Half Double Crochet Stitch: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

The half double crochet stitch is one of the basic crochet stitches and a great one to learn once you’re comfortable with single crochet. It’s simple to make, works up quickly and creates a beautifully soft fabric with just the right amount of texture.

Half double crochet sits between single crochet and double crochet in height. It’s taller than a single crochet but shorter than a double crochet, making it a wonderfully versatile stitch for everything from blankets, scarves, hats, sweaters and more.

One of the things I love about half double crochet is how many different textures you can create simply by changing where you insert your hook. Once you understand the basic stitch you can work through the front loop, back loop or even the third loop to completely change the appearance of your fabric.

In this tutorial I’ll show you exactly how to make the half double crochet stitch, where to insert your hook, how to work in rows and how to recognise and count your stitches. We’ll also look at some common mistakes and the different ways you can use this simple stitch.

What is the Half Double Crochet Stitch?

The half double crochet, abbreviated as hdc in US crochet terminology, is one of the fundamental crochet stitches.

To make a half double crochet, you begin with a yarn over before inserting your hook into the stitch. You then pull up a loop, leaving three loops on your hook. Unlike a double crochet, where the loops are worked off the hook in two stages, a half double crochet is completed by yarning over and pulling through all three loops at once.

This gives the stitch its characteristic medium height.

If you’re following a pattern written using UK crochet terminology, the same stitch is called a half treble crochet (htr). This is worth remembering when using patterns from different countries as a UK half treble and a US half double crochet are exactly the same stitch.

What Does Half Double Crochet Look Like

Half double crochet creates a neat, slightly textured fabric that is denser than double crochet but generally more flexible than single crochet.

If you look at the top of your work, you’ll see the familiar V-shaped loops that appear at the top of most basic crochet stitches. Half double crochet also creates an additional horizontal strand known as the third loop.

That third loop is one of the features that makes half double crochet interesting. By changing which loops you work into, you can create ribbing, ridges and even a fabric that has an almost knitted appearance.

When working normally through both loops, half double crochet produces an attractive, relatively solid fabric that works beautifully for a huge variety of crochet projects.

How to Half Double Crochet

Before beginning, make a foundation chain for the number of stitches you need.

Step 1: Yarn Over

Wrap the working yarn over your crochet hook from back to front.

Step 2: Insert your hook

Insert your hook into the third chain from the hook

Step 3: Pull Up a Loop

Yarn over again and pull the yarn back through the stitch. You should now have three loops on your hook.

Step 4: Yarn Over

Wrap the yarn over your hook once more.

Step 5: Pull Through All Three Loops

Pull the yarn through all three loops on your hook. You should now have one loop remaining on your hook.

You have now completed one half double crochet stitch. Repeat these steps in each chain across.

How to Work Half Double Crochet in Rows

Once you know how to make an individual half double crochet, you can now use the stitch to create rows of fabric.

Start by making you foundation chain.

Yarn over and work your first half double crochet into the third chain from the hook. Continue working one half double crochet into each chain across. When you reach the end of the row, turn your work.

Chain 2 to bing your hook up to the height needed for the next row. For the method used In this tutorial, the turning chain does not count as a stitch. Work your first half double crochet into the first stitch of the previous row and continue working one half double crochet into each stitch across.

At the end of every row count your stitches. You should have the same number of half double crochet stitches in each row. Keeping an eye on stitch count is particularly helpful when you’re learning because accidentally skipping the first or last stitch can cause the sides of your work to gradually slope inward.

Where Do You Insert Your Hook?

When working a standard half double crochet, insert your hook underneath both loops of the V at the top of the stitch. If you look closely at the top edge of your crochet, each stitch resembles a small V. The loop closest you you is the front loop while the loop furthest away from you is the back loop. Working underneath both loops creates the standard half double crochet stitch.

However, you can work into only one of these loop to change the texture of your crochet.

Working into the back loop only (BLO) creates a ridge across the fabric and can give your crochet additional stretch.

But working into the front loop only (FLO) creates a different ridge and texture.

Half double crochet also has another useful loop hiding away called the third loop

What is the Third Loop in Half Double Crochet?

Half double crochet has a distinctive third loop created by the yarn over used when making the stitch. If you turn your work slightly and look at front of the stitch you’ll see another horizontal strand. This is known as the third loop.

When you work half double crochet into this loop instead of the two normal top loops, the V-shaped loops are pushed towards the back of the fabric. This creates a beautiful horizontal ridge that can look surprisingly similar to knitting.

The third loop technique is particularly lovely for ribbing, cuffs, hat brims and decorative sections of garments.

How to Count half Double Crochet Stitches

Learning to recognise your stitches makes it much easier to keep the edges of your crochet straight. Look along the top of your row. Each half double crochet has a V-shaped pair of loops at the top. Each V represents one stitch. Count each V across the row but don’t count the loop currently sitting on your crochet hook.

It’s a good idea to count your stitches at the end of each row when you’re learning. If your stitch count keeps getting smaller, you’re probably missing a stitch at one of the edges. If it keeps getting larger, you may be accidentally working an extra stitch into the turning chain or into the same stitch twice.

Stitch markers can be very helpful. Place one in the first and last stitch of the row so those edge stitches are easy to identify when you come back to them.

How to Count Half Double Crochet Rows

Half double crochet rows can be a little trickier to identify than the individual stitches, particularly when you’re first learning.

Hold your crochet flat and look at the horizontal lines of stitches running across the fabric. Each completed horizontal section represents a row of half double crochet. You can also look at the sides of your work and count the stacked edge stitches.

if you’re working with a very textured or fuzzy yarn, keeping a simple row counter or making a note after each completed row can save you from trying to solve a tiny woolly mystery later!

Common Half Double Crochet Mistakes

Forgetting the First Yarn Over

Unlike single crochet, half double crochet begins by yarning over before inserting your hook. If you forget that first yarn over you’ll end up making a single crochet instead.

Pulling Through Only Two Loops

After pulling up a loop, you should have three loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all three loops at once. If you pull through only two loops and then yarn over and pull through the remaining loops, you’re making a double crochet rather than a half double crochet.

Missing the Last Stitch

The last stitch of a row can sometimes be difficult to spot. Missing it causes your stitch count to decrease and your crochet to become narrower with each row. Placing a stitch marker into the first and last stitches can make this much easier to avoid.

Accidentally Crocheting into the Turning Chain

Whether the turning chain counts as a stitch depends on the pattern you’re following. For the method used in this tutorial, the chain 2 does not count as a stitch so you won’t work into it at the end of the following row.

Uneven Tension

Pulling the yarn through three loops at once can feel awkward when you’re first learning half double crochet. Try to keep your movements relaxed and avoid tightening the loops too much before pulling through them. With a little practice your stitches will become much more even.

Half Double Crochet Versions

Once you’ve mastered regular half double crochet, there are several simple variations that can produce completely different looking fabrics.

• Half Double Crochet Back Loop Only (HDCBLO): Worked through only the back loop of each stitch. This creates pronounced horizontal ridges and a stretchier fabric.
• Half Double Crochet Front Loop Only (HDCFLO): Worked through only the front loop, leaving the back loop visible and creating a different textured effect.
• Half Double Crochet in the Third Loop: Uses the extra loop in front of the stitch. This pushes the normal V-shaped loops backward and creates a distinctive knit-like ridge.
• Extended Half Double Crochet: This adds an extra step to the standard stitch, making it slightly taller while maintaining much of the texture and character of regular half double crochet.

These variations are a great example of how learning one basic crochet stitch can open the door to may more stitch patterns and textures.

What Can You Make With Half Double Crochet?

Half double crochet is one of those stitches that works for almost anything. Because the fabric is relatively solid while still having softness and flexibility, it’s particularly good for blankets, hats, scarves, cardigans, sweaters, bags and more.

It’s also a useful stitch when you want your project to grow more quickly than it would with single crochet without creating the more open fabric associated with taller stitches.

Once you’ve mastered the basic half double crochet, experimenting with the different loops gives you even more possibilities without having to learn a complicated stitch pattern.

Half Double Crochet FAQs

Is Half Double Crochet Easy for Beginners?

Yes. Half double crochet is considered one of the basic beginner crochet stitches. The main difference from single crochet is that you yarn over before inserting your hook and then pull through three loops at once.

Is Half Double Crochet Taller Than Single Crochet?

Yes. Half double crochet is taller than single crochet but shorter than double crochet. This is why it’s called half double crochet in US terminology.

What is the Half Double Crochet Called in the UK?

A US half double crochet is called a half treble crochet in UK terminology and is abbreviated htr.

Be careful when following patterns because US and UK crochet terminology use different names for several of the basic stitches.

Does Chain 2 Count as a Half Double Crochet?

It depends on the pattern and the designer.

In this tutorial the chain 2 does not count as a stitch and the first half double crochet is worked into the first stitch of the row. If you’re following another crochet pattern always check its instructions because the designer may use a different turning chain method.

What is the Third Loop of a Half Double Crochet?

The third loop is an additional horizontal strand created by the structure of the hand double crochet stitch. It can easily be found in front of the stitch. Working into the third loop pushes the stitch backward, creating a distinctive ridge across the fabric.

Is Half Double Crochet Faster Than Single Crochet?

Generally yes. Half double crochet is taller than a single crochet so each row adds more height to your project. This means you can often build fabric more quickly while still creating a fairly dense finished piece.