What is a Double Treble Crochet Stitch?
The double treble crochet (dtr) is one of the taller stitches in the standard crochet toolkit. I’m referring to the US stitch here – if you’re working from a UK pattern, the equivalent stitch is the triple treble (ttr). It’s not a stitch you’ll reach for every day. Its height creates a noticeably open, airy fabric that isn’t right for most projects. However, it does has some specific uses, and it’s worth understanding how it works.
If you’ve spent most of your crochet time working double crochet, the dtr will feel familiar in its construction, just with a couple of extra yarn overs added in. That said, the difference in height between a double and a double treble is more significant than it might sound, and it does change how a fabric behaves.
How to Work a Double Treble Crochet Stitch
To make one double treble crochet (US: dtr / UK: ttr):
- Yarn over your hook three times (four loops on hook).
- Insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (five loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (four loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (three loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (two loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops (one loop on hook).
One double treble stitch made.
How to Work a Row of Double Treble Stitches
To work a flat sample of double treble crochet in rows:
You will need: yarn, an appropriate hook for your yarn weight, scissors, and a yarn needle.
Foundation chain: Work a chain of your desired length. At the end, add four extra chain stitches as your turning chain.
First row: Work your first dtr into the 5th chain from the hook, then one dtr into each remaining chain stitch across. Turn.
Subsequent rows: Chain four (this counts as your turning chain), then work one dtr into the top of each dtr from the previous row across.
Repeat for as many rows as you’d like for your sample.
How the Double Treble Compares to Other Stitches
The dtr sits in a family of related stitches, each one taller than the last due to an extra yarn over:
| Stitch (US) | Stitch (UK) | Yarn overs before inserting hook | Relative height (sc = 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single crochet (sc) | Double crochet (dc) | 0 | 1 |
| Half double crochet (hdc) | Half treble (htr) | 1 | 1.5 |
| Double crochet (dc) | Treble (tr) | 1 | 2 |
| Treble crochet (tr) | Double treble (dtr) | 2 | 3 |
| Double treble (dtr) | Triple treble (ttr) | 3 | 4 |
| Triple treble (ttr) | Quadruple treble (qtr) | 4 | 5 |
The height difference is also reflected in the turning chain: double crochet rows typically use a turning chain of three, while double treble rows use four.
UK and US Terminology
This is a stitch where terminology confusion is particularly easy to run into. The names shift by one between UK and US conventions throughout the stitch family, so it’s worth double-checking which system a pattern is using before you start.
| US term | UK term |
|---|---|
| Single crochet (sc) | Double crochet (dc) |
| Double crochet (dc) | Treble crochet (tr) |
| Treble crochet (tr) | Double treble crochet (dtr) |
| Double treble crochet (dtr) | Triple treble crochet (ttr) |
| Triple treble crochet (ttr) | Quadruple treble crochet (qtr) |
If you’d like to understand why UK and US crochet terminology diverged in the first place, this post explains the history.
When You’re Likely to Use a Double Treble
Honestly, the dtr is not a workhorse stitch. The openness it creates, which is part of its appeal in lacy or decorative work, is exactly what makes it unsuitable for many projects, particularly colourwork blankets, where you generally want a denser, more covered fabric.
That said, it has clear uses:
Lace and openwork designs. The open fabric the dtr creates works well in doilies, shawls, lightweight scarves, and summer-weight garments. The height allows for interesting structural patterns that shorter stitches can’t replicate.
Overlay and mandala-style crochet. The dtr appears frequently in overlay crochet – a technique where stitches are worked in front of the base fabric to build up dimensional colour patterns. I’ve used it in this context while working the Graphite Mandala pattern by Lilla Bjorn Crochet, where it’s part of the overlay construction and works exactly as intended. The stitch height makes sense in that context because you’re working in front of existing rows, not trying to fill them.
Shaping and structural moments in colourwork. Occasionally a dtr earns its place in a more structured design for shaping purposes rather than as a fabric stitch. In my Santa’s Workshop blanket, a couple of the toy motifs use UK double treble stitches (US treble) at corners to achieve the right shaping but other designs might use a US double treble (UK quadruple treble). It’s a very specific use, and the stitch height is managed by the design, but it shows that even in colourwork the dtr can have a role, just a narrow one.
For tapestry crochet blankets specifically, the dtr is rarely the right choice. The stitch is too open and too tall to give you the covered, colourwork fabric that tapestry crochet depends on. Stitches like the extended single crochet (exsc), the half double crochet, or the double crochet (dc) are usually much better suited. If you’re new to tapestry crochet, you can find more on stitch selection on the Tapestry Crochet Hub.
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About Catherine
Catherine is a crochet designer and teacher specialising in crochet blankets, with a particular focus on tapestry crochet and colourwork. Her patterns have been published in crochet magazines and she is a contributor to the book 100 Crochet Tiles. She has designed in collaboration with Sirdar and WeCrochet. You can find her full pattern collection on Etsy and Ravelry, and her tutorials on YouTube.
