Crochet · stitch comparison
Single crochet vs double crochet comes down to height and density: a single crochet (sc) is about one chain tall and makes a firm, tight fabric, while a double crochet (dc) is about three chains tall, grows faster and drapes more. Use single crochet for toys, bags and anything that must hold its shape, and double crochet for blankets, shawls and quick projects.
| Single crochet (sc) | Double crochet (dc) | |
|---|---|---|
| UK name | double crochet (dc) | treble (tr) |
| How | Insert, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 | Yarn over, insert, pull up a loop, (yarn over, pull through 2) twice |
| Height | About 1 chain | About 3 chains |
| Turning chain | 1 (doesn't count as a stitch) | 3 (usually counts as a stitch) |
| Fabric | Dense, firm, few gaps | Looser, softer, more drape |
| Speed | Slower to cover an area | About three times the height per row |
| Best for | Amigurumi, baskets, bags, dishcloths | Blankets, shawls, granny squares, light tops |
Half double crochet (hdc, UK half treble) sits in between: about two chains tall, quicker than single crochet but with fewer gaps than double crochet. It's a common choice for hats and scarves. See how to half double crochet.
Double crochet makes a blanket faster and lighter with more drape. Single crochet makes it denser, warmer and heavier, and takes noticeably longer. Many blankets mix them, for example a double crochet body with a single crochet border. The blanket size calculator gives the starting chain for any size.
Single crochet, worked tightly in rounds. The fabric must be dense enough that the stuffing doesn't show, which is why toy patterns use a hook smaller than the yarn label says (yarn and hook for amigurumi).
Learn each stitch: single crochet (3D lesson) · how to double crochet · all crochet stitches.
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Single crochet has fewer steps (pull up a loop, pull through 2), so most beginners learn it first. Double crochet adds one yarn over and one more pull through 2.
For the same area, generally yes: single crochet makes a denser fabric with more stitches per square inch. Double crochet covers ground faster with less yarn.
No. UK double crochet (dc) is US single crochet (sc); US double crochet is a UK treble (tr). Check which terms a pattern uses.
Not usually. Double crochet leaves gaps the stuffing shows through, so toys are almost always single crochet with a hook smaller than the label suggests.
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