Foundational Stitches...
Crochet 101: Half Double Crochet (HDC)

The second stitch of the four basic crochet stitches; the Half Double Crochet (HDC) stitch is taller than Single Crochet and shorter than Double Crochet. In UK crochet terminology, this stitch is referred to as Half Treble Crochet.

While slightly more complex than Single Crochet, this stitch is still easy to work and an ideal stitch for new crocheters. Since the stitches are taller, it works up faster than Single Crochet and creates a slightly looser, yet still durable, fabric that is ideal for many projects.

For this tutorial, we used Paintbox Cotton Aran yarn in color #604 Misty Grey -- part of the Tudor Garden Collection and a size US H (5mm) crochet hook. This yarn comes in a broad range of beautiful colors, including many light colors that are ideal for beginners. Beginners should avoid using dark colored yarns for practice, as it makes it difficult to see mistakes and find your stitches.

What We'll Cover:

> How to Work Half Double Crochet

> The Characteristics of Half Double Crochet

> How to Practice the Half Double Crochet

> Quick Photo Visual Reference

Step by Step Stockinette

To start your project, create a foundation chain. For Half Double Crochet, your foundation chain should be the number of stitches you want, plus 2.

For our example, we wanted 14 stitches, so we made a 16-stitch foundation chain:

To begin your first stitch, wrap the yarn clockwise around the hook (this motion is called a yarn over, abbreviated as yo in patterns).

Unlike Single Crochet, where you begin a row by working into the 2nd stitch, Half Double Crochet begins a row by inserting the hook into the 3rd stitch, as indicated by the arrow below:

Next, insert the hook into the 3rd stitch in the foundation chain:

Yarn over again, by wrapping the yarn clockwise around the hook:

Pull the yarn-over loop through the first stitch on your hook. You will now have 3 loops on the hook:

Yarn over once more:

Pull the yarn-over loop through all 3 loops on the hook, to complete the stitch:

You've now completed your first Half Double Crochet stitch!

To finish the row, simply HDC into each stitch until the end of the row.

When you get close to the end of the row, it's easy to accidentally overlook the final stitch. Skipping this last stitch will result in 1 less stitch on the next row and your work will begin to shrink.

Below, we've not yet worked into the final stitch of our foundation chain:

After finishing the last stitch, your work should look like this:

A quick comparison shows us the difference between an unfinished row (left), where the final (circled) stitch has not been worked, versus a properly completed row (right):

Before you can begin the next row, you must work your turning chain.

A turning chain brings the yarn up to the proper height to begin the next row. For Half Double Crochet, a turning chain will consist of 2 chains:

To begin the second row, turn the work around, so the hook is on the right side:

For your second row, and all subsequent rows, simply HDC into each stitch across the row, beginning each row by working into the 3rd stitch of the row.

Our second row completed:

Keep working your rows in this fashion until your piece measures the desired length. Be sure to always work your turning chain between rows.

When first learning to crochet, it's helpful to count your stitches as you work each row, to ensure that you're working the same number of stitches on every row.

Below we've worked 10 rows of Half Double Crochet and are ready to finish our piece.

To finish, cut the yarn leaving a short tail. Then, pull the crochet hook to draw the tail through.

Once you weave in the yarn tails, your piece is complete!

Charachteristic

Characteristics of Half Double Crochet

Half Double Crochet fabric is incredibly versatile. It creates a fairly dense and durable fabric that doesn't suffer from the curl of Single Crochet. It works up faster because each row of stitches is taller than a row of Single Crochet stitches.

While many applications require Single Crochet, many new crocheters prefer Half Double Crochet because the stitches tend to be looser, making it easier to insert the hook. It's also a good stitch to practice before going on to Double Crochet.

When compared to Single Crochet (at left), you see that, while very similar, the stitches are different. Half Double Crochet creates taller stitches, with larger visible holes than Single Crochet.

Practice

How to Practice Half Double Crochet

Before moving on to Double Crochet and Treble Crochet, it's good to practice continuous rows of Half Double Crochet to become familiar with the motions. There are many beginner projects to make using only Half Double Crochet stitches. A few examples are:

COASTERS:

One of the fastest beginner projects, and a perfect practice project for kids, coasters are easy to make and always in demand around the home.

Choose a washable, worsted weight yarn, such as the Paintbox Cotton Aran used in this tutorial, and a size US H (5mm) hook.

To begin, make a 17-stitch foundation chain. Then, work in Half Double Crochet until the coaster is square. Don't forget to skip the first two stitches on each row and to work the turning chain between rows.

SCARVES:

A timeless beginner project, scarves are easy to work and well suited to Half Double Crochet.

For beginners, a pure wool or wool/acrylic blend in worsted weight is ideal. Yarns such as Cascade 220, Ella Rae Classic Wool and Paintbox Wool Mix Aran are easy to work with and very affordable.

To start your project, decide how long you want your scarf to be and make a foundation chain of that length. Work every row in Half Double Crochet until your scarf is the width you want. Then, cut your yarn and weave in the tails. For an added touch, try cutting 12" lengths of yarn and attaching them as fringe to the ends of your scarf.

BABY BLANKET:

There's nothing more fun than crocheting for babies. If you have little ones in your life, an HDC baby blanket is a great beginner project. Your baby will love it and, by the time you're finished, you'll have mastered the stitch!

Select a washable cotton or acrylic yarn in a light color, with a US H (5mm) hook. The Paintbox Cotton Aran yarn used in this tutorial is perfect for a baby blanket and comes in many adorable baby colors! Or, if you think you might get bored using one color on this larger project, try a self-striping yarn, such as Caron Cotton Cakes, to add a splash of interest to your work.

Begin with a foundation chain either 30" wide (for a stroller blanket) or 40" wide (for a crib blanket). Work every row in Half Double Crochet, remembering your turning chains between rows and starting each row by working into the 3rd stitch. Once your blanket measures 30" long (for stroller size) or 60" long (for crib size), cut the yarn and weave in the tails.