How to Half Double Crochet for Beginners

The half double crochet (abbreviated hdc) sits between single crochet and double crochet. It is taller than a single crochet stitch, so it works up faster, and it makes a soft, flexible fabric that suits hats, blankets and many small amigurumi details. This guide shows how to make it, how to start a second row, how to count your stitches, and how to fix the mistakes beginners often make.

What You Need

• A 5 mm (US H-8) crochet hook.
• Smooth worsted-weight yarn in a light color, so you can see the three loops clearly.
• A slip knot and a foundation chain of 22. If you need a refresher, see the slip knot and chain stitch tutorials.
• Optional: a stitch marker for the first stitch of each row.

Where hdc Fits Among the Basic Stitches

The basic stitches differ mainly in height, and taller stitches need a taller turning chain at the start of a row. As a general guide in US terms, single crochet uses a turning chain of 1, half double crochet uses 2, and double crochet uses 3. Your pattern will always tell you which to use. If you already know single crochet, the half double crochet only adds one extra yarn over at the beginning.

Step by Step

1. Make a slip knot and chain 22. The first two chains you skip will lift the yarn to the height of the first stitch, and the other 20 chains are where your stitches go.
   

   

2. Yarn over by wrapping the yarn from back to front over the hook.
   

   

3. Skip the two chains closest to the hook, and insert the hook into the third chain from the hook.
   

   

4. Yarn over and pull the yarn back through the chain. You now have three loops on the hook.
   

   

5. Yarn over once more and pull through all three loops at the same time. That is one half double crochet, and one loop remains on the hook.
   

   

6. Yarn over, insert the hook into the next chain, and repeat steps 4 and 5. Continue in each chain to the end of the row. You should have 20 hdc.
   

   

Quick check: before the final pull-through, look at the hook. There should be exactly three loops on it. If you only see two, you missed the yarn over at the start of the stitch.

Starting the Second Row

At the end of the row, chain 2 and turn your work like the page of a book. In this tutorial the chain 2 is only there for height and is not counted as a stitch, so work your first hdc into the very first stitch of the row below. Insert the hook under both loops of the V at the top of each stitch, and work across until you reach the last stitch. Put your final hdc into the top of the last stitch of the row below, and you will again have 20 stitches.

Some patterns count the chain 2 as the first stitch. When that happens, the pattern says so, and you skip the first stitch of the row below and finish with a stitch in the top of the turning chain. Whichever style you meet, use it for every row of that project.

The Third Loop

Look at the top of a finished half double crochet. Besides the two loops that form the V, there is a third strand, a small horizontal bar, sitting just below the V on the far side of the stitch, the side facing away from you as you work. Most of the time you ignore it. It matters when a pattern asks you to work into this third loop, because that creates a neat ridge and a textured fabric.

Counting Your Stitches

Count at the end of every row, and do it before you begin the next one. Each V at the top of the row is one stitch, and the chain 2 at the start does not count in this tutorial. If your count changes, look at the ends of the row first, because that is where most stitches are lost or added.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• The stitch has only two loops to pull through. You forgot the first yarn over. Start every stitch with yarn over, then insert the hook.
• You pulled through only two of the three loops. This leaves an extra loop on the hook and makes a taller, looser stitch. Pull through all three loops.
• The piece grows wider. You are probably working a stitch into the turning chain when the pattern does not count it. Skip it and start in the first V.
• The piece gets narrower. You missed the last stitch. Put the final hdc into the top of the last stitch of the row below.
• The fabric is tight and hard to work. Loosen your grip on the yarn, or try a hook one size larger.

Tips for Left-Handers

Hold the hook in your left hand and mirror every movement. A quick way to check yourself is to hold a mirror next to a right-handed photo. If the reflection matches your hands, you are doing it correctly. Your rows will travel from left to right, and all stitch counts in patterns stay the same.

Practice Swatch

Make a swatch of 20 stitches and 12 rows. Keep the edges straight, count each row, and check that the three loops are clear before every pull-through. If your swatch curls or waves, compare your final stitch of each row with the mistakes list above. A finished swatch also shows how the fabric feels and stretches, and that helps you decide whether hdc suits a project.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between hdc and sc?

A half double crochet starts with a yarn over, so it has three loops on the hook before the final pull-through, and it is taller. A single crochet has only two loops and is shorter.

Does the chain 2 count as a stitch?

It depends on the pattern. Some patterns count it and some do not. Follow your pattern and use the same method on every row.

What is hdc called in UK terms?

In UK terms the same stitch is called a half treble (htr). This site uses US terms, so always check which terms a pattern uses.

Why three loops?

The extra yarn over at the start gives the stitch its added height. Pulling through all three loops closes the stitch in one motion.

What to Learn Next

When your hdc swatch looks even, practice combining stitches with single crochet, or learn the magic ring to start round projects. You can see every beginner lesson on the tutorials page.

Step images in this tutorial were created with AI to show each stitch.