Foundation Half Double Crochet (FHDC) Tutorial - Moogly

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!

Thanks for watching! Follow Moogly on the World Domination tour through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest!

SharePin6KTweetShareEmailReddit6K Shares