Introduction to Crochet: Half-Double Crochet Stitch

Now that we've got the single crochet stitch down, let's move on to the half-double crochet stitch (hdc) which is just a little bit taller.  This is also called the half-treble stitch (ht) in the UK system.  Here are a few photos to help you along the way:

Because a half-double crochet stitch is a little bit taller than a single crochet stitch, we need to "build up" to every subsequent row that we crochet with this stitch.  To build up, we will need two extra chains at the end of every town, including the foundation chain.  That means that if you need to make a row of twenty half-double crochet stitches, you will need to chain twenty-one chains and then make the next stitch in the third chain from the hook.  This allows the two chains we've skipped to act as the first half-double crochet stitch. 

Here, you can see what it will look like once you make the first half double crochet stitch along a foundation chain.  In fact, you now have two stitches: the two chains you skipped and the stitch that was just made. 

This is why, at the end of every row, we make two extra chains to build up to the next row of stitches. 

However, this also means that instead of beginning to crochet the new row of stitches straight away, we must skip the first stitch and begin our stitching in the next one, marked as the triangle.  That's because the chain two already counts as the first half-double crochet stitch. 

Now, let's look at how to make this stitch.  In the photo above, we will be making a new stitch in the previous row, as marked by the triangle. 

Because this is a taller stitch, we must wrap the yarn around the hook before we insert it into the previous row's stitch.  Wrap the yarn from the back over the top of the hook. 

Now, we are ready to insert the hook into the stitch from the previous rows.  Insert it under both loops of the stitch. 

Wrap the yarn around the hook again, from the back and around the top. 

Use the hook to pull the yarn through tot he front side.  You will now have three loops on your hook. 

Wrap the yarn around the hook one more time and then pull it through all three of the loops at once. 

Ta-da!  Now you have a brand-new half-double crochet stitch! 

Remember how we talked about making the first stitch of every row from a chain two?  That is important to remember because when you get to the end of a row it might look like you've stitched in every stitch from the previous row, but don't forget that original chain two!  There's one more stitch that you have to make, indicated by the triangle in the photo above. 

When you make your half-double crochet stitch through that row-ending chain-two, here's what it will look like.  As you first start crocheting, remember to count your stitches after every row to make sure that you haven't missed that last chain two! 

Here's what a finished square of half-double crochet will look like.  Well done!

Have fun and happy crocheting!

Lots of love,

~Mersydotes