Dear Artsy Craftsy Friends ,
Welcome once again to a new photo tutorial that my sister , Ana Maria , and I put together for you . Today’s written instructions follow the series of photo tutorials for the most basic crochet stitches which , if mastered , will allow you to experiment all sorts of other crochet stitches , from the simplest to more advanced and complicated stitches . Today we will show you how to crochet the half double crochet stitch . If you prefer video instructions instead , you can follow my old tutorial on my crochet channel on YouTube that you can find bellow .
The half double crochet stitch is a stitch between the single crochet stitch and the double crochet stitch . Practically it looks like an elongated single crochet stitch or like a reduced double crochet stitch . Even as a beginner crocheter , you should be already familiar with terms like loops and chains which will be used frequently throughout the pattern . Our photo tutorial will show you lots of illustrative images in order to give you sufficient visual support while you practice the written instructions .
The half double crochet stitch is abbreviated as hdc in most patterns . YO is the abbreviation for yarn over hook .
Let’s begin learning this basic stitch on a smaller sample . While you practice this stitch and you feel more comfortable crocheting it , keeping your tension steady , you can commit yourself to a larger project . Let’s start with 10 hdcs at the moment . To get 10hdc on first row , chain 12 .
Row 1 : Skip first 2ch from the hook ( these 2 chains count as the first hdc ) ; * YO once ( now you have two loops on the hook ) , insert your hook in the third chain from the hook , YO once and pull the yarn through the chain of the foundation chain ( now you have three loops on your hook ) , YO one last time and pull the yarn through all three loops on your hook to complete your first hdc * ( see images bellow )
Let’s do a second hdc on first row . * YO once ( now you have two loops on your hook ) , insert your hook in next chain of the foundation chain , YO once and pull the yarn through the foundation chain ( now you have three loops on your hook ) , YO one last time and pull the yarn through all three loops on the hook to complete a new hdc * . ( see next photos )
Continue working the next 7hdc following the instructions given between * and * . Don’t forget that the first 2ch we skipped at the beginning of the row count as a hdc . The following images will show you a repeat of the previous given steps and are meant to help you practice . They will also show you how to finish the first row . At the end of this row , chain 2 to turn ( these two chains also count as a hdc on 2nd row ) .
Row 2 : * Yo once ( now you have two loops on your hook ) , insert your hook in the second hdc , bellow the two loops which are visible in the images , YO once and pull the yarn through the hdc ( now you have three loops on your hook ) , YO again and pull the yarn through all three loops on your hook * .
Let’s repeat these steps to crochet a new hdc on second row . * YO once ( now you have two loops on your hook ) , insert your hook in next chain , bellow the two loops at the top , YO once and pull the yarn through the chain ( now you have three loops on your hook ) , YO again and pull the yarn through all three loops on your hook * .
Don’t forget that the beginning chain 2 counts as a first hdc on second row . So we have three hdc completed on second row . Now repeat the given instructions between * and * 6 more times , 9 hdc in total . See next images for visual help .
To crochet the last hdc on second row you should do as follows : * YO once ( now you have two loops on your hook ) , insert your hook in top of beginning chain , YO and pull the yarn through the chain ( now you have three loops on your hook ) , YO one last time and pull the yarn through all three loops on your hook * . ( see next images )
That is about it with the half double crochet stitch . To continue your work , you need to repeat second row as many times as necessary . The next given photos will show you more completed rows of the hdc .
Notes :
1. I know that this stitch tends to turn really ugly on the sides because of the beginning chain 2 which is replacing a normal hdc at the beginning of a row . There are different techniques to add pretty edges when a project is nearly finished . I will compile an article with possible ways to add pretty edges in the future .
2. Also , many people ask for instructions on how to increase or decrease the hdc either on the sides or across a row . This is also going to be shown in a next article .
Happy learning , everyone ,
The Coolorburbians .
