Double Crochet Increase

The double crochet stitch is a workhorse stitch used for all kinds of crochet patterns. You can make just about anything with this versatile stitch, and in fact, the double crochet increase is one of the easiest increases to work into a project. Typically, you’ll work two stitches into a single stitch. In this video, crochet expert Corrina Ferguson demonstrates the double crochet increase.

An increase in crochet can be used simply to make a piece of crocheted fabric wider. It can also be used for other shaping, like in a garment or for shaping in a crochet baby hat pattern. To work a double crochet increase, Corrina follows these steps:

• Yarn over (from front to back) and bring hook under both legs of the stitch from front to back
• Yarn over (from back to front) and pull the yarn through the stitch (3 loops on hook)
• Yarn over (from back to front) and pull the yarn through two loops (2 loops on hook)
• Yarn over (from back to front) and pull the yarn through remaining two loops (1 loop on hook—first double crochet is created)

• Yarn over (from front to back) and bring hook under both legs of the stitch originally worked into, from front to back
• Yarn over (from back to front) and pull the yarn through the stitch (3 loops on hook)
• Yarn over (from back to front) and pull the yarn through two loops (2 loops on hook)
• Yarn over (from back to front) and pull the yarn through remaining two loops (1 loop on hook—second double crochet is created; 1 stitch increased)

Corrina demonstrates this increase again. She notes that once the first double crochet is completed, it’s easy to see where to work to go back into the same stitch to increase – the space has become slightly larger by the first stitch being created in it. As stitches are increased, the shape of the fabric will change and will start to get wider.