Skip to content
Dora Does
  •  Home
  •  Crochet Patterns
    • All Crochet Patterns
    • Free Crochet Patterns
    • Crochet Garment Patterns
    • Christmas Crochet Patterns
  •  Doralosophy (Blog)
    • Crochet Stitch Tutorials
    • Crochet Fundamentals
    • My Crochet Wardrobe
    • Crochet Design Tips
    • Craft Tutorials
  • Dora’s Crochet resources
    • Crochet Tips, Tricks and Techniques
    • Charts and Technical Stuff
    • Crochet Stitch Directory
    • The Crochet Clothing Jargon Buster – Confusing terms explained!
  • Shop Patterns
    • Shop Etsy
    • Shop Love Crafts
    • Shop Ravelry
  •  About
    • About Dora
    •  Work with me
Extended single crochet swatch

Extended Single Crochet (esc) Stitch Tutorial

  • April 18, 2020April 16, 2020

The extended single crochet, that’s an extended double crochet in UK terms, is one of those stitches I wish I had known about long before I did. Extended crochet stitches (you can make them with double and trebles too) are great for garments because they create a fabric with a beautiful drape.

I have used extended stitches in several of my patterns including the Abundance Cardigan and the Happy Days Cardigan, but realised I had never put together a tutorial for it.

I’ve done something different for this tutorial and decided to use super chunky yarn to make it easier to see the stitches. I was making a swatch for the super chunky version of the Any Yarn Will Do sweater (a forthcoming sweater pattern) so decided to use that opportunity to make the tutorial.

It’s harder to see the stitch pattern over a small swatch but easier to follow along with the video!

Extended single crochet swatch

Essentially, extended crochet stitches are worked the same as their normal namesakes, but after you pull your first loop up through the stitch you’re working in, you yarn over and pull through 1 loop, then carry on with the rest of the stitch as normal.

It’s almost like you’re adding a chain into the stitch before making it – this is where that lovely drape comes from.

The fabric, when worked in simple rows, has a slight herringbone shape about it as the stitches tend to have more slant than their traditional counterparts.

The stitches are also taller, so it’s a great way to get your money’s worth from, your yarn as I find you can create a larger area of fabric with extended stitches. Another reason I love it for garments which often use a lot of yarn!

Extended Single Crochet (esc) – Written instructions

  • Insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook)
  • Yarn over, pull through 1 loop – that’s the extended bit made (2 loops on hook)
  • Yarn over, pull through two loops to complete the stitch

See what I’m saying? It’s super simple!

And here it is, used in combination with the moss stitch pattern in the happy days cardigan pattern.

back crochet cardigan pink and orange

And whilst I’m here, I have thrown in the instructions for the extended double crochet (edc) below!

Extended Double Crochet (edc) (UK extended treble)

  • Yarn over, insert hook
  • Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)
  • Yarn over, pull through 1 loop to make the extension (3 loops on hook) Yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook),
  • Yarn over, pull through 2 loops to complete the stitch

As I mentioned earlier, I use extended double crochet in the Abundance cardi, substituting it for traditional double crochet in the block stitch the pattern uses. Here’s a close up to give you an idea of how it looks (during a game of Heathers inspired crochet last summer!)

A close up of a woman holding a crochet mallet, wearing a crocheter cardigan, made with extended double crochet stitches

If you’ve been crocheting for any amount of time, you’ll be able to figure out how the extended treble and double treble stitches would work!

If I haven’t convinced you yet, check out the right handed video below or on YouTube and the left handed one here.

Extended stitches look great in any size yarn and any fibre and have a lovely rhythm to them when making.

When you mix them with traditional stitches, they can also create beautiful texture – just take a peek at my free studio stripe scarf pattern which uses a combination of extended double crochet and half double crochet and you’ll see what I mean!

Unisex textured Crochet Scoodie by DoraDoes.co.uk

I don’t know about you, but that’s everything I want in a crochet stitch!

What would you use it for?

Happy Hooking

Dx

See more crochet stitch tutorials here

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • WhatsApp
  • More
How to construct a simple drop shoulder crochet sweater
How to crochet a sweater that fits using ANY yarn!
crochet stitches crochet tutorial extended crochet stitch left hand crochet tutorial youtube crochet tutorials

Related articles

A small crochet circle with the last round partially worked is still attached to it’s pink ball of yarn with a black hook attached
How to evenly space increases…
A demonstration of the mattress stitch before it is pulled tight
How to seam crochet panels…
Dora sits on her sofa wearing a pink version of the winter solsitice crochet dress. She holds a cup of tea on her lap and looks out the window
The Best of 2020: Dora’s…
A collage of crochet patterns with the text describing the crochet for me bundle offer
The Crochet for Me Bundle:…
A side view of a crochet pi circle swatch, the increase rounds shown in blue
How to crochet a circle…
A simple single crochet circle with a crochet hook attached
How to crochet a flat…
A stack of crochet and stitch directory books sit on top of a wooden stool with a pink hank of yarn and crochet hook on top
My favourite crochet books: From…
a yellow crochet swatch showing the golden loop
How to adjust row height…
A landscape image of a yellow crochet swatch of double crochet stitches with a green and silver crochet hook still attached
The Anatomy of a crochet…
A yellow crochet swatch on a grey background with a red stitch marker in the first stitch
10 things beginner crocheters need…
A plastic box full of yarns and threads in silver red, white and sparkly and fluffy textures, all for Christmas crochet
The best yarns for Christmas…
Striped crochet fabric in light and dark teal with thin zig zag stripes bordering hexagon shapes lays flat on a grey wood effect surface. Two of the narrow strips are in neon pink
‘Breaking Waves’ crochet stitch pattern…
A variety of crochet hooks sit in a colourful hook roll which is hung from a wall using bulldog clips
What’s the best crochet hook?…
A burnt orange swatch of crochet blanket stitch lies on a sheep skin rug with a bowl filled with pine cones and a cup of tea behind it on a grey wood effect floor. A black crochet hook is still attached to the swatch and barely visible as it sinks into the sheepskin
5 cosy crochet stitches for…
A yellow crochet bow is attached to a pink crochet rectangle surrounded by tinsel, with branches of a christmas tree encroaching and some green bells are in the background
How to crochet a decorative…
4 COMMENTS
  • Margaret Longden
    April 19, 2020 at 21:31
    Reply

    Just a little tweak making a big difference – easy to get a good rhythm going!

    1. doraexplored
      April 20, 2020 at 10:18
      Reply

      It’s really pleasing to work isn’t it!!!

  • M-R
    April 18, 2020 at 07:53
    Reply

    Agreed – it’s great ! Probably my 2nd fav after crunch stitch 🙂
    AND I learned it from you.
    Would use both in scarves, shawls, lapghans – things of flat areas.

    1. doraexplored
      April 18, 2020 at 11:25
      Reply

      Ahhh. It’s great isn’t it! So versatile!!!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Where to find me

  • Ravelry
  • Etsy
  • Love Crafts Crochet
  • Pinterest
  • Work With Me

Blog Categories

Search the site

For more crochet goodness, get The WiP TiP

Oooh, yes please!

Subscribe to Doralosophy (the blog)!

You will receive email notifications when a new blog post is published. Note this is separate to The WiP TiP email newsletter

Site Links

Connect

Doralosophy

Crochet Patterns

Crochet Resources

Professional Services

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Affiliate Policy

Buy Dora Does

Shop Etsy

Shop Ravelry

Love Crafts

Follow on Pinterest

 

I hope you enjoyed visiting Dora Does.

If you have found any of my blogs, resources or free patterns helpful and would like to make a contribution,  I welcome voluntary donations, no matter how small. It helps keep me doing Dora!  Please use the PayPal ‘donate’ button below.

Big Love Dx

Copyright Dora Does 2020. All patterns and content is for personal use only and may not be shared or reproduced without prior written consent.
Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube