In the past I've made video tutorials for both Foundation Single Crochet (FSC) and Foundation Double Crochet (FDC) - but recently I had a request for Foundation Half Double Crochet (FHDC)! This chainless foundation stitch is an easy variation on the other ones, and a great intro to foundation stitches if you aren't already familiar with them. It's perfect for starting your next project without the hassle of counting a long starting chain! So grab your hook, make a slip knot, and let's get started with the Foundation Half Double Crochet (FHDC) tutorial!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Foundation Half Double ( FHDC) Crochet Video Tutorial
How to Crochet FHDC - Right Handed
How to Crochet FHDC - Left Handed
Foundation Half Double Crochet (FHDC) Photo Tutorial
Both the video and photo tutorials shown here feature Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn, and a Furls Fiberarts Crochet Hook in size US-I, 5.5mm. However, you can make this stitch using any yarn and the appropriate hook. You can work as many stitches as desired.
Note: This tutorial uses US terms. In UK terms, this stitch is called Foundation Half Treble Crochet.
To substitute Foundation Half Double Crochet in a pattern that calls for a series of chains followed by a row of hdc, simply work the same number of Foundation Half Double Crochets as you would regular half double crochets in the first row! The beauty of FHDC is that it replaces both the regular chain stitch row and the first row of stitches, saving you time and giving you a stretchier edge.
Making the First FHDC:
Step 1: Ch 2. Yarn over, and insert the hook in the second ch from the hook (the first ch made), and pull up a loop. This first loop acts as the chain portion of the FHDC.
Step 2: Yarn over and pull a loop through the first loop on the hook (3 loops still on the hook). This loop acts as the first part of a standard hdc.
Step 3: Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook. The first FHDC is complete! It doesn't look like much now, but keep going!
Making the Rest of the FHDC:
Step 1: Yarn over, and insert the hook under the two loops of the V on the underside of the previous FHDC, and pull up a loop. Again, this first loop acts as the chain portion of the FHDC.
Step 2: As Step 2 above, yarn over and pull a loop through the first loop on the hook (3 loops still on the hook). This loop acts as the first part of a standard hdc.
Step 3: Again, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook. The next FHDC is complete!
Continue making the rest of the Foundation Half Double Crochet stitches just like the second one here. Soon you'll have a whole row!
Fixing the Curve!
A little bit of a curve in this row is normal, but if it's curving more than it should, this can be corrected by making sure you're pulling the first loop, in Step 1, up nice and high. The curve is caused by the chain portion of the FHDC stitches being too short. If done right, you should have a super stretchy and fast start to any hdc project! Here are a couple more tricks: leave a longer yarn tail when you start, and don't pull your stitches too tight.
And that's all there is to the Foundation Half Double Crochet stitch, commonly abbreviated as FHDC. Ready to put it to use? Check out Moogly's free crochet patterns for inspiration on your next make!
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Zarnaz says
Hello! I've never made any other stitches than the Foundation Chain, I"ll go check out the FSC thread... thanks!
And one more thing, whenever I make a few rows of SC, the edges turn out to be uneven, this does not happen with HDC, DC or TRC... can you help me with that?
Sarah Jane says
Another great tutorial Tamara!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much Sarah!
Jenny B says
Tamara, I really appreciate all that you have done on your blog. I am a mother of four, a long time crocheter and a new crochet designer. I am just getting started selling patterns, trying to earn a little extra money for my family. I have learned so many new ideas from your site, like doing these Foundation single, double and half double crochet stitches. These foundation stitches have been a favorite tool of mine in creating new patterns. Since these stitches are fairly new to so many people I have been linking people back to your blog for the video tutorials. Thank you so much for the work that you do here!
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Jenny - for your kind words, and the links! 😀 I really appreciate it! Best of luck with your pattern sales!
Shirley says
Tamara, I just stumbled across your tutorial videos today on Pinterest and had to stop and say Thank You! I am left-handed, so it is not always easy for me to follow crochet instructions. But your videos were fantastic and really helped me to understand quickly and easily. Sometimes I have to watch a video over and over before I finally get it, but your videos were so clear and easy to understand that I understood immediately what you were teaching in each video I watched. Even though I have crocheted for many years, you have helped me to learn some new techniques and given me fresh ideas. Your videos are short and to the point and extremely well done. You do repeat instructions a couple of times to make sure they are well understood, which is wonderful, but you don't "over-teach" and go into unnecessary detail as some videos do. You are a great teacher and I really appreciate you taking the time to make these videos and share your talents with others.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Oh my, thank you so much Shirly! ♥ I really appreciate you saying so!
Sarah says
Hi Tamara! Your tutorials are amazing!! I have a quick question. I'm wanting to start on a sweater who's first row uses sc, dc, and hdc all in the back loop. My question is - is it possible to combine the FSC, FDC, and FHDC together in the same chain? Would I just vary how I did the stitch into the foundation chain? And since the whole row is worked in the back loop, would I make the foundation stitches in the back loop or the front loop (for continuity)? Thanks!!
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Sarah, thank you! You can absolutely combine them all! It's just about the yo before you go into the bottom of the previous stitch, and then how you finish the stitch - the basics are all the same. The back loop part is the tricky part - unless it's super important to the look of the sweater, I might skip that part...
Yvette says
OMG! So easy to do once you've seen it. Tried to do this from photos and words before and just didn't get it. Thanks Tamara I'll be using this all the time now.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I'm so glad it helped! Thank you Yvette!
elizabeth Harvey says
wow, thanks for your clear tutorial on the Foundation Half Double Crochet. It was so easy to follow and saved all those chains then row 1 of Hdcs. I love this. Thank you again.
Tamara Kelly says
🙂 I'm so glad to hear it, thank you Elizabeth!
Brooke says
Yes! And you just fixed The most frustrating problem I was having - curved 1st row. You were so specific about why that happens, as opposed to the general "don't chain too tight", that I immediately did my first hdc Foundation chain..... Straight. That's huge!!! Thank you!!
Tamara Kelly says
Oh yay! Thank you Brooke! 😀
Vic says
I have been watching for 2 days.. just about to give up and came across yours . Watched it 4x and got it. Thank you very much for holding the camera close to your hook I could see everything. I had no ides what a v was ,untell I could see yours.
Tamara Kelly says
Oh I'm so glad to hear it! (Though bummer on all the searching!) 😀 Thank you Vic!
Judy says
Thank you so much for this video. It is very helpful
Tamara Kelly says
I'm so glad to hear it, thank you Judy!
Etta Burke says
Just found the pattern for the Greyson Baby Blanket and can't wait to get started on it. This, in turn, led me to the video for the Foundation Half Double Crochet which I did not know about. Wow, it's fantastic and so much better than doing the chains. I've been crocheting for awhile but still have so much to learn. I'll be checking out your other videos as well. They are very well done and I like the fact that you repeat instructions to make sure they are understood, but you don't overdo the repetition. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge to make it easier for others.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Etta! I really appreciate your saying so!
Eileen Cooke says
I can't believe how simple you've made starting a base stitch for crocheting! Your videos are so great and I can't thank you enough for taking the time to share your knowledge with the rest of the "hooked" community. Bless you and keep us learning.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Eileen! I really appreciate it!
Carole says
Hi,
I simply cannot make this stitch 😰
I am attempting to make your lovely Simple Waterfall Vest.
Is it possible to do it with a simple foundation stitch and half double stitch instead of the foundation half double stitch? Please advise asap. Thanks.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Carole! Yes! Just chain one more and use it as the turning chain. 🙂
Kristin says
This tutorial was SO helpful! I love that I can read it step by step, and also watch the video. I’m starting a pattern that has a foundation hdc as part of it, and I feel like I am cruising along now thanks to your excellent tutorial.
Tamara Kelly says
That's so great to hear, thank you so much Kristin! 😀
Emily McNair says
Took me a few tries (& if I’m being honest I was distracted by McDreamy on the Hallmark channel) but I think I got it. Thanks so much! Much easier than chaining & turning to make a foundation
Tamara Kelly says
😀 I'm so glad you like it!
Emily McNair says
@Tamara, is there a way you could post how to connect the ends... I’m trying to make yoga socks and think I can make a nifty pattern with what you’ve shown but I cannot figure out how to connect the ends to make a full circle
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Emily! I think this tutorial will help: https://www.mooglyblog.com/joining-foundation-stitches-to-work-in-the-round/
If I've misunderstood the question, please let me know!
Emily McNair says
This is exactly what I was looking for, Thanks! Crochet yoga socks here I come!
Angela says
I would like to use the foundation chain hdc at the beginning of a scarf. If I use a row of single crochet and then the Hdc at the end would they match?
Tamara Kelly says
I would either use the Foundation Single Crochet or end with a row of hdc - unless the pattern calls for hdc at one end and sc at the other. 🙂
Caddi Ranyard says
This is an excellent pattern, I love be the cables and, as yet, I have not seen the video. Your instructions are clear. I just want to say thank you for making this pattern available. I hope you know how much your time and work is appreciated.
Janice says
Thank you so much for this! Your instructions were so clear and I really appreciated the tip about fixing the curve - I was having so much trouble with that.
Tamara Kelly says
I'm so glad it helped! Happy holidays! ♥