Extended double crochet (US extended single crochet) is a great stitch to learn when you are ready to move on from the basic crochet stitches.

It is very similar to double crochet (US single crochet) but the one extra step makes quite a difference to your crocheted fabric. It will have a similar with slightly more open stitches and loads more drape!

You will likely see it abbreviated to exdc or edc (US exsc or esc).

Follow the tutorial below and look for the photos that explain how to crochet it and the anatomy of an extended double crochet/ extended single crochet stitch in rows and rounds.

Here’s how make Extended double crochet/ Extended single crochet stitches:

Step 1 – Place the hook through the indicated stitch. This is at the top edge of the fabric and is made up of a front loop and a back loop and the hook goes under both. Then yarn around hook.

Step 2 – Pull up a loop. This is done by hooking the yarn that was just placed over the hook and pulling it from the back of the fabric, through the stitch and to the front of the fabric. This will leave you with two loops on your hook. Then yarn around hook.

Step 3 – Pull yarn around hook through 1 loop. This will leave two loops on your hook. Then yarn around hook.

Step 3 creates a large V at the front of the stitch.

Step 4 – Pull yarn through both loops to finish.

It is well worth looking at the anatomy of the finished stitch. It should have a large V and then a second, smaller v stacked on top of it.

As with most crochet stitches, they look completely different in rounds versus rows. See below for how the anatomy of each stitch differs in rows and rounds and what to look for.

Extended double crochet in rows has a right side row with two-stacked Vs and a wrong side row with an upside down V and a small horizontal bar above it.

Extended double crochet in the round looks like two-stacked Vs for each stitch. The bottom V is larger and dominates the look of the fabric.

Prefer a Video Tutorial?

If you would prefer a quick video tutorial, I have one here.

Other Useful Tutorials?

• Double Crochet (Single Crochet US) is here as a video tutorial, OR here as a photo tutorial.
• Half Treble Crochet (Half Double Crochet US) is here as a video tutorial, OR here as a photo tutorial.
• Treble Crochet (Double Crochet US) is here as a video tutorial, OR here as a photo tutorial.

Patterns that use Extended double Crochet/ Extended single crochet stitches