Variations of a Stitch Series, Part 3: Half Double Crochet

This post is part of a series. Parts One and Two can be found here and here.

It still blows my mind that the nearly infinite world of what can be made with crochet is all based on only 5(ish) main stitches (US terms): chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet (Triple or treble crochet is also fairly common).

Every crocheted piece from the simplest dishcloth to the most elaborate lace is made of variations and combinations of these few stitches. Crazy!

It can seem a little overwhelming to think of all the possibilities, but I think it helps to break it down by stitch.

In this series I’m going to focus on some of the variations of the three most used stitches in standard crochet. Below, you will find Part Three of the series, the variations of Half Double Crochet. Part One focuses on single crochet and can be found here. Part Two covers Double Crochet here.

Half Double Crochet

Part three! I saved half double crochet (hdc) for last in this series because I think it’s the most versatile of the three main stitches. Height-wise, it sits somewhere between a single crochet and a double crochet, producing a fabric that is more drape-y than single crochet, but not as hole-y as double crochet. The perfect combo!

So what’s so special about the half double crochet stitch that makes it so versatile? A big part of the answer is a little something called the 3rd loop. You might have noticed that most crochet stitches have two loops on the top in the shape of a V? The hdc is no exception, BUT it also has a 3rd loop that runs parallel to the V. This loop can be used or skipped depending on the effect you’re going for!

Note: The location of the 3rd loop will be the parallel loop nearest you when working in rows, but in (unturned) rounds, it will be the loop farthest from you. We will focus on hdc in rows for this tutorial.

How to do a standard half double crochet

The yarn I used for this tutorial is Lion Brand Touch of Cashmere in the colorway Basil. Maybe a little on the fancy side for a tutorial, but I couldn’t resist this gorgeous color!

Begin a standard half double crochet by wrapping the yarn over the hook from back to front (aka yarn over).

Insert hook under the front and back loop of the next stitch, aka the V (ignore the 3rd loop).

YO and pull through stitch (3 loops on hook).

YO and pull through all 3 loops.

Most patterns will call for a Ch 2 turning chain when working in HDC, but check your pattern. Some only use Ch 1.

If you’d like to see a standard hdc in action, check out my Dreaming of Spring Triangle Scarf!

Variations of HDC

Here are a few easy variations of a standard hdc you can make just by changing how you insert your hook or pull through.

Wide HDC (HDC in between the posts)

This stitch is worked exactly the same as a standard hdc except you will YO and insert your hook under all 3 loops (so essentially you will be placing the new stitch in between the posts (tall part) of the row below.).

YO and pull through the stitch. YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook. You will make the last stitch in between the last hdc post and the Ch 2 turning chain.

The wide HDC is a great stitch to use for blankets or sweaters because it is a very dense (i.e. warm) stitch, but it still produces a nice drape.

HDC in back loop only

This stitch is another variation where all that changes is where you insert your hook. This time, you will YO and insert your hook under ONLY the back loop of the V (the furthest loop from you) of the next stitch.

YO and pull through the stitch. YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook.

This simple change in how you insert your hook creates a beautiful braid effect across the front of your work. This could be used to create a fun textured pillow or ribbing for a hat or garment.

HDC in 3rd loop only

So this stitch is similar to the HDC in BLO, but I think it gives a more defined braid and can even give the effect that a piece has been knitted instead of crocheted.

Start by YO and this time insert your hook into the 3rd loop only. This will be the bar that runs parallel to the two loops of the main V. It will be the loop nearest you.

YO and pull through stitch. YO and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

The knit-like vibe of this stitch makes it a great choice for throws and ribbing!

Herringbone Half Double Crochet (hhdc)

This is one of my favorite stitches! One simple change from a standard hdc and it gives a totally different, totally awesome effect! I like to think of the hhdc as a cross between a hdc and a double crochet, but since it has hdc in the name, I decided to include in this post! :-p

Start this one just like a standard hdc: YO and insert hook under the 2 loops of the main V.

YO and pull through stitch (3 loop on hook).

AND continue pulling through next loop on hook. Two loops should remain on hook.

YO and pull through remaining 2 loops on hook.

The slant of the herringbone half double crochet stitches would give a beautiful, modern look to almost any crochet piece. I used it on my modern farmhouse-style Grain Sack Pillow. Check out the pattern here!

Half Double Slip Stitch

Again, this one is a bit of a hybrid stitch, but I think it leans more to the hdc side so I included it on this list.

YO and insert hook under both loops (the V) of the next stitch.

YO and pull through stitch and continue pulling through all loops on the hook. That’s it!

This stitch is perfect for headbands, hat brims, and cuffs!

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the variations of the half double crochet stitch, but I hope you found something new here to try!

And I hope you enjoyed thinking outside the box with me in this Variations of a Stitch series (here’s Part One and Part Two if you missed them)! Follow me on Instagram and use the hashtag #variationsofastitch to let me know what you tried!