How to Do Half Double Crochet

Crochet is a versatile craft. If you know how to crochet, you can make all manner of clothing, accessories and items to use around the house. One of the reasons you can do so much with a ball of yarn and a hook is the variety of stitches and stitch patterns. A crocheter with a little know-how and the will to learn more can create an interesting design using simple stitches in new ways. Learn to half double crochet, experiment a bit and turn ho-hum into charming.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn (worsted weight is good for practice)
• Crochet hook size H or I

Instructions

1. Crochet a chain of 22 chain stitches. Make a half double crochet in the third chain from the hook and in each chain across. To half double crochet, loop the yarn over your hook; you'll have two loops on your hook. Holding the loops back, insert your hook through the chain stitch below, loop the yarn over your hook again and pull your hook and the loop back through the stitch (you should have three loops on the hook). Loop your yarn over the hook once more, and pull that yarn through all three loops on hook. When you're done with the stitch, you should have only one loop left on your hook.

2. Use half double crochet stitches to create a piece that is more tightly woven than double crochet but not as tightly woven as single crochet.

3. 

   Use half double crochet to create ribbing. Row 1: Make a chain of eight chain stitches. Using the instructions in Step 1, half double crochet in the third chain from the hook and in each chain across. Chain two. Turn.Row 2: Working in front loop only, half double crochet in each stitch across. Chain two. Turn your work. Continue working in this pattern until your ribbing is the right length for your project.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice until you can produce a piece that is even and smooth. The more you work with it, the more even your stitches will become.

Resources

• The Crochet Guild of America