Herringbone Half Double Crochet: How to Do It Step by Step

Herringbone Half Double Crochet is a crochet stitch that makes slanted, slightly twisted texture; drapier than hdc. Makers reach for it for hats, scarves, blankets. It is rated intermediate here, so it helps to be comfortable with the basic stitches first and to practice on a swatch before a project.

1. Yarn over. 2. Insert the hook into the stitch. 3. Yarn over and pull the loop through the stitch and through the first loop on the hook in one motion. There are 2 loops. 4. Yarn over and pull through both loops. Work slowly for the first few repeats, keep your tension even, and check the result against the steps before continuing across a whole row or motif.

US patterns abbreviate herringbone half double crochet as hhdc. UK patterns write it as hhtr, so always check whether a pattern uses US or UK terms before you start, because the same abbreviation can mean a different stitch. Pattern keys list every abbreviation used, usually near the materials list.

The most common problems are: pulling through the stitch only, which makes a regular hdc; pulling through all loops at once. Most are easy to spot if you pause after a few repeats and compare your work with the steps. Good light helps a great deal, especially with dark yarn or thread.

Stitches closely related to herringbone half double crochet include Half Double Crochet, Extended Single Crochet. Learning them together makes patterns easier to read, because many designs switch between related stitches to change texture, height or line. Each has its own step-by-step page in the stitch dictionary.