3 Tips for the Perfect Double Crochet Three Together

Today I am going to share with you three tips for creating perfect decrease crochet stitches, like double crochet two together, double crochet three together, or single crochet two together. You may think that double crochet two together is a beginning crochet stitch. It’s true that it is a foundational stitch that everyone should learn. But learning how to decrease crochet with stitches like double crochet two together can be tricky. Fortunately, we’ve never been crocheting too many years to learn a new trick or two.

Why is This Important?

Decreases in crochet have several different uses. They can be used to decrease the size, width, or circumference of your project, like you would at the crown of a hat or to create waist shaping. The Ely Cathedral Pullover (which uses single crochet two togethers or sc2tog) is perfect for this technique. Decreases can also be used in crochet lace to create the lacy openwork patterns where the solid stitches expand and contract to create interesting patterns. The Morass Shawl and Salix Shawl both use decrease crochet stitches to create the lace design of the shawl. All of these patterns can be found in the Fall 2021 issue of Interweave Crochet.

Let’s look at the double crochet three together (dc3tog) stitch as it is used in the Morass Shawl. Here the decrease is used to create the point of the solid stitches of the lace pattern. It’s important to be able to create a crisp double crochet three together stitch in order to have a crisp lace stitch design. One thing you do not want is a gaping stitch at the top of your double crochet three together.

Single Crochet Three Together (sc3tog): [Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull loop through stitch] 3 times (4 loops on hook). Yarn over and draw yarn through all 4 loops on hook. Completed sc3tog—2 stitches decreased.

3 Tips to Create a Crisp Double Crochet Three Together Stitch

1. Pay extra attention to your gauge and keep your yarn overs and loops on your hook tight. When you are working a stitch with a lot of loops or where you are working into multiple stitches, it is easy to lose track of your gauge.
   
2. Take a look at your hook. On most crochet hooks the shaft widens. On stitches such as the double crochet three together, you will have more loops on your hook. Those loops will migrate up the shaft. As the shaft widens the loops will become wider, giving you a loose stitch. There are two ways to combat this problem. The first is to use a hook that has an even shaft. Tunisian crochet hooks work great for this. The other option is a little trick I learned from trial and error. As I add more loops to my hook, I use my thumb to hold them close to the hooked end.
   
3. You’re so close to the perfect double crochet three together. Don’t let your guard down yet. The multiple stitches that you have just decreased can still widen your stitch. Make sure to hold it tight while you work your next stitch.

Use What You’ve Learned

You’ve created the perfect single crochet three together! These tips can be applied to single crochet two together, triple crochet three together or double crochet four together decrease stitches.

Though decrease crochet stitches like double crochet three together are pretty easy to do, they can be more difficult to perfect. I used to dread them. Now I kind of enjoy these little shaping tools, and I love how they look in my Morass Shawl. So give it a try yourself–I know you have been eyeing this shawl. Get your copy of Interweave Crochet Fall 2021 with the Morass Shawl, Salix Shawl, Ely Cathedral Pullover and more today! And let us know if there is a particular pattern or crochet stitch you would like us to cover, in the comments below.

Happy crocheting,
Toni