Foundation Double Crochet: The Game-Changing Technique You Need to Learn

If you’re still starting your crochet projects with a long foundation chain, I have some exciting news for you: there’s a better way! The foundation double crochet stitch (or foundation treble crochet in UK terms) is a revolutionary technique that will transform how you begin your crochet projects.

What is Foundation Double Crochet?

Foundation double crochet is a technique where you create your foundation chain and your first row of double crochet stitches simultaneously. Instead of making a long chain and then working back along it with double crochet stitches, you combine both steps into one efficient process. Each foundation double crochet stitch creates both a chain stitch at the bottom and a double crochet stitch at the top as you work.

Note on terminology: This guide uses US crochet terms. A US “foundation double crochet” is equivalent to a UK “foundation treble crochet.” Throughout this guide, when I refer to double crochet or foundation double crochet, UK crocheters should read this as treble crochet or foundation treble crochet.

Why Use Foundation Double Crochet Instead of a Starting Chain?

The Problems with Traditional Foundation Chains

Most beginners learn to start double crochet projects with the traditional method:

1. Make a long foundation chain (plus 2-3 turning chains)
2. Work double crochet stitches back along the chain making one double crochet into each chain stitch

While this method is straightforward, requiring knowledge of only the chain stitch and the double crochet stitch to be performed, it comes with several issues:

Tension Problems: Many crocheters find their chain stitches are naturally tighter than their double crochet stitches. This creates an unwanted effect where the bottom of the project pulls in, making it narrower than the rest of the work.

Counting Difficulties: Chain stitches are relatively small, making them tricky to count accurately. This is especially problematic when starting wide projects like blankets, where you might need to make and count hundreds of chains.

Fiddly to Work Into: Getting your hook into each chain stitch can be awkward and time-consuming. The chains can twist, and it’s easy to accidentally split the yarn or miss a chain entirely.

Twisting Issues: If you’re working in the round (like for a cowl, beanie, or bottom-up sweater, for example), you will need to join your long chain before working into it. With a really long chain, it’s challenging to ensure it doesn’t twist when you join it, and you might not notice the twist until you’re already near the end of the first round.

The Advantages of Foundation Double Crochet

The foundation double crochet technique can solve all of these problems:

Even Tension: Because you’re working double crochet stitches from the very beginning, the tension remains consistent throughout. The bottom of your work won’t pull in or flare out—it will match the rest of your project perfectly.

Easy to Count: Foundation double crochet stitches are much larger and more defined than chain stitches. You can easily count them to verify you have the correct number. This is especially valuable for large projects.

Less Fiddly: You’re working with proper stitches from the start, not trying to maneuver your hook into tiny chain stitches. The process flows more smoothly and is less frustrating.

No Twisting: When using foundation double crochet stitches, you create a flat, even strip of stitches that makes it immediately obvious if there’s a twist when joining in the round. You’ll notice any issues right away, unlike with a foundation chain.

When to Use Foundation Double Crochet

Foundation double crochet is ideal for any project that’s worked in rows of double crochet stitches, whether back-and-forth or in the round. These include:

• Blankets worked in rows back and forth
• Bags worked in joined rounds
• Hats and cowls worked in rounds
• Sweaters worked in the round from the bottom up
• Scarves
• Dishcloths and washcloths
• And any other project that starts by working double crochet stitches into a foundation chain

How to Work Foundation Double Crochet: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Materials You’ll Need

• Yarn of your choice
• Appropriate crochet hook for your yarn weight
• Stitch marker (optional, helpful when learning)

Starting Your Foundation Double Crochet

Step 1: Make a slip knot and place it on your hook, tightening it comfortably.

Step 2: The very first foundation double crochet stitch is simply three chains. Chain 3: these three chains count as your first stitch.

Step 3: Now you’ll make your first proper foundation double crochet stitch into this chain:

• Yarn over (as you would for a normal double crochet)
• Insert your hook into the bottom of the three chains—the first chain you made (the third chain from your hook). Insert it into the back bump of that chain, just under that one strand.
• Yarn over and pull up a loop (you now have three loops on your hook)

So far, these are exactly the same steps as working a normal double crochet stitch.

Next is where foundation double crochet differs from a regular double crochet. Before completing the stitch, you’ll add an extra step:

• Yarn over and pull through the first loop on your hook only to create a chain. You still have three loops on your hook. This creates the chain at the bottom of your stitch

Now finish the stitch as you would a normal double crochet:

• Yarn over and pull through two loops (two loops remain on your hook)
• Yarn over and pull through the last two loops (one loop on your hook)

Congratulations! You’ve completed your first foundation double crochet stitch.

Continuing Your Foundation Double Crochet Row

For each subsequent foundation double crochet stitch:

Step 1: Yarn Over: Start by yarning over as you would for a normal double crochet.

Step 2: Insert Your Hook: This time, insert your hook into the chain you made at the bottom of the previous stitch. If you look at the bottom of that stitch, you’ll see two strands. Insert your hook under both of those strands.

Step 3: Pull Up a Loop: Yarn over and pull up a loop. You now have three loops on your hook.

Step 4: Make the Foundation Chain: Before completing the double crochet, make another chain stitch to go at the bottom of this stitch:

• Yarn over and pull through one loop only
• You still have three loops on your hook

Step 5: Complete the Stitch Finish the double crochet as you would normally:

• Yarn over and pull through two loops (two loops on hook)
• Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops (one loop on hook)

Continue this process until you have the required number of foundation double crochet stitches for your project.

Remember the initial three chains count as the first stitch in your row.

Pro Tips for Perfect Foundation Double Crochet

Tip 1: Work Direction

The way you hold your work can make this technique easier. Try holding your work so the row of foundation double crochet stitches extends toward you, with your hook directed along the side of the previous stitch. Instead of working across horizontally as you normally would for a row of stitches, have your hook creating stitches going upward, away from you. Many find this orientation makes the technique feel more natural.

Tip 2: Use a Stitch Marker When Learning

When you’re first learning, it can be unclear exactly where to insert your hook for each new stitch. To make this easier:

• When you make the chain at the bottom of each stitch, insert a stitch marker into it
• This marks exactly where to put your hook for the next stitch
• After a few stitches, you won’t need the marker anymore, but it’s helpful while practicing

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll easily identify the two strands at the bottom of the previous stitch without any markers.

Tip 3: Keep Your Loops Even

This is the most important tip for neat, even foundation double crochet stitches:

After you yarn over and pull up a loop (when you have three loops on your hook), check your tension before making the foundation chain. Make sure:

• The third loop on your hook (the one you just pulled up) isn’t too tight, which would pull in the bottom of your work
• It isn’t too loose, which would make the bottom of your work longer than the top
• Your hook is at right angles to the row of stitches
• The top loop and bottom loop are the same size

When your loops are even, you’ll have perfectly balanced foundation double crochet stitches all the way along your work.

Tip 4: Practice Makes Perfect

Don’t worry if foundation double crochet feels fiddly at first! Even if the technique seems tricky initially, keep practicing. Once you’ve mastered it, you’ll find it so much easier than the traditional foundation chain method, and you’ll never want to go back.

Feel free to:

• Watch the tutorial video multiple times
• Pause and crochet along step by step
• Practice with scrap yarn before starting your project
• Be patient with yourself during the learning process

Adapting Patterns for Foundation Double Crochet

The beauty of foundation double crochet is that you can adapt virtually any pattern that starts with a foundation chain and double crochet stitches.

How to Adapt Any Pattern

If your pattern says something like:

• “Chain 102”
• “DC in 3rd chain from hook and in each chain across (100 DC)”

You can substitute foundation double crochet:

• Simply work 100 foundation double crochet stitches instead
• Remember: the first “stitch” is your chain 3, so you’d work that chain 3, then 99 foundation double crochet stitches

The pattern will specify how many double crochet stitches you should have in your first row after working into the foundation chain. Just work that number of foundation double crochet stitches instead, and continue with the pattern as written from row 2 onward.

Patterns That Use Foundation Double Crochet

Several crochet patterns specifically incorporate foundation double crochet, including:

• The Cera Blanket – A beautiful tapestry crochet blanket pattern that showcases this technique
• The Paper Dolls Blanket – Another excellent blanket pattern that starts with foundation double crochet for an even start

These patterns are great for practicing the technique in a real project, as they’re designed with foundation double crochet in mind.

Watch the Full Tutorial

Want to see foundation double crochet demonstrated step by step? I have created a detailed video tutorial walking through every stage of the process.

Watch the full tutorial here: Foundation Double Crochet Tutorial

Watching the technique in action makes it much easier to understand, especially seeing exactly where to insert your hook and how to maintain even tension throughout.

Foundation Double Crochet Summary

Start by making three chains (this counts as the first stitch).

Then, to work a foundation double crochet:

1. Yarn over
2. Insert hook into the chain at the bottom of the previous stitch, under two strands (or in the first chain of your starting three chains, the first time).
3. Yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook)
4. Check that loops are even
5. Yarn over and pull through one loop (foundation chain made, three loops remain)
6. Yarn over and pull through two loops
7. Yarn over and pull through two loops (stitch complete)

Remember: The first stitch is made with chain 3, then you work foundation double crochet stitches for the remaining stitches needed.

Final Thoughts

Foundation double crochet is truly a game-changing technique that will improve the quality and ease of your crochet projects. While it might feel unfamiliar at first, the benefits far outweigh the small learning curve:

• More even, professional-looking results
• Easier counting and fewer mistakes

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