Treble crochet and taller stitches

Making the stitch

The turning chain for treble is traditionally chain 4, counting as the first stitch. Because the stitch is so tall, the gap at the turning chain is more visible than with shorter stitches, which is one reason many patterns use a chain 3 that does not count and work the first treble into the first stitch instead.

The family of tall stitches

Each extra yarn over adds one loop to the hook and one pull-through at the end. If a pattern asks for a quadruple treble in a lace edging, you now know it means five yarn overs and six pull-throughs, even if you have never seen one.

Where treble is used

• Lace, where the height creates open space between stitches
• Shawl borders and fans, where a tall stitch spreads into a wedge shape
• Filet crochet, where trebles and chains make a grid
• Quick blankets in bulky yarn, where the height covers ground fast
• Post stitches and cables, where a tall post is easier to wrap around

Treble fabric is very open and has little structure. It stretches lengthwise under its own weight, so a garment made entirely of treble will grow, especially in cotton. Patterns use it deliberately where openness is the point and pair it with shorter stitches where the piece needs to hold its shape. The Tidewater Shawl is a good example: a plain double crochet body with a treble-based wave border that opens up when blocked.

Post stitches

Once you can make tall stitches, post stitches follow naturally. Instead of inserting the hook under the top loops, you insert it around the vertical post of the stitch below, either from the front (front post, fpdc or fptr) or from the back (back post). The stitch sits raised on one side of the fabric. Alternating front and back post double crochet makes the ribbing on many hat brims, and crossing post stitches makes cables. Treble posts are longer and easier to work around, which is why cable patterns often use them.

A practice swatch

Chain 18. Treble in the fifth chain from the hook and in each chain to the end: 15 trebles including the turning chain. Chain 4, turn, skip the first stitch, treble in each stitch across, working the last one into the top of the previous turning chain. Four rows will show you how tall the fabric grows and how much light comes through. Then try a row where you alternate a front post treble and a back post treble across, and see the ribbing appear.

With the basic stitches in hand, the next thing to learn is how projects start when they are worked in the round: the magic ring.