Half Double Crochet – Right Handed

In this post, we’ll cover how to do the half double crochet stitch. If you’re left-handed, check that tutorial out here, or if you prefer a video tutorial check that out here.

Before we get started, make sure you have a chain of about 15 or so, which you can learn how to do here.

Here’s what the half double crochet looks like:

Stitch instructions

The shorthand for half double crochets in a written pattern is hdc.

I’m going to be working into a chain for my example.

Start by identifying the third chain from your hook which is indicated in the image below. This is one chain further than single crochet, and where we’re going to work into for this stitch.

Half double crochet starts with a yarn over before inserting your hook into the starting chain.

Once you’ve yarned over, you’re going to want to insert your hook into that third chain from your hook we identified earlier. You can put a finger from your hook hand on that yarn over to make it a little easier to insert your hook.

We’ll then yarn over and pull that loop through the chain

You now have three loops on your hook.

Yarn over one more time, and pull that through all three loops on your hook.

That’s the half double crochet!

Continue working one half double crochet in every chain.

Continuing in rows

Continuing rows in half double crochet works very similarly to single crochet. Once you get to the end of your row, chain 2 for your turning chain since half double crochet is a bit taller than single crochet, and turn your work.

Now you can work half double crochets in the top of every stitch from the previous row. If you’re having trouble identifying the first stitch to work into, it’s marked in the image below:

Tips/common issues

Some issues you may come across while trying to make this stitch are:

Trouble inserting your hook into the stitch after yarning over- Keeping that yarn over on your hook can make it more difficult to insert your hook into the stitch. If you look at the gif, you can see that I use the index finger of my right hand to hold that loop as I put my hook into the chain.

Having trouble pulling the final loop through 3 loops- Issues with this are likely similar to that of single crochet. Try and make sure your tension isn’t too tight, especially on the first yarn over before inserting your hook into a stitch.

I really suggest finding a way to grab both your work and your yarn at the same time with your left hand. If you’re not already doing that and you’re running into issues with this stitch, that’s a good way to make the stitch just a little easier. Keeping tension on your work and your yarn at the same time can help you pull that final loop through.

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