Herringbone Half Double Crochet Stitch

The Herringbone Half Double Crochet Stitch, you gorgeous thing you!  I’m a bit in love with this stitch.  It almost feels knitted, but it really IS crochet and is very simple to learn!

I think what I love best about this stitch is that it is really a very, very simple variation on the normal half double crochet stitch. There are 2 keys to it’s success. First, is that simple variation. And second is that it must worked back and forth in rows. The variation makes the stitches lean slightly one direction. And the back and forth alternates the leaning. Those two components give the Herringbone Half Double Crochet it’s unique look.

This gorgeous stitch goes by a couple of different names and abbreviations. You might see it as Herringbone Half Double Crochet. You might also see it as Herringbone HDC. Or even HHDC. Be super careful if you see “HHDC” in a pattern because it might be easy to just look right past that extra “H” there and make a regular half double crochet instead!

Want a bit of amazingness?  How about a free printable for making your OWN Stitch Dictionary?!  Sweet, right?!  Get all the details here.

Before moving over to my awesome new Stitch Dictionary Binder, I used to attach hang tags to my swatches.  To learn more or to learn about stitch swatching in general please visit my post about stitch swatching here.

Herringbone Half Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial

What I love most about this amazing herringbone stitch is that it gives the appearance of slanted lines with a really, really simple switch of a step in a normal hdc stitch. After inserting your hook into the next stitch, instead of looping over and pulling just through that stitch, you ALSO pull through the first loop that is already on your hook. It might sound confusing, but it’s actually quite easy once you learn how!

If you’ve been crocheting awhile, it might feel awkward at first working the herringbone half double crochet stitch. Pulling through that first loop might even feel jerky and wrong. In all honesty, I can’t manage to do it in one fell swoop-I sort of pull through the stitch and then give another tug to get through the 1st loop. But I absolutely love watching that beautiful pattern emerge and that little bit of hassle is totally work the finished look!

Herringbone Half Double Crochet Stitch

Herringbone Half Double Crochet Stitch

Here is what you will need:

• Any size hook. I used a US G6/4 mm crochet hook (Did you know you can purchase my go-to hooks on Amazon?)
• A yarn weight that works with your hook size.  I used DK weight yarn.
• tapestry needle and scissors

Remember, you can make your swatch with any size hook and yarn weight.  Read all about How to Swatch Here.

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, US to UK Crochet Conversion Chart.  Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.

How to Make a Herringbone Half Double Crochet

This beautiful stitch forms a herringbone pattern and it’s so easy to learn!

To start, wrap yarn over hook and insert in the next stitch, JUST as you would if making a normal half double crochet.

Then, yarn over and pull yarn through BOTH the stitch AND the 1st loop on your hook (see below).  This is the part that makes the Herringbone Half Double Crochet different than a regular half double crochet.

To finish the stitch, simply yarn over and….

Pull through the 2 stitches on the hook.

And the Herringbone half double crochet (aka. Herringbone hdc) is complete!

Here’s a photo of how my swatch is coming along!  Gorgeous, don’t you think?

Now.. let’s use this stitch to make a swatch for our collection.

Swatch Foundation:

For this stitch, there is no set “multiple” so chain as much as you’d like (for information on what this means, please read How to Swatch)

Pattern:

Ch 22 or as long as you’d like

R1:  work a hhdc in the 3rd ch from the hook.  Work a hhdc in each ch across.

R2:  ch 2 and turn.  (Note, the chain does NOT count as a stitch).  hhdc in each stitch across row.

Repeat row 2 for the pattern.

Herringbone (HHDC stitch) Crochet Pattern

Ready to practice the HHDC stitch? The Light Keepers Cap is the perfect crochet pattern to perfect your new crochet skills! I made mine for my husband in a warm worsted weight yarn, but you could easily adjust the pattern for other sizes or yarn weights.

The Herringbone Stitch would also be wonderful made into a dishcloth, a crochet blanket, a baby blanket or even a crochet coaster.

Want to see even MORE Crochet Stitches?

I’ve gathered up my absolute favorites from all over the net into one amazing Crochet Stitches collection!  Be sure to check them out!

I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making one of my patterns I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo.  If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo!  I’d love to see your work!