Lesson 7: How to Treble Crochet

The treble crochet is a tall stitch that works up quickly and a little taller than the double crochet.

Remember, you will never work in the first chain from the crochet hook, unless the pattern you are working specifically directs you to do so.

We will now begin working Row 1 of treble crochet.

WORKING ROW 1: How to Treble Crochet in Row 1

Step 1: First make a slip knot and chain 15 stitches loosely. Wrap the yarn around the crochet hook from back to front twice, skip the first four chains and then insert the hook into the fifth chain from the hook (see illustration 41).

Step 2: Bring the yarn over the crochet hook (from back to front) and draw it through the chain stitch and up onto the working area of the hook; you now have four loops on the hook (see illustration 42).

Step 3: Bring the yarn over the crochet hook and draw it through the first two loops on the hook (see illustration 43a).You now have three loops on the hook (see illustration 43b).

Step 4: Bring the yarn over the crochet hook again and draw it through the next two loops on the hook (see illustration 44a). Two loops remain on the hook (see illustration 44b).

Step 5: Bring the yarn over the crochet hook and draw it through both remaining loops on the hook (see illustration 45).

You now have completed one treble crochet; one loop remains on the hook (see illustration 46).

Continue working the 5 steps in each of the remaining chains across. When you have worked your last chain, count your stitches: there should be 12 treble crochets, counting the first four chains you skipped at the beginning of the row as a treble crochet (see illustration 47);

Turn your work counterclockwise and we will begin working row 2.

WORKING ROW 2: How to Treble Crochet in Row 2

To work row 2, you need to bring the yarn or thread up to the correct height for the next row. To raise the yarn, chain four (this is called the turning chain). The four chains in the turning chain just made count as the first treble crochet on the new row. Skip the first stitch and work a treble crochet in the second stitch (see illustration 48). Be sure to insert the crochet hook under top two loops of each stitch.

We will continue to work a treble crochet in each remaining stitch across the previous row; be sure to work the last treble crochet in the top of the beginning chain from the previous row. Stop and count your treble crochets; there should be 12 stitches.

You can continue practicing or fasten off.

FASTENING OFF

After the last stitch, cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch end. As you do when you take your crochet hook out for a break, draw the hook straight up, but this time draw the cut yarn end completely through the stitch. Pull the 6-inch end to close.