The Standing Double Crochet tutorial is popular for showing how to join a new color to a project without having to slip stitch and chain - very cool! And it's easy enough to extrapolate it to taller stitches - just wrap the yarn an extra time (or two, or three) at the start. But using this the technique to start a row of half double crochets also works - with one extra step to make it just right. This is how it's done.
Standing Half Double Crochet Video Tutorial
Standing Half Double Crochet Photo Tutorial
This tutorial was filmed and photographed using a worsted weight kitchen cotton and an I hook - but the technique will work with any yarn and hook, over any number of stitches, in both rounds and rows.
Step 1: Wrap the yarn around the hook 3 times, holding the tail end in your hand with your ring and pinky fingers. You'll only use the first two wraps to make the stitch, the third is just to help you hold it in place as you work. You could skip it, but it makes it a bit fiddlier to try to work the stitch.
Step 2: Insert the hook into the first stitch you want to work into. Pull the working end behind the piece you're working into.
Step 3: Yarn over and pull up a loop. You'll now have 4 loops on the hook.
Step 4: Yarn over again and pull through the first 3 loops on the hook. The 3rd you may need to pull over the end of the hook with your other hand. Leave that last wrap on the hook - the Standing HDC is done, but don't let go of the tail just yet!
Step 5: Make your next couple of regular hdc sts according to the pattern. Then you can let go of the tail - it's not going anywhere for now.
Step 6: Finish your row or round. Now take a look at the top of your row, where you see the little Vs. The top of the Standing HDC is just one loop - not a V like the other stitches.
Step 7: IF YOU ARE WORKING IN ROUNDS then this is not a problem! Use the seamless join to join to the first "regular" hdc (the second stitch of the round) - the V made with the seamless join will become the V you work into on the next round.
Step 8: IF YOU ARE WORKING IN ROWS then odds are you're going to want to work into the top of that Standing HDC. So there's one more thing you need to do. Thread the original tail, the one you were holding to start the Standing HDC, onto a tapestry or yarn needle.
Step 9: Insert the needle into the center of the loop at the top of the Standing HDC.
Step 10: Flipping your work over, continue the downward path of the needle and go through the bottom of the stitch, as to weave it in. This holds it in place. Don't weave it in all the way just yet though - you want just a little bit of play in the stitch to get the hook through.
Step 11: Now look at the top of the Standing HDC again - voila! It's a V!
Step 12: Now insert your hook under both loops of the V, and crochet on!
Lots of photos, but not too tricky! The Standing HDC can take a couple of tries to get used to, but it gives you that truly seamless look - no chains or joins. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial - and if there's something else you'd like to see, just let me know!
Maria says
What about if you don't want to break the yarn, like when you work alternate rows in two colors and just keep the thread not in use at the back? I'm doing an easter egg like that, and the ch 2 at the beginning is leaving quite a hole...
Tamara Kelly says
For that I would pull up the new color to finish off the last st of the previous row (like I normally would) and then use the Chainless Starting Double Crochet: https://www.mooglyblog.com/chainless-starting-double-crochet/ 😀
Maria says
Thanks, is it possible to do a standing half double crochet, too?
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Maria! Yes, you can do a standing hdc, dc, trc... 😀
Maria says
Thank you very much!
Charlotte says
Can you use this when making hats? If so, does it get rid of the crooked seam problem that HDC seems to always have?
Tamara Kelly says
It can! What you'd want to do is vary where you join the new yarn - no reason to start in the exact same spot! 😀
Wendy J says
Hello again, Tamara! I've been practicing this stitch... Now I'm wondering; I thought I saw at one time, the HDC used to begin a new row, without chain stitches. I learned from you here, the one using DC. This is another (HDC) I make a mess of.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Wendy! I don't have a chainless starting hdc video - it just doesn't work out as well for that stitch I'm afraid.
Wendy says
Okie Doke. Thanks for responding. I love all the stitches, etc. you have here. You explain them well enough, that I rarely need to look at the video. The photos help a lot. Thanks.
Tamara Kelly says
🙂 Thanks so much Wendy!
vidu says
hello
thank you for the tutorial
Tamara Kelly says
You're very welcome Vidu! 😀
Mildred says
Your tutorial is very helpful. Thank You
Mildred says
The photos help since I am visual learner.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much! 🙂
hiba baklouti says
🙂 love it!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you hiba!
Christine says
I am using this method for my square blanket. On the wrong side it show clearly the bump even tough I don't start my row on the same spot each time and only using 1 colour. What can I do to prevent this please. Thank you for all the tutorials.
Tamara Kelly says
I'm not sure what bump you are referring to. Can you email me a photo at tamarakelly@mooglyblog.com?
Kate says
If I'm crocheting in the round without changing colors, how would I begin a new round?
Tamara Kelly says
You can begin it just as you normally would, or use a standing stitch. Here's the Standing Double Crochet: https://www.mooglyblog.com/standing-double-crochet-joining/ 🙂
Kat says
I'm not understanding. I'm trying to increase the crown of a hat & the normal join to first HDC, then HDC into same stitch is leaving the unsightly seam. I can't find a written description anywhere of how to make a hat without a seam. Do you have a post on how to do that? & thank you.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Kat! The only way to have no seam is to work in a spiral. Here is more about that: https://www.mooglyblog.com/circles-rounds-vs-spirals/
Kat says
Okay, thank you for replying 🙂