(yes, that's a little LolCats-inspired humor for you)
Note: This post doesn't specifically deal with ripples, but it is definitely applicable to a ripple pattern. Sorry for the slightly off-topic nature, I'm just really looking for some feedback on this.
So, I recently saw a tutorial from a  British crocheter on how to do a US double crochet (known as a treble  crochet in the UK). At first I skipped over it to get to the part of the  pattern I was interested in, but when I came back to it, I noticed  something odd. The instructions for this stitch differed from the way I  learned to do it. At first I thought, "Oh, she must have gotten  something mixed up!," mostly because it sounded like an extended double  crochet to me. At this point, I decided to do a little research on the  interwebs.
Guess what I found out? 
Apparently, I have been working the double crochet incorrectly  for as long as I've been crocheting! It's pretty odd too, because it's  neither a double nor a half double, but seemingly a hybrid of the two.  So, here's the difference:
The instructions I found for it  indicate that you should:
yarn over 
insert hook into stitch
yo, draw through first loop (the stitch  that's on the hook, so that there are now 3 loops on the hook)
yo, draw through two loops (so that now  there are two loops)
yo, draw  through the last two loops.
In contrast, the way I was taught is as follows:
yo, insert hook into stitch
yo, draw through first TWO loops on hook (that's the stitch  that's on the hook plus the first loop) so that there are 2 loops left  on the hook
yo, draw through  last two loops on the hook
Furthermore, the instructions I found for a half double  crochet were:
yo, insert hook into stitch
yo, draw through first loop (leaving three  loops on the hook)
yo, draw  through remaining three loops
Is this just a different tradition in  crochet stitches? I could swear I have seen this double crochet in some  of my mother's old crochet books. I don't plan on changing the way I  crochet over this, but I did find it to be somewhat odd. Does my method  sound familiar to anyone else out there?
 
 


15 comments:
You've been doing it right. The first set of instructions you posted are how to do a treble crochet. A regular double crochet is the second set of instructions you posted.
:) HTH
I thought a treble was two yo's, insert into stitch(4 lps on hook), yo, draw through two lps, yo, draw through two lps, yo, draw through last two lps. I had never even seen the first one until recently.
I think I saw the same web site! The double crochet her way does not match what I, too, have been doing. I thought it odd and checked in "The Crochet Stitch Bible" by Betty Barnden and according to the author, our way is the correct way. Her way is neither a double or treble crochet.
your double is my double
What a great blog. Inspiring me to take out my crochet hook......
your posted instructions were for an extended double crochet, you have been doing it right
Your first intructions are for an extended double crochet. The way you have been doing your double crochet is correct.
How odd. I was taught how you were taught ... their double sounds suspiciously like a treble. o question about that.
To me, a treble is this:
Yo, yo, insert hook, yo, draw trough two lps, yo, draw through two lps, yo, draw through two lps
It's kind of between my double and treble, but not really a half treble. It's odd, I think.
@Dawn
I don't really think there is an objectively "correct" way to work any of these basic stitches. I think it would be a fascinating project to trace the origins of some of the different variations though.
The first instructions are for an extended double. you've been doing it right. a treble is 2 YO's
If you are doing it wrong, then so am I! This is how I was taught.
If you are doing it wrong, then so am I. This is how I was taught.
Just found this blog. I've been crocheting for over 60 years and do the double crochet the same as you do.
I have to say, I had never heard of an extended double. But looking at them side by side it is definitely the right answer. I so appreciate your blog as it has made me think a little harder. Your pictures are awesome. Thanks for sharing. Ps-- I crochet just the same as you!
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