How to Crochet Straight Edges With The Double Crochet Stitch

Get that perfect straight edge is easier than you think when you are making a double crochet stitch.

Scroll down to learn two simple crochet techniques that will change the way you think about double crocheting.

Both the free step-by-step picture tutorials and the video tutorials are available below to use.

I hope you enjoy this easy stitch tutorial and can’t wait for you to find out how easy it is to get straight edges on your projects!

The Crochet Stitches You’ll Need to Know

You will need to how to double crochet and chain to complete these tutorials. I have a list of beginner crochet stitches you can look over if you’d like. Before we get to the tutorials I’d like to chat about each stitch.

First up is the double crochet! The double crochet stitch is usually one of the first stitches that beginner crocheters start their crochet journey with.

Be sure to check out the double crochet stitch video tutorial or the double crochet picture tutorial if you’d like a refresher course on this stitch.

Lastly, you will need to know how to chain. Chaining in crochet is simple to learn. Take a look at the all about chains video on the Easy Crochet YouTube channel (coming soon) to learn even more about this easy to crochet foundation stitch.

Ready to Get Started?

I hope you enjoy these tutorials about how a chain two and a chain three double crochets can change the way your project looks.

After you go over both double crochet tutorials below, please let me know which method is your favorite!

Have fun!

Double Crochet With a Starting Chain of Three and a Skipped Stitch

A double crochet row with the skip the first stitch technique is highlighted below.

• It starts with a chain 3, skipping the first stitch and then double crocheting in each stitch across.

You will notice the gap on each side of the rows, but you will have nice straight edges.

The Chain Three Double Crochet Method

Step 1: Start with a row of double crochets

Step 2: Chain three stitches. This chain three will count as a double crochet. See how the last double crochet and the chain three-line up?

Step 3: Turn your work, skip the first stitch. We are skipping this because we are counting the chain 3 as a stitch. If we crochet into that first stitch that would add an extra stitch to our row, so we will start our next double crochet in the stitch after the skipped stitch as shown below.

Step 4: Crochet a double crochet into each stitch across. You will be able to clearly see how double crochets line up with the double crochets from the row before. To make our row even we have one last double crochet to place as shown in the pictures below.

Step 5: Repeat steps 2-4 to continue this method of achieving straight edges with the double crochet stitch.

Double Crochet With a Starting Chain of Two

Another way to get straight edges is by using a chain 2 at the beginning of each double crochet row instead of the chain 3. Unlike the chain 3 method, you will not skip the first stitch when you are chaining 2.

The Chain Two Double Crochet Method

Step 1: Start with a row of double crochets

Step 2: Chain 2

Step 3: Turn your work, and double crochet into the first stitch as shown below in the pictures

Step 4: Crochet a double crochet into each stitch across.

Step 5: Repeat steps 2-4 to continue this method of achieving straight edges with the double crochet stitch.

Chain 2 Versus the Chain 3 Double Crochet Start

While both are nice and produce fairly straight edges when using the double crochet. The chain two, which is usually what I do in most of my free patterns and is what I recommend. But again it is up to you and your preference.

Which one do you prefer?

How to Get Straight Edges With The Double Crochet Stitch Video Lessons

Please let me know in the comments or in the Easy Crochet Facebook Group!

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