Having trouble keeping your rectangle straight when working in the round? Does your crochet rectangle always end up looking more like a wavy oval than a neat, solid shape?
I didn’t like crochet rectangles just because the joining in the round part was confusing for me and turned out sort of ugly. But, here I found a method which works for me.
I’ll show you step-by-step how to crochet a solid double crochet rectangle with clean edges and perfectly sharp corners.
Materials You’ll Need:
Worsted weight yarn (or any yarn with good stitch definition)
Suitable crochet hook (check yarn label)
Stitch markers (optional but helpful for beginners)
Scissors
Tapestry needle (for weaving in ends)
Crochet Abbreviations Used
If you’re new to crochet, here are the abbreviations used in this tutorial:
Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
ch | chain |
dc | double crochet |
sc | single crochet |
sl st | slip stitch |
st(s) | stitch(es) |
rnd(s) | round(s) |
yo | yarn over |
sp | space |
pm | place marker |
✅ Tip: U.S. terms are used in this tutorial.
Why Is My Crochet Rectangle Warped?
If your double crochet rectangle ends up crooked, has rounded corners, or starts shrinking or flaring at the edges, it’s usually because of:
Incorrect stitch placement in the corners
Skipping or adding stitches on the sides
Confusing turning chains
Not joining correctly at the end of the round
This method solves all of that!
Crochet Rectangle Pattern
1. Create the Foundation Chain
Start with a slipknot and chain 10 + 1 extra chain.
The extra chain will help us make a clean beginning with what I call a “fake double crochet.” This technique avoids that awkward bump caused by a typical chain-3.
Begin the First Round
In the second chain from the hook, make:
1 single crochet, then chain 2 (this counts as your first “fake” double crochet)
2 more double crochet in the same stitch
Place a stitch marker in the first fake dc. This will be your first corner.
Tip: Marking your corners makes it easier to track where increases go!
Now make 8 double crochet, one in each chain, until the last chain.
Add the Corner Increase
In the last chain, make 7 double crochet.
Mark the third of these stitches as your second corner, the fifth as the third corner.
4. Work the Other Side
Crochet back along the opposite side of the chain, working 8 double crochet.
In the final stitch (where we started), add 4 more double crochet to complete the round.
Joining the Round (Invisible Seam)
To keep your rectangle looking neat:
Find the top of your chain-2 (from your fake double crochet).
Insert your hook from back to front through that top chain.
Pull the working loop through to the back.
Now insert the hook from front to back through the same space and start the next round by making fake double crochet.
This eliminates that messy chain gap and gives you an invisible join!
Rounds 2:
Each corner should always have:
5 double crochet in the same stitch
(you’ll always increase in the marked center stitch)
Each side will grow by 4 stitches every round (2 new stitches on each short edge).
Keep working in rounds:
Double crochet in each stitch across the sides
Make 5 double crochet in each corner
Join the round as shown above using the invisible join
Mark the new corner stitch each time
How to Keep Track of Your Rounds
Let’s say you started with 8 stitches per longer side and 1 per shorter:
Round 2: 8 + 4 = 12 (between markers), 1+4 = 5 (between markers)
Round 3: 12 + 4 = 16 (between markers), 5 + 4 = 9 (between markers)
And so on…
Watch the YouTube Video Tutorial:
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