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    Home » Video Tutorials » Advanced Stitches

    Alternative Double Crochet (Alt dc) or Extended Half Double Crochet (ehdc)

    Published: Apr 10, 2013 · Modified: Jun 20, 2018 by Tamara Kelly · 34 Comments

    Learn the Alternative Double Crochet Stitch with this quick video tutorial! Written instructions included!Alternative Double Crochet, also called Alternate Doubles, or Extended Half Double Crochet, is a simple and interesting take on the standard double crochet stitch.

    But it's easy to confuse with the phrase "alternating double crochet" - which usually means working dc stitches in the back and front loops. No, this video tutorial is about the Alternative Double Crochet stitch, usually abbreviated Alt dc. Let's take a look at how it's done.

    Video Tutorial: How to Crochet the Alternative Double Crochet Stitch

    Written Instructions for the Alternative Double Crochet Stitch

    This stitch can be made over any number of stitches - just add 2 chains for the starting chain, as the first 3 chains are skipped and count as the first dc. From there, make each stitch as follows: Yo, and insert hook into the next st. Yo and pull up a loop. (3 loops on hook.) Yo and pull through the 1st loop only. (3 loops on hook.) Yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook.

    And that's all there is to making Alternative Double Crochets! It might take some concentration to make the sts this way, but if you can dc you can certainly Alt dc! Remember - even advanced crochet stitches are very doable, they're often only termed "advanced" because they're rare. In a way, it's just a ch followed by an hdc. Because of the way it's worked, Alternative Double Crochet creates an interesting horizontal stripe that stands out from the usual dc project - a great way to mix things up!

    I hope you enjoyed this video! Have you ever made a project with Alternative Doubles? Share your thoughts, and let me know what other stitches you'd like to see a tutorial for in the comments! And I want to give a big thank you to Julia for letting me know about another name for this stitch (which I've updated the post to reflect) - thank you Julia!

    Be sure to check out and like the moogly Facebook page to get the latest updates, links, and sneak peeks. Moogly is also on Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, and Google+ – come join the fun! You can contact me via the Facebook page or at TamaraKelly@mooglyblog.com.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. 1

      Liz Hasler

      April 10, 2013 at 1:54 pm

      Thanks! I'm going to have to try it. It does make a pretty stitch!

      Reply
    2. 2

      Chris Quirky

      April 10, 2013 at 2:18 pm

      Hi, I think this would be less confusing if you used the correct word in your vidio. *Alternate* means "every other (or second)" stitch. What you should be saying in your video is the word *alternative*. Alternative means "different". So really, this is not an *alternate* dc, it's an *alternative* dc. Hope you can see my point. Thanks for the tutorial.

      Reply
      • 3

        Tamara Kelly

        April 10, 2013 at 2:20 pm

        The stitch is called both, and the Miriam Webster dictionary lists alternative as one of the definitions of alternate. If you read the accompanying post, this is addressed.

        Reply
    3. 4

      Gramma Rita

      April 10, 2013 at 4:48 pm

      This looks interesting. Will have to give it a try sometime. I am guessing that, after 38 yrs. of making a dc one way, it is going to be "interesting" getting my hands to cooperate with this. LOL 😀

      Reply
      • 5

        Tamara Kelly

        April 10, 2013 at 7:07 pm

        It certainly took me some concentration to make the swatch! 😀

        Reply
    4. 6

      Julia

      April 10, 2013 at 6:04 pm

      This is great, I've never seen it in print or video before. I called it extended hdc, (ehdc or lhdc) as it's worked like an extended or long sc.

      Reply
      • 7

        Tamara Kelly

        April 10, 2013 at 7:11 pm

        You got me looking and it turns out some people do call it that! I hadn't heard that name before, but it's very apt! Thank you!

        Reply
      • 8

        Tamara Kelly

        April 10, 2013 at 7:16 pm

        Ok, I've updated the post to include that name - thank you so much Julia!

        Reply
        • 9

          Julia

          April 11, 2013 at 6:35 am

          Your very welcome 🙂 I think one of the best things to come from people like yourself sharing video's is that we have been able to see how a stitch is made and collect together all the different names that you can call it. It makes teaching and learning so much easier.

          Reply
      • 10

        Lynda Otvos

        June 26, 2019 at 7:36 pm

        That’s what’ I call it too. Extended half double. Made like an extended single just with the beginning yarn over added so we pull thru three at the last.

        Reply
    5. 11

      Susan M J

      April 10, 2013 at 6:41 pm

      I love your blogs and Videos are very helpful, person doing them is exstreamly well talented.Why cant we PIN on Pinterest??? I like to share and point others to Great sites?? Susan M J

      Reply
      • 12

        Tamara Kelly

        April 10, 2013 at 7:06 pm

        I'm glad you like them! You're welcome to pin them too. You can use the bookmarklet if you have it on your toolbar, or you can use the Pin It button at the bottom of each post. 🙂

        Reply
        • 13

          Susan M J

          October 18, 2013 at 9:40 am

          Thank you and I will pin as Im inti pinterest a Lot.
          Thank You Made me feel special getting this reply. See you again. Susan M J

          Reply
          • 14

            Tamara Kelly

            October 18, 2013 at 12:51 pm

            😀 Thank you Susan!

            Reply
    6. 15

      marrie

      September 06, 2013 at 12:06 pm

      I really don't know from where you get that awesome ideas!..I love your tutorial..Tamara! ♥♥

      Reply
    7. 16

      Marrie

      October 11, 2013 at 11:29 pm

      It's OK...but today i tried it an' hen i turned to make a 2nd row..i get back to the same look!... 🙁

      Reply
      • 17

        Marrie

        October 12, 2013 at 1:08 am

        *i meant that back to the back look!

        Reply
    8. 18

      Marrie

      October 12, 2013 at 5:30 am

      Let me describe in a brief description:
      see,for 2nd row we always have to turn the work!..but when i turn an' make a treble so there is always a back side look!..:(

      Reply
      • 19

        Tamara Kelly

        October 12, 2013 at 10:38 am

        Hi Marrie, are you saying you don't like the way Alt dc looks when worked in rows, because of the back side of the stitches? If so, you could always just reserve this stitch for working in the round. 🙂

        Reply
        • 20

          Marrie

          October 13, 2013 at 5:38 am

          thanks

          Reply
    9. 21

      Susan M J

      October 12, 2013 at 12:35 pm

      Hi Cool and cloudy in MN Good crochet Day??? This alternate st. I haven;t tried YET I will tho. Sound like a Afghan st ??

      Reply
      • 22

        Tamara Kelly

        October 12, 2013 at 2:59 pm

        You could certainly make an afghan with it - anything you like! If you're thinking of THE Afghan Stitch, that usually refers to a stitch that's also called Tunisian Stitch and worked on a very long hook.

        Reply
    10. 23

      Xeng

      August 31, 2014 at 7:51 am

      Wow. Thank you for another great tutorial.

      Reply
      • 24

        Tamara Kelly

        September 01, 2014 at 11:24 am

        😀 Thank you!

        Reply
    11. 25

      Flo

      February 16, 2015 at 11:39 am

      Hi Tamara! I wonder if you could tell me how is the 'linked extended half double crochet'. I can't find a tutorial that shows it. I hace found some videos showing or the extended half double crochet or how to link half double crochet but any of linking extended half double crochet. Do you have any how to about it, or some link to help me? I really appreciate it!! Thanks!! Flo

      Reply
      • 26

        Tamara Kelly

        February 16, 2015 at 4:18 pm

        Hi Flo! That's a pretty unusual combo, so I'm not surprised you've had trouble! It's a combination of extended half double crochet, and linked stitches, as you know. You say you have seen videos of each, so I think you're well on your way. The first exhdc stitch of a linked stitches row can be crocheted pretty normally - just like in the exhdc video. Then for the next (and subsequent) st, you insert the hook into the bar of the previous stitch indicated in the linked video, then insert the hook in the indicated stitch, then yo, pull up a loop, yo and pull through one loop (the extended part of the stitch), then yo and pull through all 3 loops. Does that help?

        Reply
    12. 27

      Chris

      September 30, 2017 at 2:54 am

      Hi Tamara it doesn't matter what you call the stitch it's different than dc an unusual one at that very good thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • 28

        Tamara Kelly

        October 02, 2017 at 9:10 am

        Thank you, I hope you enjoy it! 🙂 I learned a lot of my stitches from older books, so when I began making videos I was using some of the older names. It's always changing! 🙂

        Reply
    13. 29

      MeMe

      January 03, 2018 at 8:18 pm

      I really want to try this stitch but I cannot find a pattern using it, therefore I do not know how many to start it. Once you have chained the amount you want and start your first row do you skip any stitches? What about at the end of a row how many do you chain before you turn it?

      Reply
      • 30

        Tamara Kelly

        January 04, 2018 at 9:42 am

        Hi MeMe! It's just like a dc in terms of chaining and stitch counts - you use it exactly the same way. 🙂

        Reply
    14. 31

      Judy

      October 14, 2020 at 1:09 pm

      Hi Tamara, I’m confused. How does the horizontal stripe happen when you’re just putting your hook in a normal stitch top? The dc is a bit different from “normal” dc but it’s still inserted normally. My work doesn’t get the stripe effect. What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

      Reply
      • 32

        Tamara Kelly

        October 14, 2020 at 5:47 pm

        Hi Judy! Are you referring to the strip from the first yarn over?

        Reply
        • 33

          Judy

          October 15, 2020 at 2:04 pm

          Hi Tamara, I think I figured it out. The stitch goes into the back loop only . I had stopped your video to check, and that stopped frame is back loop. Thanks! I love this stitch!

          Reply
          • 34

            Tamara Kelly

            October 16, 2020 at 12:07 pm

            Ah, I'm so glad you got it! 😀 Enjoy your pattern!

            Reply

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