How To Join New Yarn with a Standing Double Crochet Stitch
Standing Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial
Using a standing double crochet stitch is a great technique to use to join new yarn, or a different colour of yarn for your project. It can be used in the round as well as in rows.
How To:
A: Holding your yarn end and your crochet hook in your right hand (keeping the tail beneath your finger to hold the yarn in place), wrap the yarn counter-clockwise around the hook, two times. Note: I use my middle finger to hold those two loops in place while I begin the stitch. Insert your hook into the first stitch of the row/round. Yarn over the hook and pull up a loop. Three loops left on the hook.
B: Yarn over the hook and pull through two loops (keep holding the tail of the yarn against the hook!).
C: Two loops left on the hook.
D: Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops (keep holding the tail of the yarn against the hook!).
E: Your stitch is complete. See the yarn end – I have it held between my index finger and thumb of my left hand (if you crochet ‘properly’ you can hold this between your middle finger and thumb).
F: For the remaining double crochet stitches, you work them as regular double crochet stitches. [Yarn over the hook, insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over the hook and pull one loop through (three loops on the hook). Yarn over the hook and pull through the first two loops (two loops left on the hook). Yarn over the hook and pull through the last two loops.] This image shows four completed double crochet stitches (the first one, on the far right, is the standing double crochet stitch). Note: You can let go of the yarn end after you complete your second stitch.
By now you probably know how much I like to work over my yarn-ends. It is a bit of a compulsion for me.
I still weave in my ends when I finish my projects but I like to secure my ends a little bit more than is probably necessary before continuing with my crocheting.
I am uncomfortable with the yarn end “hanging by a thread” so to speak in my example above so here is a little extra step I use when using the standing double crochet stitch.
1: Complete the steps above from A-E. Yarn over the hook and insert the hook into the next stitch to be worked. Yarn over the hook and draw through two loops on the hook (two loops left on the hook). Take the yarn end and draw it behind the half completed double crochet stitch and across your working yarn (see the yarn end resting across the front of the work?) Now use your working yarn and yarn over the hook and draw through the remaining two loops on the hook.
2. This image shows five completed stitches with the yarn ends secured beneath the upper half of the double crochet stitch. You can continue working over the yarn in this manner – and it is hidden inside the double crochet stitch. This works really well for colour changes – because you can keep the clean line of colour by working over the yarn ‘mid stitch’.
I love working my stitches this way. I like the neatness of the stitches.
What do you think?
Thank you Eileen 🙂 I’m happy the tutorial was helpful!! Best wishes, Rhondda
Yup, you deserve all the praise for such a great tutorial. Thanks for sharing and hope to work on your ‘Wedded Bliss Afghan Square’ soon. It looks like a great pattern!
Hi Frances, I wish you had found the tutorial more helpful. I did include this in the written instructions: How To:
A: Holding your yarn end and your crochet hook in your right hand (keeping the tail beneath your finger to hold the yarn in place), wrap the yarn counter-clockwise around the hook, two times. Note: I use my middle finger to hold those two loops in place while I begin the stitch. Insert your hook into the first stitch of the row/round. Yarn over the hook and pull up a loop. Three loops left on the hook.
I am happy you were able to find a video tutorial to help 🙂
All the best,
Rhondda
WAIT. Just realised I’d made a starting loop. I’m an idiot. I ended up seeing a video tutorial on YouTube though.
This took me a while to understand, because you didn’t specify to wrap the yarn-end around the hook, or in what direction down the shaft of the hook to do so. The pictures don’t really clear it up either. I worked it out, but lesser people would have given up in frustration. Great stitch though.
How have I not seen this until today? Where have I been? Has my personal computer gremlin been hiding things from me again? When I catch that little stinker, he’s in for a serious drubbing! I knew, I just KNEW, that there was a way to do this that was simple and uncomplicated! I haven’t been crocheting very long and I went straight from learning the basics to making my own designs for simple things like afghan, scarves, headbands, purses, totes, and market bags. Lol! I am a dyed in the lot rule hater and even when I do try to follow a pattern, I always have at LEAST one idea to change, alter or improve it. I’m sure that I’ve reinvented the wheel a multitude of times! I also hate, with an absolute passion, the chain 3( or 2 or 4…..) used for this purpose. I’ve tried a few other things that I’ve happened across but they never looked quite right. This is it, girl! This is the bomb! Thanks so much! You’re, officially, my new, favorite person!
Welcome Joyce!
Welcome Oressa 🙂
Welcome Melisa 🙂 Happy to help!
Thank you an awesome tutorial, I learned something new. Many thanks!
Good way with my favorite stitch
I definitely needed this one! Thank you for sharing!
Looks so much nicer without the knot, I hope I will remember this Tut next time I use standing double crochet.
Awesome tutorial, especially since I am a visual learner. I love the clearness of your tutorials. Thanks
Love this tip. Thanks!!
Thank you Toqua 🙂
This has a very nice finished look. Thank you for showing how to do it.
Hi Cheryl, wonderful 🙂 If you have any questions, please just let me know. Thank you! Rhondda
This looks like a great tip, I can't wait to try it. Thanks.