The Half Double Crochet Stitch – A Beginner’s Guide

The half double crochet stitch (hdc) is one that often leaves beginner crocheters scratching their heads in mild confusion. But fortunately, it’s a lot easier than you might think.

Half double crochets are exactly as described, half a double crochet. You start in the same way, then complete the stitch a little sooner. Let’s take it step by step.

Half Double Crochet Stitches – Step by Step

So let’s take a look at how to make this stitch in simple steps, and then some examples of patterns which make use of it.

Step 1

Begin practicing your half double crochet by making a chain. I have used a chain of 11 stitches for this example.

Step 2

If you are working into a chain, skip the first stitch, yarn over, then insert the hook through the second loop on the chain. If you are working into an existing row, yarn over and hook through the next stitch.

Step 3

Yarn over the hook, then pull back through the stitch. You should have three loops on your hook.

Step 4

Yarn over, then pull through all three loops on the hook.

Troubleshooting

When you are learning a new skill, things can get overwhelming and confusing pretty quickly. Let’s take a look at where I have seen things go awry with beginners I’ve taught in the past to hopefully get you back on track.

Go back through the instructions taking these into account:

• Make sure that you have inserted your hook into the part of the stitch described
• Did you miss putting the yarn over?
• Did you yarn over when you weren’t suppose to?
• Was your tension too tight, causing you to not be able to insert your hook
• Was your tension too loose causing the spacing to look irregular or lace-like

Tension is something that takes time to learn but accounts for a surprising number of mistakes that new crocheters make.

If you are confident that you haven’t made any of the mistakes above but it’s still a real struggle to make the stitch, I recommend using a chunky cotton blend yarn for your practice sample. The size of the yarn makes it easier to see where you are working into and how each stitch is formed. The cotton blend fiber base means that you aren’t getting as much excess fluff or fiber strands getting in the way of you seeing your work clearly.

Using Half Double Crochets

I use half double crochets a lot, and often in places that you might not expect them. Not only does the half double crochet make up the basis of a lot of other more complicated stitches, but it is used in every style of project from tiny accessories to garments and blankets. It’s funny that it often gets missed off lists of important stitches for crochet beginners to use because it comes up so often in patterns that are aimed towards newer crafters.

This stitch is also a brilliant way of creating smooth slopes or waves in your crochet patterns, because it gives a less defined step between your single and double crochet stitches. The other benefit of it as a stitch is that you can often replace a single crochet with a half double for certain types of patterns, allowing you to have these close shorter length stitches that give a complete finished fabric, which reducing the number of rows you have to crochet along the way.

I also personally just really like the finish and texture of a half double crochet.