Treble crochet stitches have their upsides (So much height in one row! Tons of drape!) and their downsides (Whoa holey fabric!). Linked Treble Crochet Stitches are fantastic because they have the height of regular treble crochet stitches, without the holes – and for added value, some nifty horizontal lines to spice things up. They’re usually abbreviated as LTR, and here’s how they’re made.
Video Tutorial: How to Crochet Linked Treble Crochet Stitches
Written Instructions for Linked Treble Crochet Stitches
The First Linked Treble Stitch: Chain the desired number of stitches, plus 4. Insert the hook into the 2nd ch from the hook, yo, and pull up a loop. Insert the hook into the 3rd ch from the hook, yo, and pull up a loop. Insert the hook into the 5th ch from the hook, yo, and pull up a loop, You now have 4 loops on the hook. Yo and pull through the first two loops on the hook, yo and pull through the next two loops, yo and pull through the last two loops.
Subsequent Linked Treble Stitches: Insert the hook into the upper horizontal bar of the previous stitch, yo, and pull up a loop. Insert the hook into the lower horizontal bar of the previous stitch, yo, and pull up a loop. Insert the hook into the next unworked ch or st, yo and pull up a loop. You now have 4 loops on the hook. Yo and pull through the first two loops on the hook, yo and pull through the next two loops, yo and pull through the last two loops.
To Start a New Row: Ch 4 (counts as first st), and work as for the First Linked Treble Stitch, working into the top of the next stitch rather than the 5th ch.
And that’s all there is to making Linked Treble Crochet Stitches! With a little practice you’ll be LTR-ing with the best. As you can see in the video, you can see the horizontal bars from the RS of the row, but not from the back, which makes using this stitch even more interesting!
I hope you enjoyed this video! Have you ever made a project with linked stitches? Tell me about them, and let me know what other stitches you’d like to see a tutorial for in the comments!
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Nancy Wisseman says
This kind of reminds me of Tunisian Crochet. I’ve been trying to learn that recently and this has the same feel and close to the texture. Thanks.
Tamara Kelly says
Interesting – I hadn’t thought of it that way but I think you’re on to something there!
Rebecca says
Thank you for this video,I have always hated how the treble crochet always a huge gap between stitches, now I will only use this stitch =)
Thanks again,
Rebecca
Elaine says
Please help me with this stitch. I love it but my rows are curling really bad. What do I do to prevent this?
Tamara Kelly says
I little bit of curling is normal and fixed by blocking, but if it’s curling a lot I’d recommend going up a hook size and making sure that the loops you pull up in the middle are big enough. Linked stitches are a lot like Tunisian, and going with a larger hook size helps with curling there too.
Pam Weber says
Hi, I have purchased my yarn and am beginning to make the Lego Inspired Backpack for my grandson. I have sesrched the pattern and cannot find the finished size of the Lego block after the edging is added to the bloick. I tend to crochet too tight for mh own lkkjng and may have ti mive up one size in my hook to get the bobble stitches to pook out enough to resemble a Lego. I mentionrd the bag to my grandson and asked if he might like one and as only ohr Joey can said, “send it now!!”
This is really a cute project and I look forward go your reply so that I can send it to Joey ASAP!!
Thanx, Pam Weber
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you Pam! Unfortunately, I made mine as a gift that was given away later that same day, and I didn’t get a chance to measure the blocks before they left my hands. I’d say as long as you like the finished block in terms of look and solidity of the fabric, then it’s fine. 🙂
Pam Weber says
Thank you…I am always too critical of my work…especially crochet…I am a much better knitter! I have been playing with ghe hook size some and think I might just do that!! Joey is a Lego fiend and make letters with them an puts messages in pictures with them…funny kid!! He will love this bag, I just know it!! Sorry abiut the typos in my first note 🙁
Tamara Kelly says
😀 No worries, I typo all over the blog lol. I’m sure he’ll love it!
Wendy J says
Hello Again,
I don’t know if it’s my computer or not, but I can’t get the written link for the LTC to work. I’m trying to find a way around it, but thought you may want to know, just in case it’s not only me. I need to refresh myself on how to begin the project.
Thanks again, for posting all the tutorials!
Wendy J says
Ahhhh.. I got the page I wanted. I copied the link. Then pasted them in the box to search your site. DuhMe–>I never noticed that before. That got me to the directions, though. If anyone else reads this, are you having problems with the link? In NO way am I being critical..I Love this site! I’m wondering if something is wrong with my computer. It’s a surface rt, and kind of different…getting used to it. Thanks.
Lisa says
I love using this stitch and am planning on using the linked double stitch for my next chevron blanket. Can you tell me if it’s possible to do a linked double crochet 3 together? Thanks!
Tamara Kelly says
I would think so! I haven’t tried it, but walking through it in my head I think it would work!
Wendy J says
Hello,
I’ve done the LTR using 2tog. There is a difference; after several tries,I figured out doing it like this. Do the first one normally., leaving the last loop on, like you would for any decrease. But when you would put your hook through the top loop of that stitch, that loop really isn’t there; it’s part of the loop still on your hook. What I did what to yarn over, then continue on, putting my hook through the lower loop of that stitch, bringing up a loop, put hook through the next stitch and bring up a loop, then continue as normal, yarning over, and going through 2 loops, etc
I probably haven’t explained this very well. Uhm… TAMARA??? do you get what I mean?? I also did it with a triple dec, after I read the post, and it was the same, I had to yarn over at the beginning of each stitch, instead of putting my hood through the top loop of the previous LTR.
Tamara Kelly says
I think so… whatever works! 😀 I really believe if it works and you like the result, then go for it!
Wendy J says
Hello,
I’m planning to use this stitch (LTR) to crochet my grandson a hat-scarf combo, with button up-able ear flaps and an aviator style flap on the front. I always make a square swatch, then wash it, to see how it will turn out, check to see if it shrinks, etc. My swatch rows are bumpled-the rows curve front, back, front,… I didn’t edge the swatch, which is 4.5″ square. Will the rows still have the bumpled look in the finished project? I’m using the hood from a jacket that fits him to use as a size pattern for the main part of the hat. The flaps I can use a different stitch, but the scarf concerns me also. It won’t have a large edging. Does anyone have any experience with this type of problem? Thanks!
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Wendy! I can’t say I’ve had that issue. I’m wondering if it is a tension thing?
Wendy J says
Tamara,
Thanks for your response. I usually have a light hand in my crocheting. I appreciate your advice.
Also, I apologize to you, and to the other crocheters here, for jumping in with a reply to another person’s question. It was not my place, nor to even think that I would have better advice. I have chronic physical crap going on; and with baking, travelling, meds, & being very tired, I didn’t think before I posted a reply. Apologizing on here instead of b/c I did it on here.
Tamara Kelly says
(((Hugs))) No worries! Different perspectives and ideas are always a good thing! I hope you have a restful and happy holiday season. <3
Amina says
please I don’t understand when you said 4 loops on the hook yo and pull through the first two and yo and pull through next two and yo and pull through the last two and there is only 4 loops the hook
thank you
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Amina! When you pull a loop through, that become another loop on the hook. So when you pull through two loops, you have the loop you just made on the hook now. Just like when you make a single crochet stitch, you, have two loops on the hook, yo and pull through to finish the stitch – you have a loop on the hook at the end. 🙂 Does that make sense?
Lisa says
Awesome video tutorial as always. You explain everything so well. Thanks so much!
Lisa. x
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Lisa!
Lisa says
How do I do ltc in the round? I found a video for linked DC but I want treble also I want to make a hat is there any thing I need to do different I notice the stitches are tighter so it seems I need to make it bigger also I have no hat pattern is there even a beaniectype hat for this stitch out? Thank u
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Lisa! There is not a video or pattern that I know of.
Samya says
Do I work into the turning chain 4 to finish off the row.
Tamara Kelly says
Yes. 🙂
Samya says
Thanks.
Lynda Otvos says
My current bed blanket is a 60 by 80 inch, three strands of worsted held together, linked double crochet that is luscious. I sleep under it every night and I cannot speak positively enough about how it brings DC from “holey fabric” to a solid piece that still breathes so I don’t overheat.
Thanks for sharing this stitch and I look forward to seeing what gets made by your creative blog readers.
Sylvia says
Hi Tamara firstly I`d like to thank you for a truly great crochet knowledge center, another great video and resource. Someone else posted my question, I´m trying to make this stitch on the round, when joining it there´s a large gap, is there any way this could be avoided? I´ll just stitch it together at the end with a needle othewrwise but wanted to check if someone knew how to do it.
Thank you
Tamara Kelly says
There is, but it is tricky – here’s a good tutorial from my friend Jennifer at A Crocheted Simplicity: https://www.acrochetedsimplicity.com/linked-double-crochet-join-tutorial-linked-dc-join/ 🙂