Half-Double Crochet Stitch (Hdc) Tutorial For Beginners
Half-double crochet stitch is a necessary technique to learn because it is commonly used in many crochet projects and is quick and beginner-friendly, too. So Today, I will teach you how to half-double crochet with this easy tutorial for beginners. A person who has passed through the chain, slip stitch, and single crochet must fill the blank of half-double crochet before moving to the double crochet. So, I will help you with step-by-step images, a video, and some tips you could follow to advance on this stitch. I will also explain how you can easily do a half-double crochet increase or decrease!
What is The Half-Double Crochet?
Half-double crochet, abbreviated as the HDC, comes in the middle of single and double crochet stitch. So, the way of making matches to these stitches – though different to both with major differences. It has a height that is taller than single but smaller to double crochet. The texture spiciness also has a middle value of the double and single crochet. But mostly, it creates a dense texture with no gaps left.
It is super useful in granny squares (an alternative to double crochet!), blankets, scarves, and many more items.
What is the difference between Single, half-double, and double crochet?
Mainly, half-double crochet differs in the respect that it is smaller than double crochet and larger than single crochet. It is because, in the half-double crochet, you remove all the loops you gather on the hook by one yarn over only (we will talk later!), so less height is generated than in the double crochet.
But in the case of single crochet, where you do not YO before inserting the hook into the stitch, it causes it to be smaller than half-double.
You can notice the height difference by crocheting these three stitches (single, half double, and double!) in a single row before each other and notice a slope due to an increasing number of horizontal loops.
Chart Symbol:
You can recognize the half-double crochet with an elongated “T” as represented below. Don’t confuse it with the double crochet, which has a slope line at the center of the line “T.”
It is better Whenever you are doing a project where closely related stitches are used, like that of double crochet and half double crochet on a granny square. A designer may use this symbol to define the structure where many crochet stitches are used.
Tip: You should practice sticthes like half-double much because, the more the speed , th e quickly you could finich the pattern.
How To Do Half Double Crochet?
Half-double crochet is one of the 6 basic stitches and is crucial to learn. But believe me, it is very easy with few easy steps. I will also teach you how to increase and decrease at the end of the basic tutorial. Here is a quick summary:
Yarn over and insert hook to stitch.
Yarn over and pull through.
Yarn over and pull through all three loops.
Half-double crochet step-by-step tutorial
Now, let’s start with the instructions step-by-step half-double crochet tutorial for beginners:
Materials You Will Need:
- Yarn – For beginners, light-colored and worsted weight is perfect.
- Crochet Hook – Choose the hook for a particular type of yarn weight.
Step 1: YarnOver
After making a slip knot and getting one loop on the hook, you have to wrap the hook around yarn or simply yarn over (YO) to get an additional loop on the hook after pulling through (though it can be seen before!).
Step 2: Insert The Hook Into The Next Stitch
Then, insert the hook shaft into the next stitch (left) so the hook passes through and saft faces the front side of the stitch. As you can see, before entering the hook into the stitch, we already have the two loops on the hook that will stay on the backside.
Step 3: Yarn over again
Now, you have to yarn over again, and it will count as another loop to hook after pulling through.
What we would see after the second yarn over:
As you can see, we have added three loops on the hook. But they should be removed and joined properly to make a single stitch!
Step 4: Yarn over again to start removing the loops on the Hook
To Remove the loops onto the hook, we always perform YO each time we need to remove until one loop remains. So, Yarn over again.
Step 5: pull through the hook shaft all three loops on the hook
This is the distinguishing step of half-double crochet from the Double crochet. You have to pull through all three loops on the hook. You will still have one loop on the hook, which will be used for further work.
See The Finished Look
How To Increase In The Double Crochet?
You only have to add one more half-double crochet to the same stitch where you worked earlier to do a half-double increase. This will be called the one-half-double crochet increase. You can do this everywhere you want according to pattern.
How To Decrease HDC?
I have used this many times in many crochet patterns. Here is how to do a Half-double crochet decrease:
- YO, insert the hook into the stitch.
- YO, and pull up a loop a loop.
- Now, instead of pulling through all three loops. You have to do YO and insert the hook into the next stitch.
- YO and pull up a loop. You will have five loops on the hook.
- YO again and pull through all these.
You will notice a smaller row.
FAQs
What is half-double crochet in the UK?
In the UK, half double crochet (US) is the same as double crochet and abbreviated as DC. Don’t be confused with these stitches, and read the conversion chart once online.
Is Half-Double Crochet As Same As Half-Double Two Together?
Yes, both refer to the same and are used to decrease the amount of half-double crochet in a row.
Does the turning chain count as a stitch?
It depends. Some patterns may count it as a stitch when starting a new row or round, while some may not.
