How to Foundation Double Crochet (FDC) – Crochet Stitch Tutorial

Learning how to do the Foundation Double Crochet is one of the best stitches that you can learn as a crocheter! It will help to save you time when starting a new project and help add stretch when needed.

I also have a tutorial for the foundation single crochet and for the foundation half double crochet

What is Foundation Double Crochet?

Basically, when you crochet a row of foundation double crochet, you are crocheting the first row of chain stitches and the very first row of double crochet at the same time. This makes counting the stitches much easier than counting a row of chain stitches.

It also makes for a stretchier piece than regular chain stitches and double crochet. So, if you are making something like a headband or a hat and would like for it to have a little more stretch in it and not be so tight at the beginning where you start it. You can simply start out with the foundation double crochet at the beginning of the pattern.

This will also help with let’s say a blanket and you don’t want to maybe count out 110 chains and then have to work a row of double crochet back down across the chain stitches. You can simply foundation double crochet as many stitches as you need (it’s easier to count and easier to work with.) Plus, it kinda gives you an idea of how big your project is going to be without having to guess and pull out your whole row of double crochet and shorten your row of chain stitches. You can simply either add or take away a foundation double crochet stitch or stitches.

It will also be abbreviated like this FDC.

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How Can I Use Foundation Double Crochet in Any Pattern?

Basically any pattern that starts with a row of chain stitches and then a row of double crochet right into those chain stitches can be switched very easily for a row of fdc.

Here’s an example –

Say the first row of a pattern is this,

Row 1: ch 25, double crochet in the 3rd chain stitch from hook and in every chain stitch across (23)

The end stitch count is 23, so you will simply foundation double crochet 23 stitches and skip all the chaining and work the rest of the pattern as follows.

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Check out my other stitch tutorials!

• Foundation Single Crochet
• Foundation Half Double Crochet
• Waffle Stitch in a Square
• Bean Stitch
• Bobble Stitch
• Iris Stitch
• Puff Stitch
• Star Stitch
• C2C Moss Stitch

Stitch Key –

• ch = chain
• st = stitch (es)
• sk = skip
• dc = double crochet
• fdc = foundation double crochet
• sp = space
• yo = yarn over
• t = turn

Step – by – Step

Step 1: make a slip knot and ch 3

Step 2: yo and in the 3rd ch from hook, insert your hook, yo and pull up a loop. 3 loops on your hook

Step 3: yo, pull through 1 loop ( 3 loops on your hook)

Step 4: yo, pull through 2 loops, yo and pull through last 2 loops. 1 fdc made

To continue making fdc

Step 5: yo and insert hook in the bottom of the stitch just made (it will kinda look like a v)

Step 6: yo and pull up a loop ( 3 loops on hook)

Step 7: yo and pull through 1 loop ( 3 loops on hook)

Step 8: yo, pull through 2 loops on hook, yo and pull through last 2 loops. another fdc completed.

Continue repeating steps 5-8 until you have as many fdc stitches as you need.

I hope that you have found this tutorial helpful! I love to see what everyone makes using inspiration from my blog! Be sure to tag me @okiegirlblingnthings on Instagram so I can see!