2026-09-19 · Core Stitch Tutorials · Beginner/Intermediate
How to Half Double Crochet: The Stitch Beginners Skip
The half double crochet sits right between single and double crochet, but new crocheters often skip past it. Here's how to master this handy stitch and when to use it.
What Is a Half Double Crochet?
The half double crochet (hdc) sits right between the single crochet (sc) and the double crochet (dc) in height. It's a versatile stitch that gives you a fabric that's denser than double crochet but works up faster than single crochet. Despite being so useful, a lot of beginners jump straight from single to double crochet and never learn it.
How to Work a Half Double Crochet
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
- Yarn over again and pull up a loop. You should now have 3 loops on your hook.
- Yarn over one more time and pull through all 3 loops at once.
That's it, one hdc complete. Repeat across the row, remembering to chain 2 at the start of each new row as your turning chain.
Why It's Worth Learning
The half double crochet creates a lovely middle-ground texture, perfect for scarves, hats, and blankets where you want some drape but still a bit of structure. It's also a great stitch to practice your tension on before moving to taller stitches. Once you add hdc to your toolkit, you'll notice patterns calling for it more often than you'd expect.