Today I’m going to teach you a new technique that will eliminate the gap created by chain 3 turning chains and help you ditch the slip stitch joining method. Crochet standing stitches give you a quicker, cleaner yarn join that looks just like a normal double crochet. I’ll walk you through step by step how to do the standing double crochet stitch with both a written and photo tutorial for this useful technique but also a step-by-step video tutorial so no matter how you prefer to learn, we’ve got you covered.
Included in this post you’ll find a written and photo tutorial for this useful technique but also a step-by-step video tutorial so no matter how you prefer to learn, we’ve got you covered.
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Terminology:
This tutorial is written using US terms however, if you’re more accustomed to the UK terms, here is a quick conversion for you:
| US Terms | UK Terms |
| CH = Chain | CH = Chain |
| DC = Double Crochet | TR = Treble Crochet |
| DC Join = Double Crochet Join / Standing Double Crochet | TR Join = Treble Crochet Join / Standing Treble Crochet |
| SL ST = Slip Stitch | SL ST = Slip Stitch |
| YO = Yarn Over | YO = Yarn Over |
Materials Needed:
No special materials are needed to do the standing double crochet, just whatever yarn and crochet hook you’re using for your crochet project. Although I’m using King Cole Wildwood Chunky (available at your local yarn store or on Amazon) and a 5mm Furls Crochet Borealis Streamline hook in this tutorial, this technique can be used with any yarn weight and hook combination.
The Traditional Way to Join a New Yarn
In most crochet patterns that give the instructions “join new yarn to stitch X”, the designer expects you to join your yarn to the indicated stitch with a slip stitch join (sl st join).
After attaching your yarn with a slip stitch, you’d then have to create a turning chain to lift the yarn to the place you need it to be for the first stitch of the row. If your first stitch is supposed to be a double crochet stitch, then you’ll have to add a chain 3 (or sometimes a chain 2) turning chain to bring your working yarn to the right height before executing your double crochet stitch. But that slip stitch and chain 3 adds bulk that can make your join messy. The chain 3 can also cause an unsightly gap at the beginning of your row.
But now, you’re going to learn a better way. Enter the standing double crochet stitch.
This joining method is used when the first stitch of a new row or new round is supposed to be a double crochet stitch. This is also called a standing double crochet or a chainless join because it is considered to be a free standing stitch since it doesn’t require the turning chain.
Ways to Use the Standing Double Crochet
The standing DC is one of my favourite joining techniques and it can be used in a few different ways:
- It can be used to add and/or join a new color or new ball of yarn
- It can be used to join two crochet pieces of fabric together (like granny squares or adding a border to create a nice straight edge on a blanket for example)
- It can be used to add a standing double crochet to the surface of a fabric (like amigurumi) to avoid seaming and add detail.
While we will typically join our new yarn under both loops of the first stitch of a new row or new round, we can use this technique to join your yarn anywhere you would like. It doesn’t need to be limited to a full row of double crochet stitches, it can be used any time either the first stitch needed or starting stitch is a double crochet.
Learn The Standing Double Crochet With The Video Tutorial
Standing Double Crochet Photo Tutorial
Step 1: Place a slip knot onto your crochet hook.
Step 2: Yarn over (yo) and insert hook into the designated stitch (ST) you need to join to or in the place in your crochet project where you want to join your next stitch. Use your finger to hold down the YO so it doesn’t slide off the hook (first picture below).
Step 3: YO hook and pull up a loop. You should have three loops on your hook (second picture below).
Step 4: YO hook and pull the loop through the first two loops on your hook.
Step 5: YO and pull through the remaining two loops on your hook. Now you have completed your first double crochet!
After you have finished your dc join, you can continue on crocheting the rest of the stitches in that row/round as you normally would or as your pattern instructs you to.
Isn’t this such a great way to join a new colour and eliminate those bulky starting chains? And it looks just like a regular double crochet so no one would be able to tell the difference.
How to Join Two Pieces of Fabric Together With This Standing Crochet Stitch
When using this technique as a type of join for joining two pieces of fabric together, repeat step 2 – 4 into the next stitch and each stitch across or into the end of each row to join your fabric together until complete (see me join two pieces of fabric in the video tutorial).
I hope that you’ve found this tutorial helpful. There are other chainless joins that you can use to substitute in for other basic crochet stitches of different stitch heights. Check out my standing single crochet and my standing half double crochet tutorial (both video and photo tutorials). Check out all my available stitch tutorials here.
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