the foundation chain, which was covered in the last Learn to Crochet post.

Hopefully you took it a step further and went ahead to learn how to chain, turn, and continue going on because it will take you leaps forward. But don't panic if you didn't. You're fine as long as you meet the knowledge mentioned above.

The major thing to keep in mind for the Double Crochet Stitch is that when you chain to turn your work, as shown in the Single Crochet in the Chain lesson, you will need to chain (ch) 2 instead of 1 in order to keep your work the right height as you continue on.

Using the incredible and amazingly inspirational Crochet Gifs tumblr, we will first look at a visual blow-by-blow of how to do the double crochet stitch.

http://crochet-gifs.tumblr.com/post/50191588268/learn-to-crochet-crochet-gif-tutorials-the

We're still going in order of the stitches you need to learn to successfully and confidently crochet, so you should at this point know how to create a foundation chain and work single crochet. Now we're adding double crochet to the knowledge base you're building.

In patterns, a Single Crochet Stitch is abbreviated as (sc), and a Double Crochet Stitch is abbreviated (dc). A chain is abbreviated (ch).

We're going to continue dissecting an actual pattern created for beginners so it contains no abbreviations. The pattern we're using is the Shell Washcloth Duo - beginning with the 'easier' of the two washcloths.

http://voices.yahoo.com/shell-washcloth-duo-softly-textured-crochet-washcloth-217213.html?cat=7

If you have followed along, you should have the foundation chain and Row 1 complete. If not, make sure you complete it before continuing on. The instructions for these are as follows:

The Instructions:

    White Shells Crochet Washcloth

    With yarn color of choice (white in the example) and size F crochet hook, chain 31.

    Row 1: Single crochet in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across. (30 sc)

If the instructions look like Greek to you, just take a deep breath and head back to the Foundation Chain lesson. You'll quickly catch on to the chain and can move to the Single Crochet Stitch that is required in Row 1.

Now, let's continue from where we left off and look at the next set of instructions for the Shell Crochet Washcloth pattern. Remember that you can bookmark the page or even mail it to yourself if you want to have it on hand for practice and to follow along with. In the crochet lesson pieces, we'll only cover specific aspects of the pattern in order so that you can continue after practicing what you've just learned.

Looking at the next Row, we find the instructions:

Row 2: Chain 3, skip 1 single crochet, single crochet in the next single crochet. *Skip 1 single crochet, Shell in next single crochet, skip 2 single crochet, single crochet in next single. Repeat from * to the last 3 stitches. Skip 2 singles, double crochet in the last stitch. Turn.

Alright, what kind of witchery is this? What shell? Skip stitches? And what * are these things * ?

First, we're missing an essential part of the pattern, which actually lists how to do the Shell. When specific stitch sets are repeated often throughout a pattern, they are usually explained how to create them at the very beginning of the pattern - before the instructions - as is the case here. If you have the pattern bookmarked, you can reference the Shell there, or check it out here. It says:

Shell: [3 dc, ch 1, {sc, hdc, dc} over side edge of 3rd dc in 3 dc group] in indicated stitch.

Okay. So we just take note of that for the moment. Now, what is a skip? Exactly what it sounds like, and exactly what you've been doing every time you insert your hook into a new row. You simply continue working past the number of stitches it says to skip - so just skip them and keep going.

Finally, the conundrum: what do the brackets like [ this ] and { these } mean? Glad you asked! They're a really simple tool that helps you read the pattern without it running on for pages. Instead of telling you to perform a specific stitch over and over and over again, everything inside the brackets need to be repeated as stated in the pattern. I know - believe me, I know that the Shell still makes no sense yet. Bear with me.

Let's dissect this Row in the pattern now.

We begin with a Chain 3. This pattern does not but many patterns will explain exactly why you're being asked to chain the number you are - if you are asked to chain 2, you can usually assume that it is a single crochet, if you chain 3 it is a double crochet, and if you chain 4 it is a triple crochet that the chains represent.

So, pattern - chain 3, skip the first single crochet in line, and single crochet in the next one. This is how we start the row but will not continue it, indicated both by the period and the symbols that immediately follow it.

No cringing at the * asterisk * symbols now. Everything inside * this and * that need to be repeated. That's it. Brackets ... These are a way of organizing the pattern directions cleanly. So everything inside [ this bracket and ] that one are a single set of directions that help you read more clearly. Sometimes they are inserted in really difficult patterns for rows because the instructions for a single row would seem insane without them.

Looking right inside the brackets, then, we start with 3 double crochet and a chain when we hit the other brackets that look like { this }. When you run into these brackets, they are another way of setting a single series of instructions into the larger picture without using tons of words. So after you have chained 1, slip your hook around the side of the 3rd dc that you just made and do a single crochet, half-double crochet, and a double crochet around it.

OH NO. HOW to do do a half double?! Okay no panicking. I'll have an animation soon but for now, simply refer to the double crochet animations above. You do a half double crochet stitch exactly the same way except that you yarn over once and pull the yarn through all 3 loops on the hook immediately instead of repeating. Easy. Try it.

With your shell made, it's time to continue. The instructions say to skip 2 single crochet and make a single crochet in the 3rd (next single crochet). Easy peasy - go for it.

Now you just need to repeat everything inside * these * asterisks until there are only 3 single crochet left. Go for it, taking your time to make skips and stitches even and not-too-tight. Once you reach the last 3 single crochet stitches, skip 2 of them and work a double crochet in the last one.

Through this row you should notice how shells and stitches 'stand up' a little bit when stitches are skipped. This is because when you work several stitches into a single stitch but want to wind up with the same number of stitches you started with in the previous row so that your work doesn't get wider, you need to 'make up' for what you've added. By skipping stitches, it makes up for the extra by subtracting the same number. What happens, then, when you make the next stitch is that the 'extras' are pulled into alignment.

And with that, we're done with the next part of the Shells Washcloth. 

Oh, would you like another exercise? I really, really hoped you would! This one asks you to practice the 3 stitches you have learned, but in a regular pattern format so you need to use your abbreviation deciphering skills. Again, what you end up with is a pattern swatch that is similar to ones you create to check your gauge or create 'sampler' afghans and it will prepare you for the next step of the Shells Washcloth pattern.

Exercise Swatch 1:

With yarn color of choice and a size G/6-4.25 MM steel crochet hook, chain 41.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (40 sc)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc now and throughout). Dc in each of next 4 sc. *Sk next sc, dc in each of next 5 sc* across to last 5 sc. Dc in each of last 5 sc. (16 dc, 5 sk)

Row 3: Ch 1 (counts as 1st sc now and throughout). Sc in each dc and sk space across. (40 sc)

Row 4: Repeat Row 2.

Row 5: Repeat Row 3.

We will cover nice 'Finishing Off' soon. For now, when you're done with a swatch, simply make a slip knot and cut the yarn about 3" from the slip knot, leaving a tail.