All About the Half Double Crochet

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This post is about what is perhaps my favourite and what I consider to be one of the most versatile, crochet stitches. This is all about the half double crochet.

The half double crochet is often abbreviated to HDC. It is a great stitch as it works up fast – faster than single crochet. It also has great coverage and produces things that are not too “holey” like when using the double crochet stitch.

The half double crochet stitch is “taller” than a single crochet and “shorter” than A double crochet – hence the name I suppose.

The HDC stitch creates not 2, but 3 loops making it very versatile and giving it the ability to create subtle striping.

How to Do the Half Double Crochet

The HDC stitch is easy to do. Here’s how:

• start with a chain – this will be the foundation of your item
• you should already have one loop on your hook
• yarn over on your hook

• yarn over and insert your crochet hook into the loop that you are going to put the stitch – this will likely be the first or second chain from your hook
• pull yarn through
• you will now have 3 loops of yarn on your hook: the original loop, when you did the yarn over, and the one you just pulled up

• pull yarn through all 3 loops

• you. have now completed a half double crochet stitch

• continue on in the same manner
• if you are crocheting in rows, keep going until you reach the end of the row
• once you are at the end of the row, chain 1 or 2 (your preference) and turn your work

• you can now continue on along the row in the same manner
• yarn over and insert your hook into the top 2 loops

I’ve made a video of the half double crochet. Check it out here:

The 3 Loops of the Half Double Crochet

The HDC is unique in that it creates 3 loops.

Typically we are used to the 2 loops at the very top, but when crocheting using the HDC stitch, a third loop at the BACK is also created.

Now here is where the HDC stitch is so versatile. With 3 loops, you are not confined to just crocheting through the 2 top loops. Here are some variations that I can show you.

The first example is crocheting HDC in rows. This is where you turn or flip your work at the end of each row.

Here are possibilities, using the 3 loops:

• crocheting in the top 2 loops for every row: as mentioned the 3rd loop is always in the back and so this creates subtle striping for every other row
• it is the same front and back

• crocheting in the back loop only: this creates a slightly more prominent striping created by 2 loops; it almost has a knit-like appearance
• by doing this every row, again the striping is created for every other row
• it is the same front and back

• crochet alternating rows, switching from the back loop only for one row and then the front loop only for the next row: this creates the slightly more prominent striping of 2 loops but puts the stripes closer together – they occur for each row
• the striping is on the front side only; the backside has no striping

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of all 3.

Now, let’s crochet in the round. This is created by crocheting a magic ring.

When crocheting in the round, we do not turn our work and so the side that is facing you, is always facing you, thereby a specific front and backside are created.

Here is an example of using the half double crochet in the round by crocheting consistently in the top 2 loops.

If you crochet the half double crochet in the third loop, those top 2 loops will create a more prominent stripe.

Look at all these possibilities! I love the versatility of the half double crochet stitch.

Want to remember all about the half double crochet? Be sure to save this to your favourite Pinterest board.