Key Takeaways
- Half double crochet is a versatile and easy stitch that creates a dense and textured fabric.
- Half double crochet is abbreviated as hdc in crochet patterns and is made by yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops.
- Half double crochet can be used for many projects such as hats, scarves, blankets, and more.
- Half double crochet has some variations such as half double crochet in the back loop, half double crochet in the third loop, and half double crochet cluster.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Hello, yarn addicts! Welcome to Crochet Chronicles, your ultimate source of crochet inspiration and tutorials. In this article, we will learn everything you need to know about half double crochet, one of the most basic and useful stitches in crochet.
Also Read: 6 Basic Crochet Stitches You Need to Know
Half double crochet, or hdc for short, is a stitch that is halfway between a single crochet and a double crochet. It creates a fabric that is denser than double crochet, but taller than single crochet. It also has a nice texture that adds interest to your projects.
Half double crochet is perfect for beginners who want to learn a new stitch that is easy to master and versatile to use. You can make many beautiful and cozy items with half double crochet, such as hats, scarves, blankets, and more.
In this article, we will show you how to make a half double crochet stitch, how to read and follow a half double crochet pattern, and how to make some variations of half double crochet that will spice up your crochet skills. Let’s get started!
How to Make a Half Double Crochet Stitch
To make a half double crochet stitch, you will need a crochet hook and some yarn. You can use any size of hook and yarn that you like, but make sure they are compatible with each other. You can check the label of your yarn to see the recommended hook size for it.
Here are the steps to make a half double crochet stitch:
- Make a slip knot and chain the number of stitches that you need for your project. This will be your foundation chain.
- Yarn over, which means wrap the yarn around your hook from back to front.
- Insert your hook into the third chain from the hook. You should have three loops on your hook.
- Yarn over again and pull through the chain. You should have three loops on your hook.
- Yarn over again and pull through all three loops on your hook. You have just made your first half double crochet stitch.
- Repeat steps 2 to 5 for each chain across. You should have one loop left on your hook at the end of the row.
- To start a new row, chain two and turn your work. The chain two counts as your first half double crochet stitch of the next row.
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch. Make sure you skip the chain two that you just made, as it is already counted as a stitch.
- Yarn over and pull through the stitch. You should have three loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and pull through all three loops on your hook. You have just made your second half double crochet stitch of the row.
- Repeat steps 8 to 10 for each stitch across. You should have one loop left on your hook at the end of the row.
- Continue making rows of half double crochet until you reach the desired length of your project.
Also Read: How to Single Crochet Stitch: A Complete Guide for Beginners
Congratulations! You have just learned how to make a half double crochet stitch. Here is a diagram that shows the steps visually:
|<– foundation chain –>|
| |
v v
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o <– slip knot and chain
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops
|<– first row of hdc –>|
| |
v v
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o <– chain two and turn
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops
|<– second row of hdc –>|
| |
v v
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o <– chain two and turn
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops
How to Read and Follow a Half Double Crochet Pattern
Now that you know how to make a half double crochet stitch, you might want to try some patterns that use this stitch. Crochet patterns are written instructions that tell you how to make a specific project. They usually include information such as the materials, the gauge, the size, the abbreviations, the stitch count, and the directions.
Also Check: How to Read Crochet Patterns Like a Pro
To read and follow a half double crochet pattern, you need to understand the abbreviations and symbols that are used in crochet. Here are some common ones that you will encounter:
- ch: chain
- hdc: half double crochet
- st(s): stitch(es)
- sl st: slip stitch
- sk: skip
- sp(s): space(s)
- rep: repeat
- *: repeat the instructions following the asterisk as many times as indicated
- (): work the instructions within the parentheses as many times as indicated
- []: work the instructions within the brackets as a group
- **: work the instructions between the asterisks across the row or round
For example, a pattern might say:
Row 1: Ch 21, hdc in 3rd ch from hook and each ch across, turn. (19 hdc)
Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), hdc in each st across, turn. (19 hdc)
Row 3-10: Rep row 2. (19 hdc)
This means that you need to:
- Make a chain of 21 stitches.
- Make a half double crochet in the third chain from the hook and in each chain across. You should have 19 half double crochet stitches at the end of the row. Turn your work to start a new row.
- Make a chain of two stitches, which counts as your first half double crochet of the next row. Make a half double crochet in each stitch across. You should have 19 half double crochet stitches at the end of the row. Turn your work to start a new row.
- Repeat the previous row for eight more rows. You should have 19 half double crochet stitches in each row.
To follow a half double crochet pattern, you need to pay attention to the stitch count, the row or round number, and the instructions. You can use a stitch marker, a safety pin, or a piece of yarn to mark the beginning or end of a row or round. You can also use a row counter, a paper and pencil, or a digital app to keep track of your progress.
Also Read: How to Double Crochet: A Complete Guide for Beginners
How to Make Variations of Half Double Crochet
Half double crochet is a versatile stitch that can be modified in different ways to create different effects. Here are some variations of half double crochet that you can try:
Half Double Crochet in the Back Loop
Half double crochet in the back loop, or hdc blo for short, is a variation of half double crochet that creates a ribbed texture. It is made by working the half double crochet stitch in the back loop only of the stitch below, instead of both loops. The back loop is the loop that is farther away from you when you look at the top of the stitch.
To make a half double crochet in the back loop, you need to:
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the back loop only of the next stitch. You should have three loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and pull through the loop. You should have three loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and pull through all three loops on your hook. You have just made a half double crochet in the back loop.
Here is a diagram that shows the difference between half double crochet and half double crochet in the back loop:
|<– half double crochet –>|
| |
v v
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o <– insert hook under both loops
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops
|<– half double crochet in the back loop –>|
| |
v v
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o <– insert hook under back loop only
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops
Half Double Crochet in the Third Loop
Half double crochet in the third loop, or hdc tl for short, is another variation of half double crochet that creates a knitted-like texture. It is made by working the half double crochet stitch in the third loop of the stitch below, instead of both loops. The third loop is the loop that is behind the back loop when you look at the side of the stitch.
To make a half To make a half double crochet in the third loop, you need to:
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the third loop only of the next stitch. You should have three loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and pull through the loop. You should have three loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and pull through all three loops on your hook. You have just made a half double crochet in the third loop.
Here is a diagram that shows the difference between half double crochet and half double crochet in the third loop:
|<– half double crochet –>|
| |
v v
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o <– insert hook under both loops
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops
|<– half double crochet in the third loop –>|
| |
v v
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o <– insert hook under third loop only
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops
Half Double Crochet Cluster
Half double crochet cluster, or hdc cl for short, is a variation of half double crochet that creates a cluster of stitches that form a puff-like shape. It is made by working two or more half double crochet stitches together in the same stitch or space. It is similar to a double crochet cluster, but with shorter stitches.
To make a half double crochet cluster, you need to:
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch or space. You should have three loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and pull through the stitch or space. You should have three loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the same stitch or space. You should have five loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and pull through the stitch or space. You should have five loops on your hook.
- Yarn over and pull through all five loops on your hook. You have just made a half double crochet cluster of two stitches.
- To make a larger cluster, repeat steps 3 and 4 for each additional stitch that you want to add to the cluster. Then, yarn over and pull through all the loops on your hook.
Here is a diagram that shows the difference between half double crochet and half double crochet cluster:
|<– half double crochet –>|
| |
v v
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o <– insert hook under both loops
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops
|<– half double crochet cluster –>|
| |
v v
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o <– insert hook under both loops twice
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about half double crochet. Half double crochet is a great stitch to add to your crochet repertoire, as it is easy, versatile, and fun to work with. You can use half double crochet for many projects, such as hats, scarves, blankets, and more. You can also experiment with different variations of half double crochet, such as half double crochet in the back loop, half double crochet in the third loop, and half double crochet cluster, to create different textures and effects.
If you liked this article, please share it with your fellow yarn addicts and leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you and see your creations. You can also check out our website, Crochet Chronicles, for more crochet tutorials, patterns, and inspiration. Happy crocheting!