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Standing Double Crochet: Join Without the Sl St and Ch!

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The Standing Double Crochet stitch is one I came to late – and I wish I’d known about it years earlier! It’s not a stitch that you’ll usually find specified in a pattern, and as such it has no standard abbreviation. What it is, is a technique – one that will allow you to start a new row on a crochet project without having to use the telltale “join with a slip stitch and chain 3” – and I can’t wait to share it with you!

Standing Double Crochet - joining without the slip stitch! Photo and Video Tutorials on Moogly!

Video Tutorial: Standing Double Crochet – Right Handed

Left Handed

Photo Tutorial for the Standing Double Crochet

  • Step 1: Hold the yarn end with the last two fingers of your hook-holding hand.Standing Double Crochet Technique Photo Tutorial Step 1
  • Step 2: Holding the hook in your first two fingers and thumb, wrap the yarn around the hook twice.Standing Double Crochet Technique Photo Tutorial Step 2
  • Step 3: Insert the hook into the desired stitch.Standing Double Crochet Technique Photo Tutorial Step 3
  • Step 4: Yarn over and pull up a loop.Standing Double Crochet Technique Photo Tutorial Step 4
  • Step 5: Yarn over and pull through the first two loops on the hook.Standing Double Crochet Technique Photo Tutorial Step 5
  • Step 6:Yarn over and pull through the last two loops on  the hook (completing as for a normal double crochet). Standing Double Crochet Technique Photo Tutorial Step 6
  • Step 7: Continuing to hold on to the yarn end, make the next double crochet in the standard manner.Standing Double Crochet Technique Photo Tutorial Step 7
  • Step 8: You can let go of the tail, and continue to make stitches according to the pattern. If you used this technique on the previous row, crochet over the tail that was left at the top from that row. The loose end at the top of this row can either be woven in with a needle, or crocheted over in the next row! Standing Double Crochet Technique Photo Tutorial Step 8

So what do you think? Next time you see a pattern that calls for joining with a slip stitch and then chaining to start off a row or round of double crochet stitches, give the Standing Double Crochet a try! You might just never look back!

NOTE: Several different people have now written to me, claiming that they invented this technique. I don’t know who did, I didn’t invent it myself, and many crocheters have told me they learned it from their grandmothers. Was it lost in time and then rediscovered? I don’t know, and again, I don’t claim to have invented it, I’m just sharing it, and I hope you like it.

Be sure to check out and like the moogly Facebook page to get the latest updates, links, and sneak peeks. Moogly is also on Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, and Google+ – come join the fun! You can contact me via the Facebook page or at TamaraKelly@mooglyblog.com.

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Comments

  3. Laura Darcy

    thank you for all the valuable tutorials and information! I’m so happy I found your blog and have learned quite a bit already. This tutorial about the ability to join without leaving that seam is wonderful!

    Reply

  8. Sonea Delvon

    Nice tutorial! This technique can be used for any crochet stitch, sc, hdc, dc, tr, dtr, clusters, … I’ve been using it for a long time, but I start with a chain instead of a yo. And then I crochet in all ends in every row or rnd and I don’t have to weave them in:-)

    Reply

  9. Diane

    Love learning new tricks! I make a lot of hats so I’ll be sure to use this one. Beautifully and clearly done.! Thank you so much, Tamara!

    Reply

  17. Nancy Wisseman

    OMG..that is amazing! I love this and will be using it! Will it work for half double crochet or single crochet too?

    Reply

  20. Liz

    wow! i love lots of colors but hate joining. i always depend on variagated yarn but it never looks as clean and even as i usually like, now i can use this and not dread joins! thank u!

    Reply

  22. Crafty Dutchess

    Tell me if I’m wrong but this looks like using a tr to do the work of a dc and therefore as a previous comment says can be used to replace any stitch, just ‘go up one’.
    Loving the blog btw, despite the coupons being a useless tease to most European followers! ; )

    Reply

    • Tamara Kelly

      It starts as a tr (two wraps) but you only pull through two twice – but you can definitely replace anything taller than a sc using this basic idea!

      Reply

  25. Colleen Blehm

    Thank you for the tutorial, you made it very clear and understandable. Such a simple stitch. I wish I would have known about this method 45 yrs ago when I started crocheting!! 🙂 Thanks again!!

    Reply

  26. Cora

    Thanks for sharing…I will never go back to the standard way of joining. Does this also work for half double or triple crochet as well?

    Reply

  27. diane

    i can’t decide which is more magnificent . . . the foundation stitch or this one!

    thank you so much for opening our eyes!

    Reply

  35. Paula Matos

    Dear Tamara,

    this is really great! Found you on Pinterest. May I show this method in German for my readers with my own fotos and words on my BLOG site?
    Of course, I will mention your site.
    Please let me know.
    Greetings from Germany,
    Paula

    Reply

  37. Jan

    Can you please tell me what wool was used in the standing stitch tutorial, looks like some sort if cotton yarn? Thanks x

    Reply

    • Tamara Kelly

      Hi Jan! It was Sugar’n Cream and Peaches ‘n’ Cream – I tend to use them interchangeably, they’re pretty much the same and each has colors I like. 🙂

      Reply

  39. Jan

    Ok thank you. I am making a 6ft x 6ft granny for my daughter and am now half way through. Started using the new stitch last night. So much neater and easier. Love it! x

    Reply

  43. beverly byrd

    I learned something new it will make my work look better. Never to old learn a new stitch 🙂 thanks

    Reply

  46. Anna-Lee Howard

    I love this! Is there a way to continue the next round in the same color without using a chain 3? I’ve been trying to figure it out but can’t seem to do it without having to use a brand new piece of yarn.

    Reply

  48. Cathy - ScrappinCat!

    OMGoodness! This is amazing. My mind is blown. Thank you so much for this and the chainless starting double crochet. Finding your awesomeness is just one more reason I love Pinterest. Thank you, thank you.

    Reply

  49. Anne

    That is really awesome, and I can’t wait to try it. I have always hated leaving that line in the rounds. I also didn’t like to re tuck my ends, now I can do it as I go and I know every thing I do will look better. Thanks so much for sharing this..it is very valuable to me!

    Reply

    • Tamara Kelly

      Wow, hi Edie! Um, gosh, I picked it up years and years ago, possibly through a link on Ravelry? And then I’ve seen a few videos of it over the years as well. Was it your invention? I’d believe it, it’s an amazing technique!

      Reply

  52. Edie Eckman

    I didn’t invent the technique–it’s been around forever. However, I think I named it. In my opinion, it’s easier to disseminate information if we can label techniques, and crocheters haven’t done a very good job of that.
    It does seem like the technique started being talked about more on Rav and other places once it got a name.
    Check out my “Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs” for more useful techniques for color changes, and “Connect the Shapes Crochet Motifs” for cool ways to join them.
    Beautiful tutorial, btw!

    Reply

  58. Donna Carlen

    I put a link back to your tutorial on my blog. I neither wanted to copy you, or reinvent what you’ve done so well. A lot of the ladies I have taught to crochet expressed their dislike of the chain 3 in rounds — and while I’ve explained to them that is the traditional way, following your tutorial provides an option.

    Thanks for the tutorial.

    My blog is meant to be an information tank for my students (and anyone who happens to find it). I don’t generally post links to tutorials, but this one seemed very useful.

    Reply

  61. Yanina

    Hola! Me encanto lo que muestra. Me podría decir que numero de aguja usa, el material de la misma y si es lana o hilo. Comencé a realizar crochet hace muy poquito y me encanta. Saludos!!

    Reply

  63. Nicky

    Thank you very much Tamara for the wonderful tutorials you have been sharing.
    Very helpful and easy to understand. God bless you and your family 🙂

    Reply

  68. Donna

    I’m having a hard time finding out what an air crochet stitch is and how to make it. I’ve been told you have a tutorial.

    Reply

      • Donna

        Thanks Tamara, I should have known. I’m so new at this I feel your site is where I live. You have the best teaching site in the whole world.

        Reply

  69. harriette white

    I looked and couldn’t find ant tutorial on a starting cluster, so guess what? I figured it out myself and it looks pretty darn good if i do say so myself! 🙂 thank for the tools.

    Reply

  70. Sarah

    Apologies if I’m asking a silly question, but I feel like I saw the answer somewhere… And now I cannot find it, which is bugging me!

    Is it possible to use some form of this stitch when you’re not changing colour/starting a new thread? So for example starting a round or row in the same colour and same thread but still getting that look of a double (or treble or etc) stitch instead of the telltale chain which tends to stand out to some degree depending on the stitch or wool.

    I hope this question makes sense. I love this idea – I really dislike the odd man out chain (OCD, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!) but I’d dearly love to be able to apply it to times when I’m not changing yarn as well as when I am!

    Reply

  71. Mika

    Thank you so much for this amazing kind of doing, it’s so simple and because of that a great idea! I’ve never seen this before. I love your blog, you have a lot of such great ideas.

    greetings from germany

    Reply

    • Tamara Kelly

      Hi Jenny!
      The “no sl st” refers to the sl st that is usually used to join the new yarn before you chain to create the “first st” of the round. It doesn’t refer to the sl st join at the end of the round. Sorry for the confusion!

      Reply

  73. Maryam

    That’s very lovely and neat! You chose really funky and beautiful colors!
    Thank you so much for an ADORABLE Tutorial.. BEST teacher is u! U, Tamara, U ♥♥

    Reply

  74. Amber N

    I love learning different ways to eliminate the starting chains in my crochet. Your videos are always clear and easy to follow!

    Reply

  76. Karen Wing

    I love that all of your tutorials are clear and easy to follow! I also love your patterns! Your blog is one of my favorites and my first stop for tutorials! Keep up the great work!!

    Reply

  79. Karen

    Thank you for a great tutorial. Thanks to your video I have finally marred the standing double crochet. Bye bye starting chain, whenever possible!

    Reply

  80. cathy Marshall

    I feel very strongly that you should get some sort of a prize or reward for this new technique. Maybe a Crochet organization wil pick up on this and you can be recognized! You know, years ago I had been doing somewhat of a new thing myself- a Foundation stitch but I never knew to show anyone. Keep up the great work! Cathy

    Reply

  82. Lana Fink

    Thank you for doing the demonstration for a left hander. I often feel some patterns need to be altered like front end posts when a lefthanded person is trying to follow a right handed pattern.

    Reply

  84. Nancy Spoolman

    I am fairly new at crocheting. I have been teaching myself to crochet since I retired in January 2014. I have done quite a few projects. Hobby Horses, Chicago Bulls graphghan (most challenging, I think). I had never heard for the SDC before, but it does make sense. However, I am so used to using the Russian Join or Magic Knot. I think the Russian Join is “cleaner” sometimes. Anyway, if you do use one of these methods, I’m assuming you would just do the Double Crochet for the first stitch.

    I love this pattern of the tree skirt. I was wanting to do a Bernat Blanket yarn, but I am terrible about trying to work a pattern with different yarn. If you have any ideas on how to do that, I would appreciate the help. For now, I’ll just continue using my favorite yarn, “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby.

    Nancy S.

    Reply

    • Tamara Kelly

      Hi Nancy! To substitute yarns, it’s best to stick with yarn is the same weight whenever possible. Alternatively, you can hold two or more strands of thinner yarn together as one! You could hold 2 strands of I Love This Yarn together to get the same approximate thickness as Bernat Blanket yarn. 🙂

      Reply

  85. M.D.

    Thank you for the great tutorials. The pictures are great and the instructions clear and concise. You make it a pleasure to try new stitches.

    Reply

  86. Lydia

    Thank you so much! You just saved my projects from looking tacky to looking fabulous! This is the best tip so far this year! Can’t wait to see more from you in the coming year! Again thank you!

    Reply

  87. Jen smith

    I’ve been crocheting for 50years and never seen this my mother taught me and she never did it mum was born in 1897 and taught herself to crochet while in service as a cook . I think it’s excellent .i will do this in future thank you for showing it love Jen England

    Reply

  89. Robyn

    Thanks for making such a clear tutorial, and EXTRA thanks for making a left-handed version. I just signed up for your newsletter.

    Reply

  90. Rico

    OMG! This is so amazing! Thank you so much for sharing it with the rest of us. Now I can see the world in different colours.

    A question; do you count this “standing stitch” as ONE DC stitch? I just wondered because I usually disregard ch3 (that’s how we learn in Japan where I grew up), but this standing stitch looks considerably thicker than CH3 that it’s hard to ignore it.

    Also, would you be able to show us, if possible in photos/a video, how to close the circle if we are to keep crocheting with the same yarn in the next row?
    Thank you so much, and good luck with the world domination!

    Reply

    • Tamara Kelly

      Thank you so much Rico!

      It’s so interesting how other countries do things! 🙂 Here, the ch 3 is usually counted as the first dc, so when you make a stdc it would count as the first dc of the row.
      I’m not sure what you mean by close the circle. You would work into the top of the stdc in the next row as if it were just another stitch. Going under the loops is a little fiddly, but then when you weave in your ends it’s locked down alright. 🙂

      Reply

  91. Kris

    This is brilliant! Your video was so clear and easy to follow, I can’t wait to start my next project and put this knowledge to use 😀

    Reply

  92. Tracey Wild

    Thank you so much. What a lovely tutorial! I am so grateful for skilled people who are willing to share their techniques and skills. I wish my granny was still around so I could show her this…she would have loved it!

    Reply

  93. Cindy

    Thank you for this step by step instruction.
    I have crocheted for years and have never heard of STANDING DC. until this year when I started SOPHIES UNIVERSE.
    I googled to learn what the instructions were talking about.

    Thank you for your help.

    Reply

  95. Pat Hollan

    I really appreciate this! When you spend your valuable time & money on crocheting you want it to be perfect! So thanks again!!

    Reply

  96. Lyn bown

    Thank you so much for this. I’m just starting a Zookeepers blanket and this will be really helpful. I’ve always hated how the chain 3 join looked – this is just perfect! x

    Reply

  97. Sue

    Someone recently “invented” that stitch? Yarn work has been around for millennia. I sure that stitch, and others, have been invented thousands of times over. Those who claim to have invented it should be given credit for thinking outside the box (or circle) . Nothing is ever new under the sun.

    Reply

  98. Ruth

    You show the standing half double crochet at the beginning of a back and forth row and when adding a new color. I need to know how to make one working in the round. Pattern called for this stitch at beginning of each round. Please help me.

    Reply

    • Tamara Kelly

      Hi Ruth! It’s the exact same in the round, just join to the loops at the top when you slip stitch, or work into them as you usually do if working in a spiral. 🙂

      Reply

  99. Kathy Cooper

    I have started the standing dc by using a slip knot and yo. But now I will try your way as well. Nope no one taught me that. I am self taught on most. I had to look at instructions to know what stitch I was doing because I didn’t know. I was taught how to crochet by making a beer can hat. No one told me how to really start a magic circle. The whole thing is done in dc and slip st.
    After many years I can now read patterns.
    Thank you again.

    Reply

  100. Cheryl

    Thanks for this tutorial, it will make my crochet projects much neater and easier! Your tutorials are always so easy to follow and I use them a lot! Thanks again!

    Reply

  101. Sharon Forakis

    I wanted to watch this tutorial, right handed. But it barely starts, goes to a advertisement, then starts over, so can’t see your tutorial, it’s done it over an over. It looks like it has worked before, with all comments on here. But not working for me now, I was doing leaping stripes and blocks hat an came to see tutorial, but not working for me. 12/16/2021 thanks, Sharon

    Reply

  102. Barrie Barrett

    Standing double crochet video…. Fricken brilliant! The only criticism I have is the video starts running and it ask next or stay… if you don’t press a button quick enough it goes to the next video….UGH!!!! With no way back. If I wanted to watch another video I would of clicked on a link for it. 🙁 took me several times of going round and round. Still brilliant

    Reply

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