How to half double crochet

Before you start

Chain stitch and a foundation chain. Practice with smooth, light yarn so the top loops are easy to see.

New to holding the hook or making a slip knot? Start there, then return to this lesson.

Make the stitch

1. Yarn over, then insert the hook into the named stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop; three loops are on the hook.
3. Yarn over and draw through all three loops together.

Count check: One draw-through through all three loops completes one stitch.

Try a practice strip

Chain 12. Half double crochet into the third chain from the hook and each remaining chain: 10 stitches. For this practice strip, chain 2 and turn, but do not count that chain as a stitch. Work in the first stitch and every stitch across: 10 stitches per row.

Put a removable marker in the first and last stitch of the row. Count before you turn. Different patterns treat turning chains differently; the rule above belongs to this practice strip.

Common mistakes to catch

• Missing the initial yarn over. Wrap once before inserting; you should have three loops after pulling up.
• Splitting the yarn while drawing through three loops. Open the hook notch toward the loops and catch the complete working strand.
• Adding or losing edge stitches around the turning chain. For this strip, do not count the chain 2; start in the first stitch.

Keep going

Read these stitches inside a written pattern or chart.

Next lesson: Double crochet →

Before making a sized project, learn to measure a swatch. If a pattern uses a different hook label, convert the hook size.