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Ready to learn a stitch that has more drape and give than a regular single crochet but still produces a thick and squishy fabric? Great! Let’s learn the extended single crochet.
Here you’ll find both written instructions and a quick photo tutorial that will get you started learning how to do an single crochet – extended style.
What is an extended single crochet?
An extended single crochet is a single crochet with a chain stitch added in there.
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To extend a single crochet, you start like a normal single crochet, but pull through only one loop on the hook, creating a chain stitch, then yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
How tall is an extended single crochet?
As you can imagine by the name, the stitch is taller than a regular single crochet.
You may be surprised to hear that it is also taller than half double crochets. The extra extension gives this stitch some height!
To start a row of escs, I like to chain 1, but you can also experiment starting with a chain 2 since it is a taller stitch. The chain 1 at the beginning of the row will not count as a stitch.
Where can I use extended single crochets?
You can use extended scs in any type of project but I think they work especially great for kitchen items and blankets. The fabric created is less dense than with a regular single crochet, but it is still solid and not full of holes.
Extended Single Crochet Tutorials
To get started, you will want to grab some yarn and a hook that is an appropriate size for your yarn.
For this tutorial I used Bernat Beyond Yarn in Cream which is a Category 6 Super Bulky yarn.
The hook is a Clover Amour size K/6.5 mm crochet hook which you can order right from Amazon. (I have a great review of these hooks if you’d like to read more about them.)
The finished swatch used a discontinued worsted weight yarn (category 4) and my Furls Odyssey Crochet Hook in size J/10, 6.0 mm.
Written Instructions
Chain any number of stitches
Row 1:
Insert hook into the second chain from the hook and pull up a loop. (2 loops on the hook.)
*Yarn over and pull through 1 loop on the hook. (You’ve created a chain stitch and still have 2 loops on the hook.)
Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook to finish the stitch.
Insert hook into the next stitch, repeat from * to the end of the row.
Row 2:
ch 1 (turning chain-does not count as a stitch),
*insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop (2 loops on the hook.)
Yarn over and pull through 1 loop on the hook. (You’ve created a chain stitch and still have 2 loops on the hook.)
Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook to finish the stitch.
repeat from * to the end of the row.
TIP: at the end of the row, try working the last stitch into the turning chain instead of the esc to get a smoother edge.
Esc Tutorial – Right Hand
Insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop.
Yarn over and pull through one loop on the hook instead of both loops like a normal single crochet.
To finish the stitch, yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
Repeat the same steps in next stitch
Esc Tutorial – Left Hand
Insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop.
Yarn over and pull through one loop on the hook instead of both loops like a normal single crochet.
To finish the stitch, yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook.
Repeat the same steps in next stitch.
Stay tuned for some great new patterns featuring the extended single crochet stitch. To make sure you never miss a new pattern or tutorial, scroll back up and sign up to be included with thousands of other crocheters on the Stitching Together email list.
Don’t miss these other great tutorials:
Once you’ve learned this stitch will you share pictures of your swatch or how you used the stitch? You can do that in the following ways:
- TagStitching Together on Instagramwith @stitching_together and use the #stitchingtog
- Upload your picture in theTried It section of this pin
- Share your work in theStitching Together Community.
