How To Make the Foundation Double Crochet Stitch

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Technique Tuesday – How To Make the Foundation Double Crochet Stitch

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Technique
Foundation Double Crochet (Fdc) Stitch

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What is it?
The Foundation Double Crochet stitch technique (abbreviated Fdc) is an alternative to the instructions at the beginning of a crochet pattern that tell you to chain a certain number of stitches.

This technique simultaneously creates a row of "chain" stitches AND a row of Double Crochet stitches (abbreviated dc) without making two passes. Basically, it takes the place of two rows of stitches: the "chain" row that makes up the beginning base and the next row of Double Crochet stitches worked into that row of chains.

As with our Foundation Single Crochet and Foundation Half Double Crochet tutorials, we are using " " around the word chain because this isn't REALLY a chain stitch but it LOOKS like a chain stitch when the stitch is completed.

Be sure to go check out our other foundation stitch tutorials:
How To Make the Foundation Single Crochet Stitch

How To Make the Foundation Half Double Crochet Stitch

Why Use It?
The primary reason we use foundation stitches like the Foundation Double Crochet stitch in our work is the elasticity or, more accurately, the consistent stitch tension, it provides at a hem, cuff, neckline or any beginning section of crochet stitches.

A crochet chain row tightens up significantly once the next row of stitches is worked into it because the loops of a crochet chain are made by pulling new loops through previously made loops. Since the chain loops are connected to one another this way, pulling on one of the loops by inserting a hook into the chain and making a stitch there tightens the neighboring loops. The result is a chain that is significantly shorter than we probably need and a fabric edge with little or no elasticity at all. And, unfortunately, even the almighty fix-all techniques in blocking will only get you so far… fibers only stretch so much before they are ruined or "killed" zapping them of all bounce and elasticity.

This unfortunate tightening of stitches doesn't happen when using the Foundation Stitch technique since the "chains" we make are connected to the stitch (Single Crochet, Half Double Crochet, Double Crochet, etc…) we create simultaneously on top of the "chain". The next "chain" we make is created by coming through the side of the previous stitch and does not affect the tension of the preceding or following "chains." 

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To Work Today's Tutorial
Here's a list of materials we used to make today's Foundation Double Crochet (Fdc) tutorial. While you can, of course, use any materials you have on hand, these materials listed are what we recommend you use while you are learning.

Yarn Used
CYCA 4
Worsted Weight, 100% Pure Wool

Hook Used
H-8/5.00mm Crochet Hook

NOTE: You can click on any of the photos in our tutorials to enlarge them for greater detail.

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Break It Down

1. Okay… so we've changed the First Double Crochet of our Foundation Double Crochet technique. Typically, this is where you would make a slip knot and chain 3 HOWEVER… in our quest to always make a cleaner stitch, we have come up with this alternative that we like a little better.

We call this technique the Knotless Starting Chain.

Start by wrapping the yarn tail first from back to front over your hook then…

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2. …pass the tail behind the working yarn (the end attached to the yarn ball or skein you are working from).

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3. Now my hands need to get into the picture here to show you how I tension the two yarn ends as I work the next few steps.

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4. Holding the yarn securely as shown, pinch the place where the tail crosses behind the working yarn.

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5. Yarn over…

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6. …and draw up a loop.

TAADAA!!

You'll need to keep the base of this Knotless Starting Chain secure by pinching it together until you work back into it and lock it in place but the results are clean and disappear completely when you weave in the tail.

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7. Yarn over and draw up another loop.

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8. Now we're ready to make the First Foundation Double Crochet stitch. Yarn over…

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9. …and insert your hook into the SECOND chain from your hook. That's the loop you are still pinching securely as shown in the photo. DON'T LET GO of that loop! Remember, it's not a regular slip knot start so there isn't anything holding it in place right now.

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10. Yarn over…

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11. …and draw up a loop.

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12. Yarn over and draw through one loop on your hook. Now you have made your first "chain" stitch.

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13. Yarn over…

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14.  …and draw through 2 loops on your hook.

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15. Yarn over…

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16. …and draw through 2 loops on your hook. And you've made your First Foundation Double Crochet stitch.

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17. Now we're going to go back and get rid of that first little cross we made with the tail and working yarn that we've been pinching together since the beginning.


As shown, grab hold of the tail and lightly pinch just below where the tail and working yarn first crossed.

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18. Now pull on the tail while holding the First Foundation Double Crochet stitch in place with your thumb and finger.

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19. And there ya go! It's completely gone! No know… no bump… that first little cross we made just vanished! Typically, we have a little knot there that we have to bury when we weave in the ends of our work. This way there is no knot to weave in and we like the clean look of the start of this stitch much better than a knot.

Note that what you are now seeing is the First Foundation Double Crochet stitch you just made as well as one chain stitch on the end of the row. You will see that stitch fade away once we work a little further down the line. Also, once the finished fabric is blocked, we have found that first chain is not noticeable at all.

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20. Moving on… let's make the next First Foundation Double Crochet stitch. Yarn over…

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21. …and insert your hook under the two loops of the "chain" just made.

Here we've twisted the bottom of that "chain" stitch toward the camera so you can see what the work should look like on your hook.

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22. Yarn over…

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23. …and draw up a loop.

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24. Yarn over…

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25. …and draw through 1 loop on your hook. You've made a "chain" here.

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26. Yarn over…

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27. …and draw through 2 loops on your hook.

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28. Yarn over…

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29. …and draw through 2 loops on your hook. Now you've made another Foundation Double Crochet stitch!

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30. Repeat steps 20–29 as many times to make the number of Foundation Double Crochet stitches indicated in your pattern. Pictured here, we've done 10 Foundation Double Crochet stitches.

TAADAA!!

A Final Word… Or Two…
As with all new skillz, the Foundation Double Crochet (Fdc) technique will take some practice. Be patient, practice, and compare your work with the photos in this tutorial. You will get it!


Thanks for dropping by for another Technique Tuesday! Our aim is to build the skillz of our FAB fiber community here on the web and it's always FAB to hear from you all that what we are doing is helping you and your fiber friends.

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Stitch On!
S&J

Oh hey… before you go… Here are a few more pages we thought you might be interested in. Click on any of the photos below… enjoy!

How To Make the Foundation Single Crochet Stitch

How To Weave In Crochet Ends

Filigree Leaf Crochet Tunic Pattern

Patterns, Books, Yarn, and Samples

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