Ready to learn how to half double crochet? This beginner-friendly stitch is taller than a single crochet but shorter than a double crochet, giving you a soft, sturdy fabric that works beautifully for everything from hats and scarves to blankets and sweaters.

In this lesson, I’ll walk you through the half double crochet stitch step by step. You’ll learn where to insert your hook, how to complete and count each stitch, and how to avoid the most common beginner mistakes.

.

Materials You Will Need For This Lesson

• Worsted (4/Medium) Weight Yarn
• 5.5 mm Crochet Hook (a size 5.0 mm or 6.0 mm will work, if preferred)
• Scissors
• Yarn Needle
• Stitch Markers

A Little Help for Your Crochet Basket

Join and get the free Crochet Pro Essentials PDF Pack, plus gentle course reminders and new lessons in your inbox.

What Is a Half Double Crochet Stitch?

The half double crochet—abbreviated hdc in US crochet terms—is one of the basic crochet stitches.

One important note: US and UK crochet terms are not the same. A US half double crochet is called a half treble crochet (htr) in UK terminology. All lessons in this course use US crochet terms.

To make one, you’ll yarn over before inserting your hook, just as you would for a double crochet. But instead of completing the stitch in two stages, you’ll pull the yarn through all three loops on your hook at once.

That small difference gives half double crochet its own look and feel. The stitch is:

• Taller than single crochet
• Shorter than double crochet
• Faster to work than single crochet
• Dense enough to feel cozy without being overly stiff (compared to the dense fabric created with a single crochet, the half double crochet provides more flexibility and drape because the posts are slightly taller)
• It will create a fabric that has a minor amount of breathability.
• Easy to use in both rows and rounds

.

Versatility:

The half double crochet (HDC) stitch is highly versatile. It can be used when crocheting rows or rounds. It can be made by crocheting into any of the 3 different loops created by a crochet stitch (illustrated and discussed below). It can be increased or decreased (also discussed below).

How to Half Double Crochet Step by Step

The half double crochet stitch is made with these five steps (photos below):

1. Yarn over.
2. Insert your hook into the stitch.
3. Yarn over again.
4. Pull up a loop. You should now have three loops on your hook.
5. Yarn over once more and pull through all three loops on your hook.

That’s one half double crochet complete.

How to Half Double Crochet Into a Foundation Chain

To practice half double crochet from the beginning, make a slip knot and crochet a starting chain.

For this practice swatch:

1. Chain 21.
2. Yarn over.
3. Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook.
4. Yarn over and pull up a loop. You should have three loops on your hook.
5. Yarn over and pull through all three loops.
6. Make one half double crochet in each remaining chain across.

Do not count the loop currently on your hook as a chain. Begin counting with the first complete V-shaped chain directly below the hook.

The one skipped chain brings your hook up to the height of the new row. For this lesson, that chain does not count as a stitch.

If you begin with 21 chains and make your first half double crochet in the second chain from the hook, you will finish the row with 20 half double crochet stitches.

How to Start a New Row of Half Double Crochet

Once you reach the end of your first row:

1. Chain 1.
2. Turn your work so you can crochet back across the row.
3. Yarn over.
4. Insert your hook under both top loops of the first stitch.
5. Complete one half double crochet in each stitch across.

In this tutorial, the chain 1 is a turning chain only and does not count as a stitch. Make your first half double crochet in the very first stitch at the base of the turning chain.

When you reach the end of the row, your final stitch goes into the last true half double crochet from the previous row—not into the turning chain.

This is important because turning-chain rules can vary between crochet patterns. Some designers count the turning chain as a stitch and some do not, so always check the pattern notes. In this practice swatch, keep it simple: the chain 1 does not count as a stitch.

How To Half Double Crochet Video Lesson:

Here is an even closer look at each step of the stitch.

1. Yarn over.

Wrap the working yarn over your hook from back to front. The yarn over adds the height that makes half double crochet taller than single crochet.

2. Insert your hook into the stitch.

Insert the hook under both top loops of the next stitch unless your pattern tells you otherwise.

3. Yarn over and pull up a loop.

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

Try not to pull this new loop too tightly. Keeping the loops an even height will make the final step much easier.

4. Yarn over and pull through all three loops.

Yarn over one more time and pull the hook through all three loops in one smooth motion. One loop will remain on your hook.

You have just made a half double crochet.

To continue, repeat those steps in each stitch across the row:

Yarn over, insert your hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and pull through all three loops.

It may feel like several steps at first, but your hands will begin to recognize the rhythm with practice.

How to Recognize a Half Double Crochet Stitch

Let’s look at the anatomy of the half double crochet stitch. Each half double crochet has a V shape along the top. When you work a standard half double crochet, your hook goes under both strands of that V.

You may also notice a horizontal strand sitting just behind the top V. That is the third loop created by the construction of the half double crochet stitch.

For now, focus on finding these three features:

• The V-shaped top of each stitch
• The vertical stitch post below it
• The extra horizontal third loop behind the stitch

Being able to recognize the parts of your stitches will make it easier to know where to place your hook and where each row begins and ends.

When reading a crochet pattern that calls for working in the front loop only, the abbreviation you will see for HALF DOULBE CROCHET FRONT LOOP ONLY IS: HDC FLO. Here is how it looks when you crochet under the front loop only:

When reading a crochet pattern that calls for working in the back loop only, the abbreviation you will see for HALF DOULBE CROCHET BACK LOOP ONLY IS: HDC BLO. Here is how it looks when you crochet under the back loop only:

Finally, you have the third loop. The third loop is created by your initial yarn over (YO) of the HDC stitch. You’ll find the horizontal third loop behind and beneath the back loop. When you turn your work you will see clearly the third loop of the previous row – it creates a mild ridge that is unique to the HDC stitch. Here is what it looks like to crochet into the third loop only:

How to Make a Half Double Crochet Increase

A half double crochet increase is when you make more than one HDC into the same stitch. You can make 2, 3 or more HDC into the same stitch too! In a pattern, the HDC increase will be abbreviated HDC INC.

HDC Increase Written Steps:

1. Yarn over hook
2. Insert your hook into the next stitch
3. Yarn over and pull up a loop (you now have 3 loops on your hook)
4. Yarn over again and pull through all loops on your hook
5. Repeat steps 1-4 into the same stitch for as many times as required

How to Make a Half Double Crochet Decrease

A half double crochet decrease is when you stitch 2 (or more) HDC stitches together into one. In a pattern, the HDC decrease will be abbreviated HDC DEC or HDC2TOG which stands for “half double crochet 2 together”. The method I outline below is the version of the HDC decrease I use. It creates less bulk than the alternative which includes an additional yarn over in between steps 3 and 4 below.

HDC Decrease Written Steps:

1. Yarn over hook
2. Insert your hook into the next stitch
3. Yarn over and pull up a loop (you now have 3 loops on your hook)
4. Immediately insert hook into the next stitch
5. Yarn over again and pull through all loops on your hook

How to Count Half Double Crochet Stitches and Rows

To count half double crochet stitches, look at the row from above and count the V shapes along the top. Each V is one stitch.

For the practice swatch in this tutorial, you should have 20 stitches in every row. Count them before beginning the next row. It takes only a moment and can save you from discovering several rows later that your lovely rectangle has quietly become a trapezoid.

To count rows, look for the horizontal bands created by each row of stitches. Because half double crochet has a third loop, the rows may look a little more defined than rows of single crochet.

If the edges of your swatch begin to slope inward, you are probably skipping the first or last stitch. If they spread outward, you may be adding a stitch by accidentally working into the turning chain.

Stitch markers can help. Place one in the first and last stitch of each row until you can recognize the edges easily.

Half Double Crochet Tension Tips

Pulling through three loops at once is often the trickiest part of learning how to half double crochet. If your hook gets stuck, the issue is usually tension rather than the stitch itself.

Try these adjustments:

• Keep all three loops relaxed and at a similar height.
• Rotate the hook slightly downward as you pull it through the loops.
• Hold the fabric close to the stitch you’re working without squeezing it.
• Let the shaft of the hook determine the size of your loops.
• Slow down while learning the motion.

You do not need to force the hook through. If it feels like a wrestling match, loosen the loops slightly and try again.

Your stitches may not look perfectly even at first, and that is completely normal. Consistent tension comes from repetition—not from gripping the yarn with extraordinary determination.

Common Half Double Crochet Mistakes

If your half double crochet swatch doesn’t look quite right, check for one of these common beginner mistakes.

Forgetting the first yarn over

Half double crochet begins with a yarn over before you insert the hook. If you skip it, you will make a single crochet instead.

Pulling through only two loops

After you pull up a loop, you should have three loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all three loops at the same time.

Crocheting into the wrong stitch

Unless a pattern says otherwise, insert your hook under both top loops of the next stitch. Take a moment to identify the V before inserting your hook.

Skipping the first stitch

Because the turning chain sits beside the first stitch, it can make the edge look crowded. In this tutorial, the turning chain does not count as a stitch, so work into the first stitch at its base.

Adding an extra stitch at the end of the row

Do not work into the turning chain at the end of the row when it does not count as a stitch. Count your stitches to confirm that each row has the same number.

Making the loops too tight

Tight loops make it difficult to pull through all three at once. Relax your grip and keep your loops on the shaft of the hook rather than tightening them around the hook’s throat.

FAQs

Half Double Crochet Practice Challenge

Use these simple instructions to practice everything from this lesson:

Foundation chain: Chain 21.

Row 1: Hdc in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across. You should have 20 stitches.

Row 2: Chain 1 and turn. The chain 1 does not count as a stitch here and throughout. Hdc in the first stitch and in each stitch across. You should have 20 stitches.

Repeat Row 2 until you feel comfortable with the stitch or your swatch is approximately square.

When you’re finished, fasten off and save the swatch. Keeping your practice pieces gives you a handy stitch reference—and proof that your hands are learning even when a new stitch still feels awkward.

You Know How to Half Double Crochet!

You’ve just added another essential stitch to your crochet skills. You now know how to yarn over, pull up a loop, pull through all three loops, work half double crochet across a row, turn your work, and count your stitches.

Keep practicing until the motion begins to feel natural. Speed is not the goal right now. Aim for stitches that are easy to work into and a swatch that keeps the same stitch count from one row to the next.

Next, we’ll learn how to double crochet. It begins much like half double crochet, but one small change gives the stitch more height and a lighter, more open fabric.

← Previous Lesson: How to Count Stitches & Rows

Pin This Lesson for Later