Why you should really, really, really make a swatch first Calm a crazy yarn – If you’ve got a loud, variegated yarn in your stash that you totally hate, try double-stranding with a coordinating or neutral yarn.Make novelty yarns easier to handle – Novelty yarns catch a lot of flack, but there are times when nothing else will do… like, say, when you need to make a giant muppet-esque orange circle. It is really difficult to see previous stitches in the funkiest novelty yarns, so adding a plain yarn (in a similar color if you don’t want it to show) will allow you to count your stitches easily and place those increases in the perfect place.Add extra color and dimension– When Erin and I got up close and personal with NaomiRAG’s work, we realized she used double strand crochet to give her pieces more color and depth. It’s the perfect alternative to tapestry crochet, and I’m sure you’ll agree the end result is totally amazing.Create a stronger fabric– double strand crochet is perfect for items that need a little extra body, including baskets, potholders, or cozies (like the one I made for my Kitchen Aid mixer, because why not?).Forgetting to Rest – The increased thickness of the yarn will make hands tired, so be nice and give yourself a break here and there.Not keeping even tension – If you have one strand looser than the other, you’ll get bumpy loops all over the place.Don’t do it! You’ll totally see that wonky weak part every time you look at your piece. Dropping one strand – When you drop a strand for part of a stitch, you’ll be tempted to continue the stitch with both strands and pretend this little incident never happened.Try a couple different hook sizes to find the perfect look. Using a hook that’s too small – Working with a hook that isn’t big enough will crush your yarn and really put a stain on your hooking hand.Tangling Yarn – Keeping one ball on each side of you, like this cutie, will reduce the opportunities for knots and tangles.Common mistakes people make with Double Strand Crochet The technique is simple, but it may take some time to perfect the tension and check for mistakes. As you work each stitch, be sure you have equal tension on both strands and are pulling both strands through each loop. I’ve been working hard on a secret yarn-bomb project that involves a lot of different yarns and techniques (that will hopefully all come together in a beautifully cohesive display, right?), and one of my favorite is double strand crochet.ĭouble strand crochet is the same as regular crochet, but you’ll be holding two strands straight in your non-dominant hand instead of just one.