How to Half Double Crochet (US) – Photo Tutorial

How to Half Double Crochet with Photo Tutorial – a very easy, beginner crochet tutorial for a versatile stitch pattern that can be used for many projects!

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I remember when I was learning to crochet. Most of the patterns I tried used single crochet, and many of the rest used double crochet. There weren’t that many that used half double crochet, but I think it’s a wonderful stitch pattern, and easy to do. I have a great love for the texture that half double crochet creates in it’s fabric. It has better flexibility like double crochet, but has better coverage like single crochet. It’s one of my favorite, and so versatile!

For this tutorial, I am using Lily Sugar n Cream in Ecru, and an H8/5mm hook.

My nails are Color Street in Bloody Gorgeous.

I am not creating anything new here, but I did take the time to take the photos, edit them, and put this tutorial together, so please respect my work. Do not pin or share any of the tutorial images – just the main photo. Provide the link for others to find my page (help out me and my blog with the traffic). Do not copy and paste my work anywhere. Thank you!

What is a Half Double Crochet?

A half double crochet (abbreviated as HDC) is a simple crochet stitch that involves an initial yarn over, and a two step process of “pulling through”. It is a little bit taller than a single crochet stitch, but not as tall as a double crochet stitch. I think half double crochet produces a beautiful, unique texture and fabric, and is one of my favorite stitches to use.

I also want to add that this half double crochet tutorial is in US terms. What does that mean? There is also a half double crochet in UK terms, which is a different stitch! Usually, the patterns specify which one it is – my blog is in all US terms.

What is the Right Side and Wrong Side?

The right side is the front side of the fabric, which may look prettier than the wrong side, and the wrong side is the back of the fabric. I think they’re both pretty, but after you turn your work to begin on Row 3, you will see the difference in appearance from Row 1 and Row 2. Row 1 is considered the right side, and Row 2 is considered the wrong side. In the photo above, we have just finished working across Row 2, and about to turn and work Row 3. Do you notice the difference between the look of Row 1 and Row 2?

What Can I Make with a Half Double Crochet?

These are all free EyeLoveKnots crochet patterns that use half crochet suitable for a confident beginner (some are in the process of being updated):

• Top Left: Women’s Quick and Easy Slipper Socks
• Next: Haylee Throw Pillow
• Top Right: Haylee Scarf
• Bottom Left: Kids Quick and Easy Slipper Socks
• Next: Round Haylee Facial Scrubbies
• Bottom Right: Haylee Washcloth
• Not Shown: Plarn Ear Saver, Men’s Quick and Easy Slipper Socks, Round Haylee Coasters, Haylee Facial Scrubbies

How To Half Double Crochet Row 1

If you’ve haven’t yet, make a slip knot (photo tutorial), then work a foundation chain (photo tutorial) of 11.

If this was an actual pattern, you would see it written like this: “Chain 11” OR “Ch 11”

It most likely will not tell you to make the slip knot, but you always start with one.

Next, we will half double crochet across the chain. Together, this will read in one of these ways:

• Chain 11, HDC into the 3rd chain from the hook, and each chain across.
• Ch 11, HDC into the 3rd ch from the hk, and ea ch across.
• Ch 11, HDC into the 3rd ch, and across.

Yarn over…

…Skip the first two chains on your hook, insert your hook into the third chain…

*In case you needed a refresher on How to Work into the Foundation Chain (Photo Tutorial).

yarn over again…

…and pull your hook towards you through the foundation chain…

…You now have three loops on your hook…

…Yarn over…

…and pull through all three loops on your hook…

You have completed one half double crochet!

For the next half double crochet, yarn over, insert hook into the next chain. Yarn over, pull through (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.

Continue working in this manner all the way to the end, and it will look like this. In total, we have 10 half double crochets – that’s 9 that you worked + the skipped chains from the very beginning.

How to Half Double Crochet Row 2 & Remaining Rows

To begin each new row of half double crochet, we will yarn over…

…And complete one chain – this is what is called a turning chain, and with half double crochet, we do not count this as a stitch in the row’s final stitch count, it just gives us the flexibility to begin the next row…

…Then begin turning the work towards you…

…And completely around so it’s mirrored.

So for rows 2 and above, it’s written as one of these (all mean the same):

• Chain 1, turn. HDC into the 1st stitch, and each stitch across.
• Ch 1, turn. HDC in 1st st, and ea st across.
• Ch 1, turn. HDC across.

Now, we’re going to work across the row including the final stitch that was created by the skipped chains from the beginning…

…Yarn over, insert hook into the first stitch under both loops of the stitch, yarn over and pull through (you now have 3 loops on your hook), yarn over and pull through all three loops. Half double crochet complete!

Continue working half double crochets in the same manner across the row.

When you get to the end, we can’t forget this last one.

What we’re actually working into here is the skipped chains from the very beginning. In rows 3 and above, you’ll be working into what we called the “turning chain”, but it looks a lot like this.

Yarn over as normal, insert into the stitch under both of the top loops (as shown), then complete the last half double crochet the same as the rest.

And now you have two finished half double crochet rows! In this sample, we have 10 half double crochets (the same as what we counted at the end of Row 1). In future rows, it’s good practice to periodically check your stitch count to make sure you haven’t missed one.

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