Half Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial: Learn How to Hdc With Ease

Inside: Become a half double crochet expert with this thorough tutorial, including tips, videos, and visual aids for all skill levels.

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This pattern was originally published on 5/30/14. The most recent update was made on 7/12/26.

Learn to make a half double crochet with this comprehensive tutorial. This is a great resource for crochet beginners to learn, and for others to expand their expertise. To learn how to make the starting chain, see this post.

This tutorial will teach you to make the Half Double Crochet in a chain or in a stitch. You’ll learn how to start a new row or round, and even a Starting Half Double Crochet for chainless row starts. There are tips on how to know where to start and stop each row or round, and video tutorials for both right and left handed crocheters. Step-by-step instructions, photos, and illustrations are also included.

Basically, read and watch everything here and you will be a half double crochet expert in no time!

Stitches and Abbreviations

Here’s a list of the stitches that will be used, as well as any abbreviations. Click on highlighted stitches for tutorials.

ch: chain
hdc: half double crochet
st(s): stitch(es)
yo: yarn over

Half Double Crochet Chart Symbol

The image below is the symbol used for a half double crochet in crochet charts.

How To Make A Half Double Crochet

The basic instructions for a half double crochet, as is often seen in stitch definitions, is:

Half Double Crochet (HDC): Yo, insert hook in st, yo, pull through st (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through 3 loops.

Half Double Crochet in a Chain – Step by Step Instructions with Photos

Make as many chains as you want single crochets, plus two – so for a row of 10 half double crochet, you will chain 12. Place a marker around the loop on the hook:

yo:

Insert hook in the back loop of the THIRD chain from the hook (or in the designated chain if you are following a pattern) – the two skipped chains do NOT count as a stitch:

yo:

pull through st (3 loops on hook)

yo:

pull through all 3 loops:

Keep making hdc in each of the remaining chains to make a full row:

Here’s the back of the row:

Half Double Crochet in a Chain – Step by Step Illustrations

How to Start a New Round or Row in Half Double Crochet – Step by Step Instructions with Photos

Some patterns will have you start a new round or row of hdc with a ch 2 that counts as the first st, which means you ch 2 and do NOT make a regular hdc in the first st. Others wills start with a ch 2 that does not count as a stitch, which means you ch 2, then hdc in the first st.

I prefer to use a Starting Half Double Crochet as the first st of a new round or row.

Place your index finger on top of the loop on the hook to hold it in place:

wrap the hook around toward your dominate hand and all the way to the back of your work:

grab the working yarn from behind your work:

wrap the hook back to the front of your work in the opposite direction as before:

there will now be 2 loops on your hook:

insert hook under both top loops of first st:

yo:

pull through st (3 loops on hook):

yo:

pull through all 3 loops:

place a stitch marker at the top of the st just made to help identify the start/stop of the row or round:

How to Start a New Round or Row in Half Double Crochet – Step by Step Illustrations

Half Double Crochet in a Stitch – Step by Step Instructions with Photos

yo:

insert hook in next/designated st:

yo:

pull through st (3 loops on hook):

yo:

pull through all 3 loops:

Keep making hdc to end of row or round. If you placed a marker at the top of the first st of the previous row, or the last st of the previous round, then the marked st will be where you make your last hdc of the row or round.

Here are 2 completed rows of hdc:

Here are 3 completed rows of hdc:

Half Double Crochet in a Stitch – Step by Step Illustrations

Half Double Crochet Video Tutorials

Here are links to some of the supplies used in the video.

• Bernat Maker Yarn
• Furls Streamline Resin Crochet Hook
• Rainbow Melody Clips (stitch markers – I like the large size)

Here are some useful timestamps for the videos (both videos have the same timestamps).

• 00:40 – Half Double Crochet in a Chain
• 02:45 – Start a New Row/Starting Half Double Crochet
• 05:40 – Half Double Crochet in a Stitch
• 07:55 – Half Double Crochet in the Round

Right Handed Half Double Crochet Video Tutorial

If you can’t see this video, try watching it on YouTube HERE.

Left Handed Half Double Crochet Video Tutorial

If you can’t see this video, try watching it on YouTube HERE.