Half Double Crochet (hdc): The Stitch Most Beginners Skip and Shouldn't

Half double crochet sits between single and double crochet in height, and it takes the best qualities of both: it grows reasonably fast, it makes a fabric that is dense enough to be warm but soft enough to wear, and it has almost no gaps. Ask experienced crocheters which stitch they use most for hats and garments and a large share of them will say hdc.

It is also the stitch with a hidden third loop that unlocks a knit-look texture, which is why it deserves its own tutorial rather than a footnote.

US terminology throughout. UK patterns call this half treble (htr).

Working the Stitch

Chain 12 with worsted yarn and a 5.0 mm hook.

1. Yarn over.
2. Insert the hook into the third chain from the hook. (Two skipped chains form the turning chain.)
3. Yarn over, pull through the chain. Three loops on the hook.
4. Yarn over, pull through all three loops at once. One loop left.

That last step is the whole difference: double crochet pulls through two loops twice; half double crochet pulls through all three in one go. Repeat across. You should have 10 hdc.

The Turning Chain Question

There are two schools, and both are correct as long as you are consistent:

Chain 2 counts as a stitch. Skip the first stitch, work hdc into the second stitch, and work the last hdc of the next row into the top of the chain 2. Produces a small gap at the edge.

Chain 1 (or 2) does not count. Chain, turn, and work the first hdc into the very first stitch. The chain just lifts your yarn to the right height. Produces a cleaner edge with no gap and is what most current designers prefer.

For a practice swatch, use the non-counting chain 1. Work 10 rows and count every row. Ten stitches, every time.

Reading an hdc Stitch

Look at the top of a completed row. Each stitch has the usual V made of two loops. Now tilt the work toward you and look just behind the V: there is a third horizontal strand running along the back. That is the third loop, and it is unique to hdc.

Where you insert the hook changes the fabric:

• Both top loops — Result: Standard hdc, smooth and even
• Back loop only — Result: Ridges on one side, good stretch for ribbing
• Third loop only — Result: Knit-look "camel stitch" texture, the V is pushed to the front
• Front loop only — Result: Softer drape, subtle horizontal lines

The Third Loop Technique (Camel Stitch)

Working every stitch into the third loop makes the top Vs of each row lie flat on the front of the fabric, so the finished piece looks like knitted stockinette. It is most effective in the round, where you never turn and the Vs all face the same way, which is why it is so popular for beanies.

If you work it in rows, the effect alternates sides. Work it in the round, or work in rows and use hdc in the third loop on right-side rows only, hdc through both loops on wrong-side rows.

The third-loop fabric is a little less dense and stretches slightly more. Go down half a hook size if you want it firmer.

Half Double Crochet in the Round

For a hat crown:

1. Magic ring, or chain 3 and slip stitch to form a ring.
2. Round 1: 8 hdc into the ring. Join with a slip stitch, or work in a continuous spiral with a stitch marker.
3. Round 2: 2 hdc in each stitch (16).
4. Round 3: [1 hdc, 2 hdc in next] around (24).
5. Continue adding 8 stitches per round until the circle is the diameter you need, then work even rounds with no increases for the sides.

Increasing by 8 per round in hdc keeps the circle flat. If it starts to cup, add more increases; if it ruffles, add fewer.

Common hdc Problems

Rows look uneven in height. Your "pull through three" is inconsistent. Pull the yarn through gently and stop when the loop is snug, not tight.

The fabric is stiff. Go up a hook size. hdc is naturally dense; it does not need tight tension.

You cannot find the third loop. Tilt the work toward you and look for the strand that sits slightly lower than the back loop, running horizontally. On the first few tries, pull the back loop forward with your finger and the third loop appears behind it.

What hdc Is Best For

• Beanies and hats, especially in the third loop.
• Sweaters and cardigans, where you want warmth without stiffness.
• Baby blankets, dense enough to be cozy, fast enough to finish.
• Dishcloths, in cotton, because the fabric scrubs well and dries faster than single crochet.

If you have been alternating between single crochet that takes forever and double crochet that lets too much wind through, hdc is the answer you were looking for.