Step 1.
When you begin working a row you will count chains or stitches starting at the crochet hook and counting away from it. If your project says to double crochet into the 4th chain or stitch, than you count the chain closest to the hook as 1 and go to the 4th one.

Step 2.
For basic double crochet, begin by putting your yarn over your hook, then send your hook through the fourth chain from the hook. The first three chains that you skipped will count as a first double crochet stitch even though you did not stitch one yet.

Beginner's Informational Tip
When sending your crochet hook through the chain, you can send it through both the top loop and the back ridge of the chain or just the back ridge. In our photo example, we sent it through the top loop and the back ridge. (Look at your chain and see that it actually consists of 3 strands of yarn, the two most obvious loops that form the V looking chain and one strand behind them. Insert your hook under the top loop that forms the left most side of the V and under the ridge that is behind the V as shown in the photo or you can insert the hook in just the back ridge loop.)

Step 3.
Put your yarn over the crochet hook by holding the yarn still and moving your needle under the working yarn from front to back. This is called "yarn over" and is usually abbreviated; YO

Step 4.
Pull your crochet hook, with the yarn hooked onto it, through the chain loops only. You should now have three loops left on your hook, the one you started with and two new ones.

Step 5.
Put your yarn over the crochet hook again and pull the crochet hook and yarn through two loops this time.

Step 6.
Now there will only be two loops on the crochet hook.

Step 7.
Put your yarn over the crochet hook again and pull the crochet hook and yarn through the last two loops this time.

Step 8.
Now there will only be one loop on the crochet hook. You have now completed your first dc (double crochet) stitch.

Step 9.
Follow steps 2 through 8 from right to left across the whole first row. When you have completed the dc stitch in the last chain, make three additional chain stitches.

Step 10.
Now turn your work around. The top ridge of your dc work will look like a chain with two sides or loops in kind of a V shape. Work across from right to left making one dc in the top of each double crochet from the previous row. Unless stated differently in a pattern you are using, your hook should be inserted under both loops along the top ridge.

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