SaveHalf double crochet sits between the two stitches everyone learns first, and it is the one experienced crocheters quietly reach for most. It is faster than single crochet, denser than double, and it makes a fabric with noticeably better drape than either.
Part of our stitches library.
It is also the only basic stitch with three loops on the top rather than two, which is both the thing that confuses beginners and the thing that makes it useful.
Working it
- Yarn over first, the same as a double crochet.
- Insert the hook into the next stitch.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop. Three loops on the hook.
- Yarn over and pull through all three at once. That is the whole difference: one pull rather than two.
Over, in, through, all three. It is genuinely quicker to work than a double crochet despite sounding similar.
The third loop, and why it matters
Every half double crochet leaves a horizontal bar sitting just behind the usual two loops. Working into that third loop instead gives a knit-like ridged fabric that looks nothing like ordinary crochet, and it is how most of the “does not look crocheted” hat patterns are made.
| Work into | Result | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Both top loops | Standard fabric | Most patterns |
| Back loop only | Ribbed, stretchy | Cuffs, hat brims |
| Third loop only | Knit-like horizontal ridges | Modern hats and cowls |
| Front loop only | Soft ridge on the front | Texture rows |
Turn with two chains rather than three. A chain-3 leaves a visible hole at the start of every row because it is taller than the stitch it replaces.
When to choose it
- Hats, because it is dense enough to be warm and fast enough to finish in an evening.
- Baby blankets, where single crochet is too stiff and double crochet too open.
- Garments, for the drape.
- Anything striped, because the colour change is cleaner than in double crochet.
Questions
What is half double crochet?
Yarn over, insert, pull up a loop, then pull through all three loops at once. It stands between single and double crochet in height.
What is the UK name for half double crochet?
Half treble, abbreviated htr. A US hdc and a UK htr are the same stitch.
What is the third loop in half double crochet?
A horizontal bar behind the usual two loops. Working into it alone gives a knit-like ridged fabric used in most modern hat patterns.
How many chains do I turn with?
Two. Three leaves a hole at the start of each row because it is taller than the stitch.
Is half double crochet good for beginners?
Yes, and arguably better than double crochet as a second stitch, because there is only one pull-through to remember.
Does it use more yarn?
Slightly more than single crochet per stitch, less than double. For the same finished size it lands roughly in the middle.