Extended Double Crochet (EDC) Stitch: Step-by-Step Tutorial

By the DoubleCrochet Team | Last Updated: November 2026 | Skill Level: Easy / Confident Beginner

An extended double crochet (edc, exdc, or xdc) is worked just like a regular double crochet with one extra yarn over, pull through 1 loop step at the very bottom of the stitch (pull through 1, pull through 2, pull through 2 instead of pull through 2, pull through 2). That single extra chain built into the foot of the post makes the stitch slightly taller and more flexible than a standard double crochet—bridging the height gap between double crochet (dc) and treble crochet (tr) without leaving wide lacy gaps between posts.

(Terminology note: This tutorial uses US crochet terms; in UK patterns, an extended double crochet is called an extended treble crochet (etr or extr).)

Pulling through just 1 loop on the first pass builds a tiny chain-1 pedestal at the base of every double crochet post, adding height and fluid drape.

Quick Reference: Extended Double Crochet (edc)

What Is Extended Double Crochet (edc)? (The Anatomy of the Base Chain)

In a standard double crochet, you yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), and immediately pull through 2 loops twice. In an extended double crochet (edc), you pause with those 3 loops on your hook and work a single chain stitch into the first loop only before completing the rest of the double crochet.

Because that extra chain sits vertically at the bottom of the post:

• It adds a half-step of height: An edc stands taller than a standard dc but shorter than a treble crochet (tr), which requires two initial yarn-overs.
• It keeps the post solid: A treble crochet's double yarn-over creates a tall, spindly post that easily separates into wide holes. Because edc starts with only one initial yarn-over, the upper body of the stitch stays as compact and coverage-friendly as regular double crochet while the base chain acts like a flexible hinge.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Work the Extended Double Crochet Stitch

Step-by-Step Instructions for One edc Stitch

1. Yarn Over & Insert Hook: Yarn over (yo) once from back to front and insert your hook under both top V loops of the target stitch (or into the 4th chain from the hook on Row 1).
2. Pull Up a Loop (3 loops on hook): Yarn over and draw a loop up through the stitch. You have 3 loops on your hook.
3. Pull Through ONE Loop (Base Extension Chain): Yarn over and pull through only the first loop on your hook (the loop closest to the hook tip). Because you replaced 1 loop with 1 new loop, you still have 3 loops on your hook, and a small chain link now sits at the foot of your stitch.
4. Pull Through TWO Loops (2 loops remain): Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on your hook. You now have 2 loops remaining.
5. Pull Through Final TWO Loops (1 loop remains): Yarn over and pull through the remaining 2 loops on your hook. One extended double crochet (edc) is complete!

Working a 14-Stitch Practice Swatch (With Arithmetic)

Grab worsted-weight (#4) yarn and a 5.0 mm (H-8) hook to practice the 1 → 2 → 2 rhythm across flat rows:

• Foundation Chain: Ch 16 (14 target stitches + 2 extra chains for the starting ch-3 turning height).
• Row 1: Work 1 edc into the 4th chain from the hook (the 3 skipped chains count as your first stitch), then work 1 edc into each of the remaining 12 chains across. Turn.
  • Row 1 Arithmetic: 1 starting ch-3 + 1 edc in 4th ch + 12 edc across = 14 sts total.
• Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first stitch; or use ch 4 if your edc posts are very tall), skip the first stitch at the base of the turning chain, work 1 edc into the top V of each of the next 12 stitches across, and work 1 edc into the top (3rd chain) of the previous row's turning chain. Turn. (14 sts total)
• Rows 3–6: Repeat Row 2 four more times (approx. 4" wide × 3.75" tall, estimate).

Structural Comparison: Standard DC vs. Extended DC (edc) vs. Treble Crochet (tr)

Practical Use Cases: Fixing Short Row Gauge & True-Square Filet Grids

Use Case 1: Fixing Short Row Gauge Without Changing Hook Size

Have you ever swatched for a sweater pattern where your stitch width gauge matches the designer's (e.g., 14 sts = 4 inches), but your row height gauge is too short (e.g., 8 rows = 3.4 inches instead of 4 inches)?

• If you go up a hook size to make your rows taller, your stitches will also get wider, ruining your sweater width.
• The edc Rescue: Keep your exact same hook size (preserving your 14-stitch width gauge) and substitute edc for dc! That extra pull through 1 base chain adds the missing vertical lift to every row—a favorite trick when troubleshooting short rows caused by tight "yanker" tension.

Use Case 2: Making Filet Crochet Meshes Truly Square

In traditional filet crochet (3 dc solid blocks alternating with dc, ch 2, skip 2 open windows), standard double crochet stitches are slightly shorter than the width of 3 stitches, which squashes graphed hearts, letters, or motifs horizontally. Substituting edc for dc stretches each row vertically just enough to make every 3-stitch pixel a true square.

How Does edc Differ from Foundation Double Crochet (fdc)?

Because both techniques start with a yarn over, pull through 1 loop base chain, crocheters frequently mix up Extended Double Crochet (edc) and foundation dc (fdc). Here is the exact difference:

• Extended Double Crochet (edc — Used on Any Row): You insert your hook into the stitch of the row below, pull up a loop, and work the pull through 1 chain vertically into the foot of the post. On the next stitch, you insert into the next stitch of the row below.
• Foundation Double Crochet (fdc — Used Only on Row 1): You use fdc to replace the starting chain and Row 1 at the same time. To make the next fdc, you insert your hook into the base chain of the stitch you just made, building the row sideways in mid-air.

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting Fixes

1. Inserting Your Hook Into the Extension Chain Instead of the Top V

• The Problem: Because the pull through 1 step creates a visible chain link at the bottom of every post, beginners sometimes insert their hook into that lower chain link on the next row, which shortens the fabric and leaves a horizontal ridge.
• The Fix: Always insert your hook under the two top V loops at the very top crown of the edc stitch—just as you do on a regular double crochet.

2. Using a Short Turning Chain (Ch 2) That Pinches the Side Edges

• The Problem: Because an edc is taller than a regular dc, starting a row with a short ch 2 forces the first stitch of the row to crouch down, pulling the side edges inward.
• The Fix: Use a ch 3 turning chain (or a ch 4 turning chain if you crochet loosely), or work a chainless starting edc by pulling your starting loop up to full edc height before yarning over.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)