Linked double crochet and triad stitch tutorial

Linked stitches are an obsession of mine and here I'll be explaining how to do a linked double crochet stitch and the triad stitch. The reason why I think these stitches are fantastic is because they are opaque but fast, so exceptionally useful for crocheting a summer wardrobe. 
I love any crochet top really. but the reality is that I want to have a wardrobe that is functional, so the ability to grab something and wear it even to go in the office everyday. Opaque stitches are therefore something I need to use, and often they are either very slow growing or too think. 

With the linked double crochet stitch you can obtain an opaque fabric thanks to the fact you work double crochet that spans in between two stitches! The triad stitch is not opaque, and can be used in combination with the linked double crochet stitch to create some cute and interesting features in your garments. 

To follow the tutorials...

Skill level:

crochet beginners can follow this tutorial!

Materials:

To follow this tutorial, you will need any yarn and any hook size. I'll use the colour and yarn necessary to create the gauge swatch for the Meadows & Seagrass Cardigan, so sport weight yarn and a 4 mm hook

Stitches and abbreviations (US terminology):

In the following tutorial, we make use of:

• chain - ch
•  single crochet- sc
• yarn over - yo

Linked double crochet

Here I want to go through how to perform the linked double crochet stitch, in combination with single crochet. You can also use only linked double crochet stitches, however, I think you obtain the best results combining these two stitches together - and it also gets easier to work!

ch 16

Row 1: sc in second chain from the hook. Sc in each ch. 2 tc. turn. [15]

Row 2: linked double crochet row, that is:

Yo, insert the hook in the first st of the row. *Pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook). Yo, insert the hook in the next st. Pull up a loop (5 loops on the hook).

Yo, pull through 3 loops (3 loops on the hook). Yo, pull through 3 loops (1 loop on the hook). * This completes the first stitch.

Now, yo and insert the hook in the same st. Repeat in between ** until the end of the row. You have 14 linked double crochet stitches at the end of the row. In the final st of the row, place an additional dc. This final dc is to maintain the same number of sts.

Now, repeat Row 1 (as a simple sc row) and Row 2.

The final Fabric looks like this:

Details of the Magnolia and Oleander Top

Triad stitch

Here, we add to the set of rows we used before, also the triad stitch. Again, you do not have to combine it with other stitches. I just prefer doing so for ease and also for the look of it :)

ch 16

Row 1: sc in second chain from the hook. Sc in each ch. 2 tc. turn. [15]

Row 2: linked double crochet row, that is:

Yo, insert the hook in the first st of the row. *Pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook). Yo, insert the hook in the next st. Pull up a loop (5 loops on the hook).

Yo, pull through 3 loops (3 loops on the hook). Yo, pull through 3 loops (1 loop on the hook). * This completes the first stitch.

Now, yo and insert the hook in the same st. Repeat in between ** until the end of the row. You have 14 linked double crochet stitches at the end of the row. In the final st of the row, place an additional dc. This final dc is to maintain the same number of sts.

Row 3: sc until the end of the row. 2 tc. turn. [15]

Row 4: triad stitch row, that is:

Yo, insert the hook in the first st of the row. *Pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook). Yo, insert the hook in the next st. Pull up a loop (5 loops on the hook). Yo, insert the hook in the next st. Pull up a loop (7 loops on the hook)

Yo, pull through 6 loops (2 loops on the hook). Yo, pull through 2 loops (1 loop on the hook).* This completes the first stitch.

Ch 1. 

Now, yo and insert the hook in the same st. Repeat in between ** until the end of the row. You have now 7 stitches and 7 ch. In the final st of the row, place an additional dc. This final dc is to maintain the same number of sts. 

Now Repeat Row 1 to Row 4.  

Details of the Meadows & Seagrass cardigan

Video tutorial

If you are more of a visual learner, in this video, you can see me explaining the gauge swatch for the Meadows & Seagrass cardigan, going through the linked dc and triad stitch step by step:

To see what I'm up to you can follow me on insta at @o_layarn

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