The treble crochet stitch—also known as the triple crochet—is one of the tallest and most open stitches in crochet. If you're looking to create light, airy fabric with beautiful drape and definition, learning the treble crochet is a must. In this guide, we’ll explore how to treble crochet step-by-step, share tips for keeping your stitches even, and inspire ways to use it in your next creative project.
The treble crochet (abbreviated as tr or tc) creates long, elegant stitches with more height than a double crochet. It’s a favorite among crocheters who want to create openwork designs, lightweight garments, or projects with beautiful flow. Because of its tall structure, the treble crochet works up quickly and adds texture and style to any piece.
The treble crochet stitch is an essential addition to your crochet toolkit because it offers several creative advantages:
Whether you’re experimenting with filet crochet, shell stitches, or designing a breezy summer top, the treble crochet has you covered.
To get started, you’ll need the following:
Begin by creating a slip knot and placing it onto your crochet hook. Tighten it just enough so it slides easily along the hook.
Next, make a foundation chain by yarn over (yo) and pulling through the loop on the hook. Repeat this process until you have the desired number of chain stitches. For this demonstration, I have made 12 chain stitches. You will want to add 4 to the number of stitches you’d like your final piece to be across.
Before inserting your hook, yarn over (yo) twice. This extra yarn over is what gives the treble crochet its height.
Insert your hook into the fifth chain from the hook (this counts as your first treble crochet when working in rows).
Yarn over and pull up a loop. You should now have four loops on your hook.
Yarn over again and pull through the first two loops on your hook. You will now have three loops remaining.
Yarn over and pull through the next two loops. You will now have two loops remaining.
Yarn over once more and pull through the remaining two loops on your hook. You have completed a treble crochet stitch!
Repeat steps 3-8 across the row until you reach the end. When you reach the end of the row, you can chain four and turn your work to begin a new row of double crochet stitches. Alternatively, if you’d like straighter edges and feel ready to learn another technique, you can try the stacked single crochet (stsc) instead of chaining four!
Here is how the treble crochet stitch looks after 3 rows:
Treble crochet can look a little wild at first due to its height, but these tips will help you master it:
Treble crochet has a learning curve. Here are some common problems beginners face—and how to fix them:
Treble crochet opens the door to a wide variety of creative designs. Try incorporating it in:
You can also combine treble crochet with shorter stitches like single or double crochet to create wave patterns, shells, and texture-rich rows.
Treble crochet isn’t just for working in rows. It’s also fantastic when used in the round, especially for creating:
When working treble crochet in the round, be mindful of your increases to keep your circles flat and symmetrical.
The treble crochet stitch is a beautiful, versatile technique that adds height, texture, and flow to any crochet project. Whether you’re aiming for elegant lacework, airy shawls, or bold patterns, the treble crochet delivers impact and speed.
With a little practice, you’ll feel confident incorporating this stitch into your projects and exploring even more advanced variations. Don’t be afraid to play with tension, color changes, and stitch combinations—you’ll be surprised how dynamic your designs can become.
Looking for more crochet tips and tutorials? Follow the quick links below for other beginner stitches or head straight to the full techniques page of my website!
How to Do a Half Double Crochet
