Once you’re comfortable with chains and single crochet, the next stitch to learn is the half double crochet (HDC). It’s a little taller than single crochet, a bit shorter than double crochet, and it makes a soft, squishy fabric that’s perfect for hats, blankets, and cozy amigurumi details.
In this tutorial you’ll learn:
- What half double crochet is (US terms)
- How to prepare your foundation chain
- 6 easy steps to make the HDC stitch
- How to half double crochet in rows and in the round
- Common mistakes and how to fix them
At the end, you’ll be ready to use HDC in real projects.
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What Is a Half Double Crochet (HDC)?
In US crochet terms, the half double crochet is abbreviated:
- hdc = half double crochet
It’s worked like this in one sentence:
Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
The result:
- Taller and drapier than single crochet
- Shorter and slightly denser than double crochet
- Great for stripey blankets, hats, cowls, and textured amigurumi pieces
Materials You Need
To practice how to half double crochet, use the same kind of setup as before:
- Yarn
- Medium weight yarn (Category 4)
- Light, smooth color so you can see the stitches
- Hook
- Size recommended on the yarn label, e.g. 4.0–5.0 mm
- Optional extras
- Stitch marker (especially helpful in the round)
- Scissors
- Yarn needle
If you’re not sure which hook size matches your yarn, you can always check the Yarn Council yarn weight chart for guidance.
Before You Start: Know Your Chains and SC
HDC is much easier if you already know:
- How to crochet a chain stitch
– link to your chain tutorial here - How to single crochet
– link to your SC tutorial here
For this practice swatch, make a foundation chain of 12:
- Make a slip knot.
- Ch 12.
You’ll work your first row of half double crochet into this chain.
How to Half Double Crochet in 6 Easy Steps
These steps explain how to half double crochet into a foundation chain in US terms.
Step 1 – Yarn over before inserting the hook
Look at your foundation chain:
- Skip the first 2 chains from the hook.
- You’ll work your first stitch into the 3rd chain from the hook.
Before you insert the hook:
- Yarn over (yo) once.
- Now you have 1 loop from the chain + yarn wrapped over the hook.
Step 2 – Insert the hook into the 3rd chain
- Insert your hook into the 3rd chain from the hook (under the top loop or both loops, as you prefer).
- You should now see the hook going through the chain, with the yarn already wrapped around it.
Step 3 – Yarn over and pull up a loop
- Yarn over again.
- Pull the yarn through the chain.
You now have 3 loops on your hook.
Step 4 – Yarn over again
- Yarn over once more.
- Keep your loops slightly tall so they’re not too tight.
Step 5 – Pull through all 3 loops
- Pull the yarn through all 3 loops on your hook in one movement.
You’ve made 1 half double crochet (hdc) 🎉
Step 6 – Repeat across the row
- Yarn over.
- Insert your hook into the next chain.
- Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook).
- Yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
Repeat Step 6 across the foundation chain.
You’ll end up with 10 hdc stitches in your first row (because you skipped 2 chains at the start).
Watch the HDC movement in real time
Now that you’ve read the written steps for how to half double crochet, watch the movement and copy it:
👉 YouTube Short – How to Half Double Crochet (HDC):
More Free Amigurumi Patterns You’ll Love
How to Half Double Crochet in Rows
Once your first row is done, you can build a small HDC rectangle.
Turning chain for HDC
At the end of the row:
- Ch 1 (many designers use ch 1 for HDC), then turn
or - Ch 2 if you prefer a slightly taller turning chain
For a simple beginner swatch, you can:
- Ch 1, turn, then work your first hdc into the very first stitch of the row.
Row 2 and beyond
For each new row:
- Ch 1, turn.
- Yarn over.
- Insert hook into the first stitch.
- Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops).
- Yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
- Repeat across the row.
Try to always finish with 10 stitches per row so your edges stay straight.
How to Half Double Crochet in the Round
Half double crochet in the round is lovely for:
- Squishy beanies
- Simple baskets
- Textured amigurumi bodies or clothes
1. Start with a ring
Use a magic ring or ch 2 and work in the 2nd chain from the hook.
For practice:
- Magic ring, 8 hdc into the ring, then pull it tight
– or – - Ch 2, 8 hdc in the 2nd chain from hook
Place a stitch marker in the first hdc so you know where the round starts.
2. Increase in spirals
Round 2 (example):
- Work 2 hdc in each stitch around (16 sts).
Round 3:
- (1 hdc, 1 increase) around, etc.
This method is similar to single crochet in the round, just with a taller stitch.
Common Mistakes When Learning How to Half Double Crochet
1. Forgetting to yarn over first
Symptom: your stitch looks like a single crochet instead of HDC.
Fix:
Always yarn over before inserting the hook into the stitch or chain.
2. Only pulling through two loops
Symptom: your fabric looks uneven and doesn’t match other HDC rows.
Fix:
After you have 3 loops on your hook, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops at once, not just 2.
3. Uneven height stitches
If some hdc are very tall and others short:
- Try to pull your loops on the hook to about the same height before you yarn over and pull through all 3.
- Watch your Short and copy the height of the loop each time.
4. Holes at the edges of rows
This can happen if:
- You’re accidentally working into the side of the stitch or into the turning chain more than once, or
- You’re using a turning chain that’s too tall for your tension.
Try:
- Counting your stitches at the end of every row.
- Experiment with ch 1 vs ch 2 turning chains to see which gives you a cleaner edge with your yarn.
Easy Practice Projects Using Only Half Double Crochet
Here are some small ideas to practice how to half double crochet:
- HDC rectangle (mug rug or coaster)
- Ch 16, hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each ch across.
- Work 6–10 rows of hdc.
- Simple headband strip
- Ch wide enough for your preferred headband width.
- Work rows of hdc until the strip fits around your head, then sew the ends together.
- Beginner beanie (worked in rounds)
- Start with a magic ring of hdc.
- Increase in spirals until the circle matches your head width, then continue in plain hdc rounds.
FAQ – How to Half Double Crochet (HDC)
Is half double crochet harder than single crochet?
It’s just one extra movement. When you know how to single crochet, learning how to half double crochet is very easy—only one more yarn over and you pull through 3 loops instead of 2.
Do I use a different hook size for half double crochet?
No, you usually use the same hook size recommended for your yarn. To practice how to half double crochet, just stick with your usual yarn + hook combo from other stitches.
Why do my half double crochet stitches have gaps?
If your fabric has big gaps while you’re learning how to half double crochet, you may be:
– Using a hook that’s too large
– Pulling your loops too high
– Or working very loosely
Try a smaller hook or slightly tighter tension for a denser look.
What should I learn after half double crochet?
After you feel confident with how to half double crochet, the natural next step is double crochet (DC) and simple stitch patterns that mix SC, HDC, and DC for fun textures.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to half double crochet opens up a lot of cozy projects, soft hats, squishy blankets, textured amigurumi details, and more. It’s only one small step beyond single crochet, but it changes the look and drape of your fabric in a big way.
- Practice a small swatch in rows
- Try a few rounds in a circle
- Then plug this stitch into your favorite beginner patterns
When you’re ready, your next tutorial can be: how to double crochet (DC) in simple steps, to complete your trio of basic stitches.
