In this edition of the crochet basics series,  we are going to look at the treble crochet stitch (or double treble if you are using UK terms) and other tall stitches.

They are used in a huge variety of ways and create open work and can be combined with other stitches to make great patterns such as waves and lacy motifs.  Perfect for shawls, ponchos, summer tops, doilies, blankets and even jewellery.

If you’re new to crochet you can learn about the other basic stitches in my earlier posts about single crochet, and half double and double crochet, or go to the crochet resources page which has a host of information aimed at helping you navigate your way through the beginner crochet phase or picking up something new!

The Treble Crochet (tr)

The Treble crochet is made in a similar way to the double crochet, but the stitch is taller and leads to a more open fabric.  In UK terms this is referred to as a double treble.

The picture above shows, from the bottom up, the single crochet, the double crochet, the treble crochet and then taller stitches which are all made in a similar way.

Written Instructions to make a Treble Crochet (tr)

Yarn over (yo) twice, insert hook into stitch, to and pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), yo and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo and pull through 2 loops.  Stitch made.

Right Handed Video Tutorial

Left Handed Video Tutorial

Tall Stitches

You can use the same method used to create the treble crochet to make taller and taller stitches.  The height of the stitch depends on the number of times you wrap the yarn round the hook before you start.

So a double treble (dtr) would be made by wrapping the yarn round the hook 3 times, insert int he hook into the stitch, then yarn over and pull through 2 loops 4 times,

A treble treble (trtr) would be made by wrapping round 4 times, insert hook, pull up a loop, yo and pull through 2 loops 5 times.

You can keep increasing the number of times you yo, and you will yo and pull through 2 loops the number of times you yo plus one – so in a tr tr, you yo 4 times and work the *yo, pull through 2 loops* 5 times.

This is all explained in the video tutorials

You can find a great range of free patterns using tall stitches here if you want to give it a go!

Until next time

Happy Hooking

Dx