Stitch guide · Basic stitches
Half Double Crochethdc
Half double crochet sits between single and double crochet in height. It works up faster than single crochet and makes a soft, warm fabric for hats and scarves.
On this page
- US abbreviation
- hdc
- UK name
- half treble crochet (htr)
- Skill level
- Beginner
- Stitch multiple
- Any number of stitches
- Turning chain
- Ch 2 — usually does not count as a stitch (check your pattern)
- Height
- About 1½ times the height of single crochet
Chart symbol for the half double crochet
Half double crochet is a favorite for hats, scarves and blankets because it grows quicker than single crochet while staying fairly dense and warm. It has one extra step compared with single crochet — a yarn over before you insert the hook — and finishes by pulling through three loops at once.
UK patterns call this stitch the half treble crochet (htr).
How to crochet the half double crochet
- 1
Yarn over
Wrap the yarn over the hook before inserting it.
- 2
Insert and pull up a loop
Insert the hook into the next stitch, yarn over and draw up a loop. You now have 3 loops on your hook.
- 3
Yarn over and pull through all three
Yarn over once more and draw through all 3 loops. That’s one half double crochet.
Practice swatch
Work this small swatch to get comfortable with the stitch before starting a project.
- Foundation
- Ch 17.
- Row 1
- Hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn. (15 hdc)
- Row 2
- Ch 2 (does not count as a st), hdc in each st across. Turn. (15 hdc)
- Following rows
- Repeat Row 2.
Tips
- Pull the first loop up to the same height as the loops already on your hook so the stitches look even.
- Once you’re comfortable, try working hdc into the third loop (the horizontal bar behind the top loops) for a knit-like ridge.
Common problems (and fixes)
- I can’t pull through all three loops
- Your loops are too tight. Pull the loop up a little taller and turn the hook so its throat faces down as you draw through.
- There are small gaps at the edges of my rows
- A ch 2 turning chain can leave small gaps. Some makers use ch 1 instead. Choose the method that looks best to you and use it consistently.
Common questions
Does the ch 2 count as a stitch?
It depends on the pattern. In most modern patterns it doesn’t, and the first hdc goes into the first stitch. The pattern notes will tell you.
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Put it into practice
Patterns using the half double crochet
Free pattern
Free pattern
Free pattern
Free pattern
Free pattern
Free pattern
Free pattern
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