Stitches

What am I doing wrong with my double crochet stitches?

I'm pretty sure I have the basic stitch down. But when I do the second row, the sort of upraised rib side alternates sides from being on the front or the back, but in the pictures I look at it seems to be consistent. What am I doing wrong? I feel like its probably has to do with what loop of yard i'm working back into but on youtube tutorials they only show you how to do it on the chain stitch. Also I learned on youtube and I don't know anyone who can crochet or knit to help me. Also, please use layman's terms because I don't understand the abbreviations.

Public Comments

1. Without watching you, it's hard to answer. You may need to ask someone in your area who crochets or try a different video that shows you more of the stitch. I've linked to a few others that could help, as well as some still-image instruction sites that could help. Also try buying a crochet magazine at the store. They often have instructions. A book from the library may be helpful as well.
2. It sounds like you are crocheting under the front loop only, The top edge of a finished row looks similar to your beginning chain a loop with what I refer to as a front and back leg. Insert your hook under both front and back legs (or loops), so you see two strands of yarn over the hook. Then do your stitch. Some patterns call for you to crochet under the front loop only or back loop only. When you crochet under the front loop on all rows, you get the ribs or ridges you describe -- looks kind of like a cupcake paper. Here are several websites that have tutorials which might help. http://www.nexstitch.com/Tutorials.html http://www.crochetcabana.com/tutorials/ http://www.crochetkitten.com/tutorials/workinginfblo.html http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/?q=crochet911.html#c14
3. You can see it done--at least a single stitch--at the Lion Brand Learning Center (link below). When you start the second row, the normal method is to chain 2 or chain 3 for the starting double crochet on that row. Then, you skip the stitch that the chain is attached to; it counts as the starting dc. Look at the next stitch. The top is made of two pieces of yarn or thread side by side looking sort of like a V. Nearly all the time, you will start the next dc by catching a yarn-over on your hook, placing the hook under BOTH the sides of the V, catching the yarn with your hook and pulling it through under the V. You will then catch a yarn-over and pull it through the loop that passes under the V plus the yarn-over on your hook. That will leave two loops on your hook--the loop you just made and the loop that was on the hook originally. Then you YO and pull through both those loops to finish the dc. Sometimes the pattern will call for putting your hook (with the yo on it) through just the BACK loop of the V. When you do a row that way, the front loops will form a little ridge on that side of your work. If you turn at the end of the row and dc into the back loops, the front loops will form a ridge on that side. If that's what you're talking about, the remedy is to go under BOTH the loops of the Vs. Sometimes the pattern will call for putting your hook (with the yo on it) through just the FRONT loop. Then you get the ridge on the back side. Sometimes your pattern may call for putting your hook under the front POST of the stitch--the vertical part below the V loops. Or perhaps the instructions will call for putting your hook under the back post. Those are techniques for later on, after you have mastered the basics. Nearly all of the BEGINNER patterns will use just the standard technique: put your hook through the stitch UNDER both sides/loops of the V that forms the top of the stitch in the row below.