How to Crochet: Half Double Crochet Stitches (hdc)

By Rachel Choi – 36 Comments
Half double crochet stitches are exactly what they imply! The are half of a double crochet stitch. Here is how to make a half double crochet stitch: Yo, insert hook into stitch, yo, draw through 1 lp, yo, draw through all 3 lps on hook

Here is a picture tutorial for a more detailed explanation. This tutorial is for both right and left handed people. For left handed pictures, roll your mouse over the image and it will change for you.

half double crochet hdc

Step 1: Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your hook)



Step 2: Insert your hook into the stitch you want to make your half double crochet in.





Step 3: Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your hook)


Step 4: Pull the strand of yarn through 1 loop on your hook. You should now have 3 loops on your hook.



Step 5: Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your hook)



Step 6: Pull the strand of yarn through all 3 loops on your hook. You should now have 1 loop on your hook.



Congrats! You just complete one half double crochet stitch! To make more stitches repeat steps 1 – 6. When you start a new row of half double crochets be sure to chain 2 before starting. This will ensure that the beginning of your row will be the same height as the rest of your row.

If you need more help, just let me know by leaving a comment and I’ll be glad to help!

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36 Comments

  1. Rachel says:

    Wonderful! You have the BEST tutorials! I’ll be linking.

  2. Barbara Penn says:

    Very clear instructions and great pictures! You’re a natural-born teacher.

  3. […] Pattern: Preemie Hat Round 1: ch 3, 6 hdc in third ch from hook, place marker: 6 hdc Round 2: 2 hdc in each hdc around: 12 hdc Round 3: (2 […]

  4. joy says:

    Hello Hello!!!! plz tell me what is 2dctog and how do u make one?

  5. joy says:

    I forgot to add fpdc what is it

  6. […] stitches are nice and big to make this dishcloth almost mesh like. The dishcloth is finished with a half double crochet border. Feel free to change colors after rounds to make a fun, different […]

  7. Emily says:

    Rachel, thank you so much for these awesome pics! I am so visual and I need to see what is being said to understand it sometimes. I am working with a Michael’s loops & threads crochet bag pattern and I am getting confused. This is the third time I’ve ripped it cause it doesn’t look right to me. First off, when the pattern states “Ch 2. 2 hdc in first sc.” is that the very first sc in the previous row or the first sc from the needle? Then, once I get to this part I am stumped:

    “5th row: (Ch 2. 2 hdc in first sc. 1 hdc in each st to last sc. 2 hdc in last sc. Turn. Rep last 4 rows of pat once more. 51 hdc at end of last row. Place marker at end of last row.

    Step: 12
    Cont even in pat for 3 ins [7.5cm], ending with a WS row.

    Step: 13
    Shape sides: Next row: ( (RS). Ch 2. Pat across next 15 hdc. (Yoh and draw up a loop in next st) twice. Yoh and draw up a loop through all loops on hook – Hdc2tog made. Turn. Leave rem sts unworked. 16 sts.”

    Every time I do this I end up with the sc, tr, sc pattern as the WS row, so when I turn to the RS there aren’t hdc’s to pattern across! What am I doing wrong?

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Emily, when it says “2 hdc in first sc” it is referring to the first sc from your hook, which is also the last sc on the previous row since your are turning your work after each row. I’m not sure where the tr stitch is in the pattern. Are you working the hdc2tog as a tr?

  8. Sally says:

    How to decrease hdc

  9. Denise says:

    When working into a half double crochet stitch, what hole do I enter? I am a beginner and have trouble determining where to enter into a previous roll or stitch. If I am working hdc in one roll then the next roll is sc, I don’t know where to enter. I am trying to do your Timeless scarf which is so gorgeous!!

  10. Denise says:

    Hi Rachel,

    Thanks for the speedy reply. Basically for all previous rolls regardless of the stitch it’s always the top that I’m inserting my hook, whether through both loops or front or back? Some patterns tell you to go in between or into the single crochet which I’m having problems distinguishing what hole to enter from the previous roll.

    Help 🙂

  11. Elizabeth says:

    thank you so much! i have never know how to do this but i always knew how to do the dc stitch. thanks!

  12. Benny says:

    Everytime I have a doubt about a stitch, I know I can count on your blog to find the solution. Thank you for the awesome tutorials!

  13. Julie Bird says:

    Hi Rachel,
    What a find!! I am left handed and have always struggled to follow crochet patterns.
    I am doing premmie/ still born blankets/ caps for seriously ill babies and for disadvantaged people.
    It is so much quicker to crochet caps than to knit them.
    Thankyou so much.
    Kind regards ( from Perth, Western Australia ),
    Julie

  14. JOANN says:

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for the left handed rollover pictures!!! I am a very new beginner and this helped IMMENSELY. Wish I had found you a week ago.

  15. Julie Bird says:

    Hi,
    I think your half double crochet may mean(in Australia ) a half treble.
    Would you know if that is correct?
    Thanks,
    Julie Bird.

  16. Pauline McDonnell says:

    I have come across a pattern that calls for doing a half double crochet to join; ch 1 and take the half double crochet down so it will look like a chain 2. Do you know how this is done?

  17. Dell says:

    Hi, I still need help. Did not find solution. I need to know how to Hdc around last dc? Can you help me? My email address is [email protected]
    Thank you…

    • Rachel says:

      Hi Dell, if you are working into the last double crochet you will make the hdc stitch the same way as show in this tutorial. But if you’re working “around” the dc stitch, then your pattern may be referring to working around the post of the stitch. Here’s a link to more information about working around the post of the stitch: Front Post and Back Post Stitches

  18. maureen says:

    Could you explain which hole goes with the double crochet stitch. It does not show this on your tutorial. There is a hole in the chain before and after the dc post and I am confused if the hole after the post or before it is the right one…which one goes with which post???

    Thanks.

  19. Shea says:

    Can someone help me with the following instructions? 2nd to 9th rnds: Ch 2. 1 hdc in sp between each hdc around.

    Thank you for your time!

  20. Kathy says:

    My pattern has been having me do rounds of half double crochet for the bottom of a baby boogie. The next instruction says decrease 6 times. Is there a decrease stitch in half double crochet? If not, can you suggest what this might mean? Thank you, Kathy

  21. Grace says:

    1 hdc in side of previous hdc by working around post of st
    how do i do this???

  22. DENISE says:

    fantastic tutorial!

  23. Thank you for this simple and to the point tutorial! Yours was just what I was looking for 😀

  24. carol says:

    Thankyou for showing me h c d ,I’m mastering it carol,

  25. Betty Taylor says:

    I cannot find any advice on how to do 1sc in next hdc and 1 hdc in next 4 hdc??
    Can you help, please??

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