Foundation Double Crochet Tutorial

Today I’m excited to share one of my favorite crochet stitches with you. The foundation double crochet or fdc is a way of working the “chain” and the double crochet at the same time. Which totally eliminates the need to make long chains and then work back into them.

For me, starting chains are usually the hardest part of a project-both as a designer and as a crocheter. As a crocheter they’re just a pain. My chains are my most inconsistent stitch-some too tight and some too loose. And it doesn’t seem to matter if I’m chaining 20 or 100+ I can’t get the count right. Just me?

As a designer, I’m usually working with measurements, so I need to crochet to certain widths. Well, reworking a chain over a dozen times does not make that fun. But using foundation stitches I can just pull out the few too many or keep going and add more. I don’t have to start all the way over again!

Another great part of fdc is that the bottom of the stitch looks like a stitch, so it’s easy to crochet into when adding borders or edgings to your work. So what’s not to love? Why haven’t we learned this one sooner? Honestly it can be a bit tricky. When I first learned them I had to keep looking it up. It takes a few stitches too before you can really “see” what’s happening. But that’s why I created this tutorial.

I made a Foundation Single Crochet Video last year that has been one of my most popular videos. It’s definitely a technique that improves your crocheting. So check it out and take the time to practice on your next project.

Video Tutorial

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Photo Tutorial

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Materials

For this tutorial I’m using Red Heart Amore yarn* in the color Chai and my Clover Amour Hook*. I sized up my hook to a 6.5mm (K) for this tutorial so you could see the loops more easily.

2. YO and insert your hook into the furthest chain from your hook.

3. YO and pull up a loop (3 loops on your hook).

4. YO and pull through one loop (3 loops left on your hook). This forms the “chain.”

5. Now you will complete a double crochet: yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on your hook).

6. YO and pull through last 2 loops on your hook (1 loop left on your hook). You’ve made 1 fdc and your starting ch 3 can count as your first dc (or not, depending on your pattern).

7. To make your next fdc, YO and insert your hook into the “chain” that you made (shown in Step 4), marked by the yellow yarn needle in this picture. It’s just under the normal dc. It helps to hold on to the spot as you work so you know where to place your hook.

8. YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through 1 loop (3 loops left on your hook).

9. Now complete the dc part: YO and pull through 2 loops, YO and pull through last 2 loops, 2nd fdc done.

Continue to repeat Steps 7-9 until your fdc is as long as needed.
One of the nice things about fdc is the bottom looks like the top of your stitches and is easy to crochet into!

Since I used a larger hook for the tutorial I worked up a few fdc with my 5.5mm Alpha Series from Furls*, which is more compatible with this yarn size. And it looks lovely!

Eccola! I hope this tutorial has helped you learn the foundation double crochet stitch. If you’re like me, you’ll have to look at it over and over until it finally sticks. And that’s ok, because it’s totally worth it!

No more fighting to work into those long blanket chains. Or counting hundreds of chains again and again-I always get a different number, how does that happen?!

If you already knew this stitch I hope this was a good reminder to use it. What is your favorite project to use foundation stitches on?

ChristaCoDesign