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The Half Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial, with photos from Caitlin’s Contagious Creations. This beginner level stitch is a must know for many crochet patterns! The half double crochet is a basic crochet foundation stitch that’s an essential skill for all crochet enthusiasts.
The Yarn and Hook
The half double crochet stitch can be completed with any size yarn or hook. You will find it in patterns calling for super bulky yarn and a bigger hook, like the one I tweak here when I give Huggy Bunny a tail!
You will also find patterns with smaller hook and yarn sized using this stitch. Even work as fine as a doily uses the half double crochet stitch.
When practicing your stitch, especially is you are newer to crochet I recommend using a hook size of H8 or I9. These are common hooks sizes for many types of projects, but best of all…You’ll be able to see your stitches with these hook sizes. Which is very important when you are learning! 🙂
Click Here to Get Personalized Hooks Like Mine on Etsy!!
As for a practice yarn I suggest something of a medium 4 aka worsted weight. I am working with Lion Brand’s Vanna’s Choice in Rose Pink (a discontinued color, but a wonderful yarn!!). This yarn is sturdy and bright, meaning I can easily see my stitches and it can ripped out a few times and reused before it starts to show wear.
About The Half Double Crochet
The half double crochet is a basic crochet skill that is a need to know for many crochet patterns. It is taller than the single crochet, but not as tall as the double crochet stitch.
The half double crochet is frequently tweaked to achieve new variations. Various textures and “looks” can be achieved by simply placing your hook in a new place in step 3.
The half double crochet is abbreviated as HDC in written patterns. The stitch symbol you will see in a chart for the half double crochet is below.
A row of half double crochet stitches is usually started with 2 chains to bring the hook to the proper height to work the rest of the stitches.
Learning the Stitch
Before we get to the stitch, you need to make something to practice your stitches. I suggest starting with a chain of 22. The first 20 of the chains will be worked with half double crochet stitches. Those last 2 chains, the 21st and 22nd, count as your turning chains.
Click here for a tutorial on the Chain Stitch.
Step 1. Chain 22 and work your first half double crochet into the 3rd chain from your hook.
Step 2. Yarn Over (YO).
Step 3. Insert your hook in the stitch to be worked and YO.
Step 4. Pull up a loop through the stitch. You should have 3 loops on your hook.
Step 5. YO and pull the yarn over loop through all 3 loops on your hook.
You’ve Done It!! Congratulations on making your first Half Double Crochet stitch! Keep working steps 2 – 5 in each stitch across until you reach the end of the row.
At The End of The Row…
When you get to the end of the row and there are no more stitches to work into…
Chain 2. These are your turning chains. They bring your yarn up to the working height of the stitches you are about to do in the next row; in this case, a half double crochet stitch. Most patterns will tell you how many chains to work at the end or beginning of a row.
Then flip the right edge (assuming you are right handed) of your work horizontally, so what was the back becomes the front.
Now you are ready to work across the next row!
Notice, when I flipped my swatch, the top and bottom edges of my work stayed as they were. The top is still the top, and the bottom is still the bottom. The right and left edges of my work have switches places.
When working the first stitch of a new row (any new row and any stitch) you can work it 1 of 2 ways…
Option 1
Insert your hook in the actual first stitch, this is the stitch at the base of the chains you’ve made
When you work your first stitch in that first space your work will look like this…
Option 2
Insert your hook in the second space from the hook
When you work your first stitch in the second space you work will look like this…
For the second option, the chain 2 counts as your “first stitch”. This means at the end of your next row, you will by working a stitch into the top chain of that “first stitch”.
Practice Both Options!!
I would recommend practicing both ways because some designers use option 1 (like myself) and other designers will use option 2. It should be evident in the pattern notes which option to use for a pattern, most designers tell you whether the chains at the beginning of a row count as a stitch or not.
Keep Practicing! And remember to be patient with yourself. If you are new to crochet, it may take some time before you start to see your stitches.
When you are ready give my Easy Ice Pop Cozy crochet pattern a try! It is the perfect practice pattern for a half double crochet!
Once you have mastered the half double crochet, keep learning with the Double Crochet Stitch or the Front and Back Post Double Crochet Stitch!
Want to learn more beginner stitches and skills? Sign up for my FREE “Crochet for Beginners” email course!!
Happy Hooking!!
Thank you for sharing the tutorial at The Really Crafty Link Party. I love your hooks, by the way!
Teresa, Thank you for commenting and for the compliment! 🙂 ~Caitlin
Thanks for the tutorial! Pinning.
Michelle, Thanks for the comment and the Pin! ~Caitlin