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Ribbed half double crochet is the easiest way to get a knit-look rib in crochet. You work plain half double crochet, but on every row after the first you put the hook through the back loop only. That leaves the front loop lying on the surface as a raised ridge, and the ridges line up into stretchy horizontal ribs.
It's a beginner stitch. There's nothing new to learn beyond hdc and a slightly different hook placement, and the whole fabric is one row repeated.
The one thing that makes it work is consistency: every stitch, every row, into the back loop. Miss one and the ridge breaks and the stretch goes with it.
Watch: Ribbed Half Double Crochet Video Tutorial
Watch where Mike's hook enters each stitch. The loop closest to him stays untouched, and the hook slides under the loop farther away.
What You Need
The swatch uses medium (worsted) weight yarn and a US H/5mm hook. Worsted is thick enough that the two loops at the top of each stitch are easy to tell apart, and a smooth, light-colored yarn makes that back loop easy to find while you learn.
Abbreviations (US terms): ch = chain, st(s) = stitch(es), hdc = half double crochet, tbl = through back loop, yo = yarn over.
Stitch multiple: any number of stitches, plus 2 chains for the foundation. The swatch chains 22 and works 21 hdc.
Ribbed Half Double Crochet Written Pattern
Size: 6x6 Inches
Gauge: 4” = 14 Stitches | 8 Rows
Yarn: Medium Weight Yarn
Crochet Hook: US H/5mm Crochet Hook
Abbreviations
Ch – Chain
St(s) – Stitch(es)
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Tbl – Through Back Loop
Yo – Yarn Over
Foundation: Ch 22 or any number of sts to measure 6” and add 2 more chains for the foundation.
Row 1: 1hdc in 3rd ch from hook and every chain across. (21sts)
Row 2: ch2 (does not count as st), turn, *1hdc tbl in next st. Repeat from * across.
Repeat Rows 2 ten more times for a total of 12 rows.
Fasten off & block to 6x6 square.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- Row 1 is plain hdc. Yarn over, insert the hook in the third chain from the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all three loops. Work one hdc in every chain for 21 stitches.
- Turn with a ch 2 that doesn't count. Because the chain isn't a stitch, your first hdc goes into the very first stitch of the row. This keeps the edges straight and the count at 21.
- Look at the top of the next stitch. You'll see a V made of two loops. The one nearest you is the front loop; the one farther away is the back loop.
- Yarn over, then hook under the back loop only. Finish the hdc as usual. The front loop you skipped stays on the surface as a horizontal bar.
- Repeat across and every row. Each row leaves a ridge on the side facing away from you as you work. Turning every row puts ridges on both sides, which is why the fabric is reversible and stretches like knit ribbing.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Count stitches at the end of every row for the first few rows. The ch 2 that doesn't count is the usual place to lose or gain one.
- If a ridge disappears partway along a row, you worked a stitch through both loops. Pull back to it; the fabric won't look right otherwise.
- Back-loop hdc has a lot of vertical give, so the swatch may measure short before blocking. Block it and measure again.
- The rows run sideways on a hat brim or cuff. Make a strip as long as the circumference and seam the short ends, so the ribs run up and down.
- Both sides match, so there is no wrong side to hide.
What to Make With the Ribbed Half Double Crochet Stitch
Anything that needs stretch. A hat brim or whole beanie worked sideways in worsted is the classic use; our how to crochet a beanie guide walks through the sizing. Sport or DK weight makes soft cuffs, headbands, and a cowl that hugs without squeezing. In bulky yarn it's a quick, squishy scarf that doesn't curl.
Related Stitches
- Crochet Half Double Crochet — the base stitch, if hdc is new to you
- Crochet Slip Stitch Back Loop — the same back-loop idea in a tighter, knit-like fabric
- Herringbone Half Double Crochet — another hdc variation with a slanted texture
- Browse every crochet stitch tutorial
Yarn for This Stitch
Ribbing wants a yarn with a little bounce and a smooth surface so the ridges read clearly. For hats and cuffs, pick from our worsted weight yarn. For a drapier cowl or headband, Darn Good Twist Sport Weight Silk Yarn is a recycled silk, hand-dyed by artisans in India, and it gives the ribs a soft sheen.
If you'd like a new skein to practice on every month, Yarn of the Month sends three hand-dyed skeins with a knit and crochet pattern written for them, $29 a month plus shipping.
Ribbed Half Double Crochet FAQ
Is ribbed half double crochet stretchy?
Yes, mostly across the rows (the direction the ribs run). That's why hat brims and cuffs are worked sideways and seamed.
What's the difference between back loop hdc and regular hdc?
Only hook placement. Regular hdc goes under both top loops and makes a flat fabric; back loop hdc skips the front loop, leaving a ridge and adding stretch.
Does the ribbed hdc stitch curl?
No. The ridges on both sides balance the fabric, so it lies flat without a border.
