Lesson 4: How to Crochet a Half Double Crochet Stitch

Hello Lovely!
You’ve done so well learning your chain and single crochet stitches — now it’s time to add a little height to your work with the Half Double Crochet (HDC) stitch. It’s soft, slightly taller than a single crochet, and creates a beautiful texture that’s perfect for blankets, hats, and scarves.

What You’ll Need

Your yarn and crochet hook
A small practice swatch or chain (about 12 stitches)
Scissors

Step 1: Start with a Chain

To begin, make a chain of about 12 stitches. For this lesson, you’ll skip the first two chains from your hook — that will count as your turning chain and give your stitch the right height.

Lovely tip: The skipped two chains count as your first stitch in many patterns — always check your pattern notes to be sure.

Step 2: Yarn Over and Insert Your Hook

Yarn over (wrap the yarn over your hook from back to front).
Insert your hook into the third chain from your hook.

You’ll now have three loops on your hook — that’s what makes the half double crochet special!

Lovely tip: Keep your tension even — your loops should glide smoothly on the hook.

Step 3: Yarn Over and Pull Through All Loops

Yarn over again.
Pull the yarn through all three loops on your hook.

Congratulations Lovely — that’s your first half double crochet stitch! It’s taller than a single crochet but shorter and denser than a double crochet.

Lovely tip: If it feels tight or tricky to pull through all loops, try keeping your yarn a little looser before yarning over.

Step 4: Continue Across the Row

Yarn over.
Insert your hook into the next chain.
Yarn over again and pull through (three loops on hook).
Yarn over once more and pull through all three loops.

Repeat this motion across the row until you reach the end. Your row should look soft, with gentle horizontal lines across the fabric — that’s the half double crochet’s signature texture!

Step 5: Turning for the Next Row

Chain 2 (this will bring your yarn up to the height of the new row).
Turn your work around.
Work your next stitch into the top of the previous row’s stitches.

Lovely tip: Be sure to work into the top of each stitch — the little “V” shape at the top — to keep your edges straight.

Practice Exercise

Make a small square of 4–5 rows of half double crochet stitches. Practice keeping your stitches even and relaxed. Notice how beautifully the rows stack up to form a soft, flexible fabric — perfect for cozy crochet projects!

Next Lesson

Now that you’ve mastered the half double crochet, you’re ready to learn the Double Crochet (DC) stitch — it’s taller, more open, and used in so many classic crochet patterns.

Next Lesson: How to Crochet a Double Crochet Stitch

Thanks Lovely, and happy crocheting!

Love Claire x

Hello Lovely, I hope you found this written tutorial helpful. To watch the accompanying video tutorial, click below.

Master the Half Double Crochet Stitch Easily