Linked Treble Crochet (US Linked Double Crochet)

Linked trebles are one of the more unusual stitches you will come across but once you've mastered it you will love the interesting effects you can get with this versatile stitch!

Traditional treble stitch has two main advantages: it's tall height mean that fabric worked in the stitch grows very quickly and it has more horizontal stretch than the shorter crochet stitches. However, the tall stitches leave big gaps in the fabric, especially when stretched. The linked treble stitch, retains the advantages but, because the stitches are attached to each other in the middle, stops the gaping between stitches; creating a quick growing, solid but elastic fabric.

Working linked trebles in the round into the back stitch only gives a lovely woven effect that looks very similar to a tunisian simple stitch on its side (but of course the resulting fabric is thinner and more elastic than tunisian crochet.)

Linked trebles have a strong line running across the row which creates visual interest and it is a great stitch to use with highly variagated yarns as these lines act like floats, showing off the variagation to its best effect. Try it with indy dyed speckled yarns ñ the hottest dye effect of the year!

HOW TO:

FOR THE FIRST STITCH IN A ROW OR ROUND:

Step 1: Chain 3, as you normally would for a turning chain for a treble.

Step 2: Insert your hook into the 2nd ch from the hook and draw up a loop (this forms the equivalent of the yarn over in a traditional treble)

Step 3: Insert your hook into the stitch and draw up a loop

Step 4: Yarn over and draw through the first two loops

Step 5: Yarn over and draw through the next two loops

FOR ALL OTHER STITCHES:

Step 1: Insert your hook into the horizontal bar  in the middle of the previous stitch and draw up a loop (this forms the equivalent of the yarn over in a traditional treble)

Step 2: Insert your hook into the stitch and draw up a loop

Step 3: Yarn over and draw through the first two loops

Step 4: Yarn over and draw through the next two loops

TOP TIP: If working in the round slip stitch at the middle of the stitch as well as at the top to stop it gaping on the seam.

TOP TIP: Working in the round with rightside always facing shows off this stitch best.