If you haven’t yet mastered starting crochet stitches, now is the time. I use them in almost every pattern now because they are so much better than turning chains. Are you ready to ditch turning chains?

Here are the benefits of using starting treble/ double crochet stitches over turning chains:

• They create a thicker first stitch which is more substantial.
• The thicker stitch stops the big hole from forming on the edge of your work.
• The top of the stitch is really easy to work back into, whereas, the final turning chain can be fiddly to try to get a hook through.
• No confusion with stitch counts. You use a starting stitch and mark it as your first and simply work into the next stitch.
• The edges of your fabric (if working in rows) are much neater.
• If you are adding a border to the edge of your fabric, the starting stitches offer very clear, repeatable places to put your hook through. With turning chains, it is often added into the chain space which can make the hole even more obvious.

Here’s how to crochet starting treble/ double stitches:

Step 1 – Pull the loop on the hook up a little, then double (single US) crochet in first stitch.

Step 1 continued – You have just made a starting dc (sc). The front of the stitch is made up of a V, which is not the same as the front and back loops at the top of the stitch just made.

Step 2 – Place hook through left leg of V on the front of the stitch just made, then yarn around hook.

Step 3 – Pull up a loop (two loops on hook), then yarn around hook.

Step 4 – Pull through one loop (two loops on hook), then yarn around hook.

Step 5 – Pull through both loops to finish the starting treble stitch.

Step 6 continued – You have just made a starting tr (dc). The starting treble/ double crochet stitch has a natural top of stitch which is easier to work into when you come to work it on the next row/ round.

Prefer a Video Tutorial?

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

Other useful tutorials

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

Patterns that use Starting tr/ dc stitches