How To Make a Half Double Crochet

The half double crochet is a versatile basic stitch that produces a slightly taller fabric than single crochet, while still working up quickly. In US crochet terms, it’s known as the half double crochet (hdc), whereas in UK terminology, the same stitch is called the half treble crochet (htr).

Below is a step-by-step guide showing how to create half double crochet stitches.

Step 1. Begin in your working position, with the working yarn (highlighted with a red line in the left image) in front of the hook. Yarn over, then insert the hook into the next stitch. At this point, you should have four loops on your hook.

Step 2. With four loops on your hook, yarn over again and pull the yarn through only the two loops closest to the tip of the hook—the ones from the stitch you inserted into. This will leave you with three loops remaining on your hook.

Step 3. Yarn over once more and pull the yarn through all three loops. You should now have just one loop on your hook—congratulations, you’ve completed your first half double crochet stitch!

To better understand how this stitch looks, compare the two halves below: the right side is made using only half double crochet (hdc), while the left side uses regular single crochet (sc). Notice how the right half forms a noticeably wider arc than the left.

Once you’re familiar with the motion, the hdc (htr) becomes a smooth and effortless stitch to work. It’s widely used in many crochet patterns, so learning it early on is especially useful.