Is Single or Double Crochet Faster?

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In the world of crocheting, there exist many stitches, from basic ones like chain stitches to complex stitch designs like loop stitches. All forms of crocheting are time-consuming, but the degree varies with the styles used and what is to be made.

Different people have different tastes and have trained to use different styles depending on the need for crocheting.

Therefore, a person can learn how to crochet faster with the stitch type of their choice.

However, because there are different stitches in crochet, one might wonder if there is a specific stitch design that is generally easier and faster than others? Or does it all depend on the crafter’s skill and experience?

Before we get to single out the best stitch type, what influences a crafter’s speed when crocheting?

Factors to Consider for Speed While Crocheting

Muscle Memory

After practicing for a long time with a specific stitch, your hand muscles will get accustomed to the moves and you will often find working with that particular stitch pattern easier than the rest, even if there is a chance of learning new stitch patterns.

Practice, therefore, makes perfect, and using the techniques you have already mastered will prove to be faster.

Besides, if you use a stitch pattern you are not accustomed to, your crochet may look a bit uneven or wonky. It might also be time-consuming to learn the new stitches.

Number of Stitches

Using taller stitches can be a sure way to cover distance when performing crocheting tasks.

Using a double or a treble stitch can be equivalent to 2 or 3 stitches in single-stitch crochet.

However, tall stitches are not always the best since they often leave large holes in the finished piece.

Number of Yarn Overs

Crochet hook, chain of loops made of light green threads, straw basket with yarn

Depending on the number of yarn overs required to do a design, stitches with fewer yarn overs, like the basic stitches, are quick to complete compared to more intricate and textured designs that entail multiple sequential steps and increase the time necessary.

Although it might be time-consuming to do stitches with more yarn overs, they always come out thicker and better compared to those done with stitches with few yarn overs.

Is Single Crochet or Double Crochet Faster?

The double crochet stitch is faster and assures you a quick turnaround of tasks compared to the single crochet stitch. Additionally, the double crochet stitch is among the most basic stitch designs to learn, master, and make, all the more reason why it has a massive following.

How is a Double Crochet Faster than a Single Crochet?

Every basic crochet stitch has a pattern that enables you to hook more yarns over an already existing yarn to make a stitch. When doing the double crochet stitch, therefore, every double yarn created steadily gives a taller yarn that quickly rises and within no time, your task will be done.

When yarning with a double crochet stitch, therefore, you don’t have to worry about how long the task will take, or the height of the yarn. Once you are done with the first yarn stitch that dictates you to use the single-stitch pattern to form a backbone for your crocheting, all the other tasks will be as simple.

Besides, the double crochet stitch is a darling to most handcrafters, meaning that the technique is easy to master and build muscle memory.

The double crochet stitch is good at retaining a consistent tension, regardless of the type or thickness of yarn used.

A double crochet stitch also blends in easily with other stitches just in case you want to integrate two or more stitches.

Why is a Single Crochet Slow?

Based on the handling skills, a single crochet stitch should ideally be faster than a double crochet stitch because, unlike the double stitch, you won’t spend any time yarning over and pulling yarn strings through loops.

However, what consumes time is the creation of double or triple the number of rows in single stitches that could be sufficed by one round of stitch when working with a double stitch.

The idea behind this is that it is more time-conscious to work on a double stitch that may seem slow to do, than overworking on single crochet stitches that will take almost thrice the effort to make the same product. It will be time-consuming to work on individual stitches, as compared to working on a double row pattern.

hands of a woman holding crochet and jute thread and fragment of a knitted pattern.

How About a Treble Crochet?

As aforementioned, taller stitches are good at saving time. Naturally, therefore, you will ask yourself why this three stitches tall design is not the best at saving time.

Well, a treble stitch is not always the best because it involves many sequential steps compared to a double stitch crotchet, which will often leave the crocheter doubting if they got it right.

Treble crochet stitches need to be yarned over twice before the actual stitching, unlike the double crochet stitch that only needs to be a single yarn over, then you are set to stitch through.

The additional yarn over can be complicated enough to confuse even the experienced crocheters when going about the steps, as much thought needs to be put into the crocheting patterns.

The double crochet stitch, on the other hand, is the easiest to learn and master, and your muscle memory will even let you multitask, say watch TV, while on the job.

Is a Double Crochet Stitch Suitable for All Tasks?

Double crochets stitches are indeed fast, but you would be misguided to think that the double crochet is suitable for all crocheting tasks.

Depending on the task at hand, every task needs a specific approach to have a certain look. Based on the requirements for the desired look after the task, you might even have to switch in between stitch patterns to create visual interest.

Bear in mind, therefore, that different projects call for different approaches.

Closeup of hands crocheting a baby blanket

Conclusion

A double crochet stitch is faster than a single crochet stitch. The double stitch is more friendly to building muscle memory. It allows you to cover a wider task faster compared to the single stitch that needs undivided attention, yet it will take you about two or more stitches to cover tasks done by one round of a double stitch.