Loopy PandaHow to Half Double Crochet
To half double crochet (hdc), yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop, so you have 3 loops on the hook. Yarn over once more and pull through all 3 loops at once. It is about twice as tall as a single crochet. In UK terms it is called half treble (htr).
What you need
- Medium (worsted) yarn in a light colour
- Crochet hook in the size on the yarn label, usually 5.0 mm (H-8) for worsted
Step by step
- Make a foundation chainTo practise, chain 12.
- Yarn over firstBefore inserting the hook, bring the yarn over the hook once. You have 2 loops on the hook.
- Insert the hookInsert the hook into the 3rd chain from the hook. On later rows, insert it under both top loops of the next stitch.
- Pull up a loopYarn over and pull the yarn back through the stitch. You now have 3 loops on the hook.
- Pull through all 3Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops at once. One loop remains. That is one half double crochet.
- Work across the rowWork 1 half double crochet in each chain to the end. With 12 chains and the first hdc in the 3rd chain from the hook, you have 10 hdc.
- TurnChain 2 and turn. In many patterns this chain 2 does not count as a stitch, so you work the first hdc into the first stitch. Follow your pattern's note.
How half double crochet appears in patterns
| Pattern style | What you will see | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| US written | hdc | Half double crochet |
| UK written | htr | Half treble, the same stitch |
| Chinese written | T | 中长针; 5T = 5 half double crochet |
| Chart | A plain T with no slash | See the half double crochet symbol |
Half double crochet vs single and double crochet
The half double crochet sits between the other two. Like a double crochet it starts with a yarn over, but like a single crochet it is finished in one pull-through. That makes it about twice as tall as a single crochet and a little shorter than a double crochet.
Use it when you want fabric that grows faster than single crochet but stays denser and warmer than double crochet: hats, blankets, cowls. In amigurumi it is mostly used for small bumps and slopes.
| Single crochet | Half double crochet | Double crochet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yarn over before inserting | No | Once | Once |
| Loops after pulling up | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| How it is finished | Pull through 2 | Pull through all 3 at once | Pull through 2, twice |
| Height | About 1 chain | About 2 chains | About 3 chains |
| Turning chain | ch 1 | ch 2 (sometimes ch 1) | ch 3 |
For the full comparison with the treble crochet, see treble crochet.
The turning chain: chain 2 or chain 1?
Most patterns turn half double crochet rows with a chain 2. Whether that chain counts as the first stitch depends on the pattern. If it does not count, work the first hdc into the very first stitch; if it counts, skip the first stitch and work the last hdc of the next row into the top of the chain 2.
Many modern patterns use a chain 1 that never counts, or no turning chain at all, because a counted chain 2 leaves a small gap at the edge. Whichever you choose, do it the same way on every row and count your stitches, or the edges will drift.
Common mistakes
- Pulling through 2 loops, then 2 again. That is how a double crochet is finished, not a half double. In hdc you pull through all 3 loops in one go.
- Forgetting the first yarn over. Without it you are making a single crochet.
- Hard to pull through 3 loops. Pull the loop up to the height of the other loops before the last yarn over, and keep the loops on the wide part of the hook.
- Edges drifting. Decide whether the turning chain counts, then do the same on every row.
Half double crochet in the back loop or front loop
Normally you insert the hook under both top loops of the stitch. In back loop only (BLO) half double crochet you go under the loop farther from you only; the unused front loops make a horizontal ridge on every row, which looks like ribbing when the rows are worked back and forth. In front loop only (FLO) you go under the nearer loop and the ridges appear on the other side.
The stitch itself does not change: yarn over, insert, pull up a loop, pull through all 3. See back loop only for how the loops are found.
Left-handed half double crochet
Left-handers hold the hook in the left hand and the yarn in the right, and work from left to right along the row. The steps are the same, only mirrored. The video below is the demonstration above flipped left to right, so you can copy it hand for hand.
Variation: third loop hdc
Behind the top V of a half double crochet there is an extra horizontal strand, often called the third loop or back bar. Working only into that strand pushes both top loops to the front and makes a knit-like ridge. It is sometimes used for ribbing and textured edges.
Half Double Crochet Symbol
Half double crochet (hdc) is drawn as a plain T: a vertical line with a bar on top and no slash. It is about twice as tall as a single crochet. In Chinese it is 中长针, written “T”; in UK patterns it is half treble (htr).
| US name and abbreviation | Half Double Crochet (hdc) |
|---|---|
| UK name and abbreviation | Half treble (htr) |
| Chinese name | 中长针 |
| Chinese written shorthand | T |
| Japanese name | 中長編み |
How do I tell hdc from dc in a chart?
Look for the slash. hdc is a plain T; dc is a T with one diagonal slash across the stem.
Chart symbols on this page
Frequently asked questions
What does hdc mean in crochet?
hdc means half double crochet in US patterns: yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop, then pull through all 3 loops at once. In UK patterns the same stitch is written htr (half treble), and in charts it is a plain T.
What is half double crochet in UK terms?
Half treble crochet (htr). US hdc and UK htr are the same stitch.
What is the difference between half double crochet and double crochet?
Both start with a yarn over and have 3 loops after you pull up a loop. A half double crochet then pulls through all 3 at once; a double crochet pulls through 2 loops twice, which makes it about one chain taller.
What does T mean in a Chinese crochet pattern?
T is 中长针, the half double crochet. The letter matches its chart symbol, a plain T.
How many loops do you pull through in half double crochet?
Three. After the first yarn over and pulling up a loop, you have 3 loops on the hook; the final yarn over goes through all 3.
Where is hdc used in amigurumi?
Mostly for shaping: a few hdc next to single crochet make a slight bump or slope, for example on ears, cheeks or a snout. Most of an amigurumi is still single crochet.
How many chains do you turn with for half double crochet?
Usually 2. Some patterns use a chain 1 that does not count as a stitch, which gives a neater edge. Follow your pattern's note and do the same on every row.
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