Double Treble Clusters (dtrcl or dtr3tog) are not the kind of stitch that you will come across often, but when you do, you might have a little panicky moment.

They are, in fact, extremely straightforward.  You are basically making 3 partial double trebles, each in a subsequent stitch, and then completing them by pulling through all the loops on your hook.  It might make it easier for you to understand the stitch if you realize that it is just another way of saying dtr3tog (double treble 3 together).  Put another way, you are turning 3 dtr’s into 1 stitch.

These stitches are perfect for making petals or leaves in squares and mandalas.

Double Treble Clusters {Dtrcl/Dtr3tog} Photo Tutorial

Please Note:  US Terminology used.  This dtr cluster (or dtr3tog) is the equivalent of a UK triple treble cluster.

Initial Double Treble Cluster

Written Instructions

To make the initial double treble cluster at the beginning of a row/round, ch 5.  This ch-5 will count as your first dtr.

Yarn over 3 times.  Insert your hook into the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop.  You should now have 5 loops on your hook.  *Yarn over and pull through 2 loops* three times.  You should now have 2 loops on your hook.  One of these loops will be the last ch from the ch-5 and one will be the last unworked loop of the dtr.

Yarn over 3 times, insert your hook into the next st and pull up a loop {6 loops on hook}.  *Yarn over and pull through 2 loops* three times.  You should now have 3 loops on your hook.  Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.  This is your initial dtrcl completed (see photo collage below).

Dtrcl’s will usually have 2 or more ch st’s between them to make up for the fact that you are turning 3 stitches into 1 stitch.  The amount of ch st’s needed will be specified in individual patterns.  For this illustration I have used 5 ch st’s between clusters.

Subsequent Double Treble Clusters

Whenever you are making a dtr cluster in the middle of a row/round, you will need to make them as instructed below.

Written Instructions

Yarn over 3 times.  Insert your hook into the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop {5 loops on hook}.  *Yarn over and pull through 2 loops* three times.  You should now have 2 loops on your hook (one loop from the first dtr and one loop from the last st made).

Yarn over 3 times.  Insert your hook into the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop {6 loops on hook}.  *Yarn over and pull through 2 loops* three times.  You should now have 3 loops on your hook (one loop from each dtr and one loop from the last st before the dtrcl).

Yarn over 3 times.  Insert your hook into the next st, yarn over and pull up a loop {7 loops on hook}.  *Yarn over and pull through 2 loops* three times.  You should now have 4 loops on your hook (one loop from each dtr and one loop from the last st before the dtrcl).

Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops.  This is your subsequent dtrcl completed (see photo collage below).

Double Treble Cluster in the Same Stitch/Space

You will notice that the dtr3tog clusters have a triangular shape, caused by making the cluster over 3 st’s.

If you make all 3 st’s of the cluster in the same stitch or space, you will get more of a teardrop shape (see below).  Although this stitch is also called a cluster stitch, it is not a dtr3tog, because it is only worked into one stitch/space.

More Stitch Tutorials

• Double crochet cluster {dc3tog}
• Double crochet bobble stitch
• Popcorn stitch
• Linen stitch
• Treble cross stitch {K-stitch}

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Happy Hooking!