How to Crochet 8: The Half Double Crochet (Tutorial)

Yarn: Stich Nation Full O' Sheep in Clementine  Fabric: Alexander Henry Mushroom City in Yellow

I love the Half Double Crochet (usually abbreviated "HDC"). So mysterious...what is a half double? Wouldn't that be a single. Well, no.... it's not in fact.

The half double crochet is used for something between the height of a single crochet and a double crochet. I suppose there are a couple ways to explain it but I think it's easiest to learn the double crochet first and then subtract from there, thus this tutorial comes after the one for the double crochet.

The half double crochet is the primary stitch used a couple baby hat patterns of mine (the Best Baby Cloche and the Ruffled Rose Earflap Hat), and many many other hats and sweaters besides. It's just a good go-to for a crochet fabric with a bit more interest than a straight single crochet. A bit of texture, not too lacey. Nice and warm.

Interested? Click to read more and view the photo and video tutorial.

To make a half double crochet (hdc), yarn over your hook as you would with the double crochet and you'll be skipping the first two chains on your hook and working into the THIRD (note this difference from the double crochet, which has you working into the fourth chain from your hook).  Note that these skipped chains usually count as the first hdc in a row.

So, insert your hook, then yarn over...

...and pull the yarn through the stitch. You'll have three loops on your hook (just as with a double crochet stitch)...

...yarn over, an now this is where we diverge for the half double crochet:

Instead of pull your yarn through the first two loops, as you would with a double crochet, you will pull your yarn through all three loops on your hook at once--one smooth action.

Ta-dah! That's a half double crochet.

To see it in video click on the still video image below:

When you have completed a row of half double crochet,

...chain two for your turning chain...

...and turn your work to start your next row.

Yarn over, and work your first hdc into the SECOND chain from your hook, because the chain-2 you just completed counts as the first hdc stitch.

Insert your hook...

...yarn over and pull through...

(you'll have three loops on your hook)

...yarn over again and pull through all three loops on your hook.

Continue working down the row in this manner and don't forget to work into the last stitch, which is actually your very first turning chain (formed by skipping those first two chains from your hook in your foundation chain).

To work into the top of a turning chain insert your hook in the chain at the top and work as you would in the top of a regular hdc stitch.

So many possibilities now! For straight practice however you could easily make washcloths using hdc or invent your own afghan similar to this one. 

How-to tutorials, patterns, giveaways, reviews and interviews to make certain you are smitten.

Click on the "HOH in Crochet" label or button to view all the content in this series.

Here's a quick list of all the "How to Crochet" posts:

How to Crochet 1: The Slip Knot

How to Crochet 2: Holding the Yarn

How to Crochet 3: The Chain Stitch

How to Crochet 4: The Single Crochet

How to Crochet 5: Seaming Your Work

How to Crochet 6: The Double Crochet

How to Crochet 7: Weaving in the Ends  

How to Crochet 8: The Half Double Crochet

How to Crochet 9: The Triple Crochet

How to Crochet 10: Working in the Round

How to Crochet 11: Understanding Gauge