Crochet Stitch Guide: Single, Half Double, Double and Treble

Materials and supplies

• Smooth light-colored worsted yarn
• 5 mm ergonomic hook
• Two locking stitch markers
• Tape measure
• Yarn needle and scissors
• Four paper labels for the finished comparison swatches

Crochet terms used

Worked examples in Crochet Stitch Guide: Single, Half Double, Double and Treble use standard US crochet terms: ch, sl st, sc, hdc, dc, inc, dec, st(s), row, and round. The pattern-abbreviation guide expands that notation.

Compare four 20-stitch swatches

Keep 20 worked stitches in every row of each swatch. The extra foundation chains provide turning height and do not count as stitches in these exercises.

Swatch	Foundation	First worked stitch	Later rows
Single crochet	Ch 21	Sc in the second chain, then across: 20 sc	Ch 1, turn; sc in all 20 stitches
Half double crochet	Ch 22	Hdc in the third chain, then across: 20 hdc	Ch 2, turn; hdc in all 20 stitches
Double crochet	Ch 22	Dc in the third chain, then across: 20 dc	Ch 2, turn; dc in all 20 stitches
Treble crochet	Ch 23	Tr in the fourth chain, then across: 20 tr	Ch 3, turn; tr in all 20 stitches

On later rows, begin in the first actual stitch directly below the turning chain and finish in the last actual stitch. Do not work into the turning chain. These exercises use uncounted turning chains; other patterns may use a different convention. Make at least eight rows, then compare the washed swatches. Equal stitch counts do not guarantee equal widths.

Single crochet

Insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two. Ch 1 to turn; the chain does not count. This creates the shortest, firmest fabric of the four.

Half double crochet

Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through all three loops. Ch 2 to turn without counting it. The extra horizontal bar creates moderate height and useful drape.

Double crochet

Yarn over, insert and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops twice. For this exercise, ch 2 to turn and do not count it. Other patterns may count a ch-3 turning chain as a stitch; follow their stated convention.

Treble crochet

Yarn over twice, insert and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through two loops three times. For this exercise, ch 3 to turn without counting it. The tall open stitch works for lace and rapid length but snags more easily.

Label each swatch, wash it, and record width, height, and rows per 10 cm. The comparison shows why substituting stitch types changes both size and fabric behavior.

Tips & troubleshooting

Test one variable at a time

When applying the advice in Crochet Stitch Guide: Single, Half Double, Double and Treble, change only hook, yarn, tension, or stitch placement before making the next comparison. Several simultaneous changes make it difficult to learn which correction worked.

Keep evidence beside the project

Label swatches and photograph important checkpoints. The recommendations in this guide become more reliable when paired with your measurements and the yarn's care label; keep both beside Crochet Stitch Guide: Single, Half Double, Double and Treble while working.

Stop before forcing a result

If the fabric, fit, or construction from this guide disagrees with your sample, pause at the earliest measurable checkpoint in Crochet Stitch Guide: Single, Half Double, Double and Treble. Undoing a short section is safer than disguising a structural problem at finishing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What skill level should I have?

This guide is planned for an absolute beginner crocheter. Practice any unfamiliar stitch separately and read the complete construction in Crochet Stitch Guide: Single, Half Double, Double and Treble before beginning.

Can I change the yarn or hook?

For comparing stitch heights, keep the same yarn and hook across the practice swatches. If you change either, label that sample separately so the fabric comparison remains useful.

May I sell the finished item?

Small-scale sales of finished items from this guide are allowed with credit to Crochet Stitch Guide: Single, Half Double, Double and Treble. Do not copy, sell, or republish the written instructions or site images.

Keep exploring

To build on Crochet Stitch Guide: Single, Half Double, Double and Treble, continue with Best Crochet Hooks and Yarn for Beginners: Buying Guide, Common Crochet Mistakes and How to Fix Them, How to Crochet for Absolute Beginners. For a broader route through the site, use the Ultimate Free Crochet Pattern Library.