How to Double Crochet Left-Handed: Step-by-Step Guide

To work a double crochet (dc) left-handed, you hold the crochet hook in your left hand, tension the working yarn with your right hand, and work across each row from left to right (or clockwise when working in the round). While your physical working direction is the mirror image of right-handed crochet, the written stitch formula is 100% identical: yarn over (yo) from back to front, insert your hook into the next stitch to the right, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops remain), then yarn over and pull through the final 2 loops.

US vs. UK Terminology Note: This guide uses standard US crochet terms. In UK crochet patterns, the US double crochet (dc) is called a treble crochet (tr). See our US vs. UK crochet terms guide for full conversion charts.

Left-Handed vs. Right-Handed Double Crochet at a Glance

Before picking up your hook, it helps to see exactly what changes—and what stays the same—when you crochet left-handed compared to standard double crochet step by step instructions:

Step 1: Left-Handed Hook Grip and Yarn Tension

Getting comfortable with how to hold the hook in your left hand and feeding yarn smoothly from your right hand makes every double crochet stitch feel natural:

1. Hold the Hook in Your Left Hand: Rest your left thumb and index finger on the flat thumb rest (about 1.5 inches behind the hook throat) using either a Knife Grip (hand over the shaft like a dinner knife) or a Pencil Grip (holding the thumb rest from underneath like a pencil).
2. Tension the Yarn in Your Right Hand: Drape the working yarn (coming from the ball on your right side) over your right index finger, under your middle and ring fingers, and around your pinky. Your right middle finger and thumb will pinch the base of your crochet fabric just below the active stitch.

Step 2: How to Double Crochet Left-Handed (Row 1 & Row 2)

Follow these steps to work a left-handed double crochet swatch from left to right.

Working Row 1 into a Foundation Chain

1. Make a Slip Knot and Foundation Chain: Place a slip knot on your hook held in your left hand. Make a foundation chain of 16 chains. Notice that as you chain with your left hand, the completed chain tail extends to the right of your hook.
2. Yarn Over (yo): Bring the working yarn from behind the hook shaft, over the top of the hook throat toward you (2 loops on hook).
3. Insert Hook into the 4th Chain to the Right: Count 3 chains to the right of your hook loop (these 3 skipped chains count as your first dc). Push your hook tip from front to back into the center of the 4th chain to the right.
4. Yarn Over and Pull Up a Loop: Wrap the yarn from back to front over the hook and draw a loop back through the chain to the front (3 loops on hook).
5. Yarn Over, Pull Through 2 Loops: Yarn over from back to front and draw the hook leftward through the first 2 loops on your hook (2 loops remain).
6. Yarn Over, Pull Through the Last 2 Loops: Yarn over once more and draw through the remaining 2 loops on your hook (1 loop remains). You have completed your first left-handed double crochet!
7. Continue Left to Right Across the Chain: Work 1 dc into each remaining foundation chain moving from left to right until you reach the slip knot at the far right end (14 dc total, including the initial skipped 3 chains).

Turning and Working Row 2 (Left to Right)

1. Turn and Chain 3: When you reach the far right edge of Row 1, flip your work over like turning the page of a book so the unworked stitches once again sit to the right of your hook. Work 3 chains (ch 3) as your turning chain.
2. Skip the First Stitch at the Base of the Ch 3: Because the ch 3 sits directly on top of the first stitch on the left edge, skip that very first stitch and insert your hook under both top V-loops of the second stitch to the right.
3. Work Across to the Right Edge: Work 1 dc into each stitch moving from left to right, placing your final double crochet of the row into the 3rd chain (top chain) of the previous row's turning chain.

The #1 Left-Handed Mistake: Yarn Over (YO) vs. Yarn Under (YU)

When learning from right-handed videos or mirrors, many left-handed beginners accidentally wrap the yarn under the hook throat (from front to back) instead of over the top (from back to front).

• Correct Left-Handed Yarn Over (YO): The yarn travels behind the hook shaft, crosses over the top toward your chest, and catches inside the throat.
• Accidental Yarn Under (YU): The yarn passes underneath the belly of the hook first and wraps away from you. In double crochet, yarning under twists every loop, makes pulling through two loops stiff and catchy, and noticeably tightens your stitch gauge compared to the pattern's target measurements.

How to Read Written Patterns and Symbol Charts Left-Handed

One of the biggest myths in crochet is that left-handed makers need special "left-handed patterns." For nearly all standard row-by-row blankets, scarves, granny squares, hats, and sweaters, you follow standard written patterns word for word without changing a single stitch.

1. When Written Patterns Need Zero Changes

Whether a pattern says "Row 2: Ch 3, *1 dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st*; repeat from * across" or "Rnd 3: *Ch 2, 3 dc in next ch-sp* around", your stitch count, shaping, and texture will turn out identical to a right-handed crocheter's project. Your work is simply a mirror image—which is completely invisible on symmetric pieces.

2. The Only 3 Times Left-Handed Crocheters Need to Adjust

1. Asymmetric Garment Panels (Left Front vs. Right Front): Because you work in the mirror direction, a cardigan pattern's "Left Front" shaping will naturally become your "Right Front" (or buttonhole band) if worked as written. Check whether buttonholes or diagonal necklines need to stay on a specific side of the body.
2. Tapestry & Intarsia Colorwork Graphs (Worked with Words/Letters): If a graph blanket spells out a word or asymmetric image:
   • Right-handed crocheters read Row 1 (RS) from Right to Left (←) and Row 2 (WS) from Left to Right (→).
   • Left-handed crocheters must read Row 1 (RS) from Left to Right (→) and Row 2 (WS) from Right to Left (←) so letters do not print backward!
3. Crochet Symbol Charts (Flat Rows vs. In the Round):

• Flat Row Symbol Charts: Locate Row 1 at the bottom of the crochet symbol chart. Read odd rows (Row 1, 3, 5) from Left to Right (→) and even rows (Row 2, 4, 6) from Right to Left (←)—or flip the chart image horizontally in your phone's photo editor so the row numbers match your exact hand direction.
• Circular Round Symbol Charts: Right-handed charts are drawn to be read counterclockwise. As a left-handed crocheter, your stitches travel clockwise (↻) around the center ring—so read each round of the chart clockwise.

How to Translate Right-Handed Tutorials and Photos

Whenever you read a right-handed stitch tutorial or watch a right-handed video, use these three quick translation rules:

1. Swap "Right" and "Left" Spatial Cues:
   • When a right-handed tutorial says "insert your hook into the space to the right of the post" (for example, in front post double crochet), insert your hook into the space to the left of the post and exit on the right.
   • When a tutorial says "skip the stitch to the left of your turning chain", skip the stitch to the right of your turning chain.
2. Never Swap "Front" and "Back":
   • Front Loop Only (FLO), Back Loop Only (BLO), Front Post (FPdc), and Back Post (BPdc) mean the exact same thing for left-handed and right-handed crocheters! "Front" always means the side of the fabric facing you; "Back" always means the side facing away from you.
3. Flip Right-Handed Videos and Diagrams Instantly:
   • For step-by-step photos, save the image to your phone or tablet and tap Flip Horizontal in your photo app—a right-handed photo immediately becomes a true left-handed photo.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)