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The herringbone half double crochet is a regular half double crochet with one loop pulled through early. That change tilts every stitch, and a row of tilted stitches looks woven.
It's a beginner stitch. If you can make a half double crochet, this is one extra motion. Every row is the same stitch across, and the fabric is dense with more drape than plain hdc.
The one thing that makes it work: after you pull up the loop, pull it straight through the next loop on the hook before you yarn over. That's the move that creates the slant.
Watch: Herringbone Half Double Crochet Video Tutorial
Watch the moment right after the loop is pulled up: the first loop goes through the second loop on the hook before the final yarn over, and that order is the whole stitch.
What You Need
Yarn: the swatch uses worsted weight recycled silk, and worsted is a good weight for learning because the slant is big enough to see. Sport or DK weight makes a lighter fabric with the same look. A smooth, light-colored yarn shows the herringbone line best.
Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8). If the fabric feels stiff, go up a size.
Stitch multiple: the pattern lists a multiple of 4 + 3, but because every stitch in the row is the same, any chain length works. The swatch chains 21 and works 20 stitches per row.
Abbreviations (US terms): CH = chain; HDC = half double crochet; HHDC = herringbone half double crochet; YO = yarn over. The crochet abbreviations guide covers the rest.
Herringbone Half Double Crochet Written Pattern
Size: 6"x6"
Gauge: 4x4 = 13 Stitches | 13 Rows
Yarn: 15g or 23yds of DGY Worsted Weight Recycled Silk Yarn
Crochet Hook Size: 5.0 mm
Stitches worked over a multiple of 4 + 3
Abbreviations:
CH- Chain
HHDC- Herringbone Half Double Crochet -- YO, insert and pull up a loop, pull first loop through second loop on the hook, leaving two loops on the hook, YO, pull through both loops on the hook
CH 21
Row 1: Working into second CH from hook HDC. HDC in all CH sts. Turn.
Row 2: CH 2, HHDC across. Turn.
Rows 3-19: Repeat row 2.
Step-by-Step: How the Stitch Works
- Chain 21 and work a plain hdc row. Starting in the second chain from the hook, hdc in every chain. That's a base of 20 stitches.
- Chain 2 and turn. Yarn over and insert the hook into the first stitch, as for a regular hdc.
- Pull up a loop. Three loops on the hook. In a normal hdc you'd yarn over and pull through all three. Here you don't.
- Pull the first loop through the second. Draw the loop you just made straight through the loop next to it. Two loops remain on the hook, and the stitch has already started to lean.
- Yarn over and pull through both loops. That finishes one herringbone hdc. Work one into every stitch across, turn, and repeat; each row leans the same direction on the right side, which is what builds the woven look.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- Don't yank the early pull-through; a tight first loop locks the stitch and makes the next row hard to get into.
- Count 20 stitches every row. The chain 2 is easy to mistake for a stitch, and the slant hides the last stitch.
- The right side is where the slants line up in one direction; the wrong side looks more like plain hdc. Mark the right side early.
- Expect some lean, since every stitch tilts the same way; blocking squares it up.
- Silk shows the stitch well but can loosen; keep a slightly firm tension on the final yarn over.
What to Make With the Herringbone Half Double Crochet
Herringbone hdc makes a firm fabric with good drape:
- Scarf or cowl in worsted weight; the slanted rows look woven, and the fabric doesn't stretch out of shape.
- Blanket in worsted or bulky weight. Every row is the same, so it's an easy project to pick up and put down. See how to crochet a blanket for sizing.
- Tote or market bag, where the dense stitch keeps small items from poking through.
Related Stitches
- Half Double Crochet — the stitch this one is built on; learn it first if hdc is new.
- Ribbed Half Double Crochet Stitch — another hdc variation, this one with ridges instead of slants.
- Crochet Waistcoat Stitch — a different way to get a knit-look fabric with a crochet hook.
- Single Crochet Stitch — the plain, dense fabric to compare this one against.
- Browse every crochet stitch tutorial — the full Stitch Learning Center index.
Yarn for This Stitch
Worsted weight recycled silk is what the swatch was made with, and the worsted weight yarn collection is the right place to match it. For a lighter scarf or shawl, Darn Good Twist Sport Weight Silk Yarn works the same stitch at a finer gauge, and the slant shows well in a solid or lightly variegated color.
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.
Herringbone Half Double Crochet FAQ
What is the difference between herringbone hdc and regular hdc?
One step. In regular hdc you pull up a loop and yarn over through all three loops. In herringbone hdc you pull the first loop through the second before the final yarn over, which tilts the stitch.
Does the herringbone half double crochet curl or lean?
It doesn't curl much, but the rows can lean a little to one side because every stitch slants the same way. Blocking fixes it, and so does a wider border.
How much yarn does the herringbone hdc use?
About the same as regular hdc, and more than double crochet. The swatch lists 23 yards of worsted for a 6-inch square.
