The double treble is one of the tallest basic crochet stitches. It grows your work quickly, makes an open, drapey fabric and is the stitch behind many lacy shawls, shell patterns and flower petals. This tutorial shows you how to make a UK double treble crochet (dtr), how to handle the turning chain and how to keep your stitches neat.
UK and US names
- UK double treble (dtr) = US treble crochet (tr)
- UK treble (tr) = US double crochet (dc)
- UK triple treble (ttr) = US double treble (dtr)
This is the stitch where mix-ups happen most, because “treble” means a different height in each system. If a US pattern says “treble”, work the stitch in this tutorial. See our UK vs US crochet terms chart for the full list.
Before you start
A double treble is simply a treble crochet with one extra wrap. If you are comfortable with trebles, you already know almost everything you need. You will need:
- A smooth DK yarn in a light colour.
- A 4mm (UK 8 / US G-6) crochet hook.
How to make a double treble crochet (UK)
Make a foundation chain of 19 ch to practise.
- Yarn round hook twice. Wrap the yarn over the hook two times, from back to front. You have 3 loops on the hook.
- Insert the hook. On the first row, insert into the 5th chain from the hook. On later rows, insert under both top loops of the next stitch.
- Pull up a loop. Yarn round hook and pull through the stitch. You have 4 loops on the hook. Lift this loop up a little so the stitch is not squashed.
- Yarn round, pull through 2. You have 3 loops left.
- Yarn round, pull through 2. You have 2 loops left.
- Yarn round, pull through 2. One double treble is done, with 1 loop left on the hook.
The rhythm is: wrap twice, insert, pull up a loop, then three pairs of “yarn round, pull through 2”. Saying “two, two, two” in your head as you go helps a lot at first.
Practice swatch
Row 1: 1 dtr in 5th ch from hook (the 4 skipped chains count as the first dtr), 1 dtr in each ch to the end. Turn. (16 dtr)
Row 2: 4 ch (counts as 1 dtr), skip the first st, 1 dtr in each st across, working the last dtr into the top of the 4 ch from the row below. Turn. (16 dtr)
Repeat Row 2 a few times. Count your stitches at the end of each row: if you have 16 every time, your edges will stay straight.
The turning chain
A double treble is about four chains tall, so each row starts with 4 ch. In most UK patterns this counts as the first stitch, which means you skip the first stitch of the row and finish by working into the top of the turning chain.
Tall turning chains can leave a gap at the edge. If yours look loose, try making only 3 ch and working them a little tighter, or follow a pattern that uses “3 ch (does not count as a st)” and then a dtr into the first stitch.
Where double trebles are used
- Flower petals: dtr stitches make the tallest middle part of a petal. Our crochet poppy pattern uses them for its four rounded petals.
- Lace and shells: groups of dtr worked into one space make big fans and shells for shawls and wraps.
- Clusters and bobbles: several part-made dtr closed together make a bold, raised texture.
- Quick projects: a scarf worked entirely in dtr grows very fast and drapes well.
Common problems and fixes
My stitches are uneven heights
Keep the two wraps at the start the same size, and lift the loop in step 3 to a consistent height. Practising a few rows usually sorts this out.
The bottom of my work is pulling in
Your foundation chain is tighter than your stitches. Make the chain with a hook one size larger, then switch back.
The wraps slip off the hook
Hold the wraps in place with your index finger on top of the hook while you insert it, and keep the hook pointing slightly down.
My piece is getting wider
Check you are skipping the first stitch when the turning chain counts as a stitch. Working into it as well adds a stitch every row.
Next step: the triple treble
Once you can make a double treble, try a triple treble (ttr): wrap three times before inserting the hook, then work four pairs of “yarn round, pull through 2”. Start the first row in the 6th chain from the hook and use 5 ch for turning.
Quick reference
- Abbreviation: dtr (UK) / tr (US)
- Height: about 4 chains
- Turning chain: 4 ch, usually counts as the first stitch
- First row: start in the 5th ch from the hook
- Chart symbol: a “T” with two short diagonal lines across its stem
