How to Crochet: Foundation Half Double Crochet

Are you working a new crochet pattern that uses the Foundation Half Double crochet? You’ll love it once you get the hang of it, and it’s easier than you think! 

How to Foundation Half Double Crochet

The foundation crochet stitches (single, half double, double) are particularly helpful when you’re not sure how long to make your beginning chain. Great for clothing or a large blanket or if simply you want that nice, pretty edge on the bottom of your piece.  The Foundation Half Double crochet is similar to the foundation single crochet with one small addition: an extra yarn over. Easy, right? Let’s do it!

Grab your hook and your yarn. If you’re more of a visual learner scroll down to the video below.

1. Chain two.

2. Yarn over, insert hook into very first chain made.

3. Pull up a loop (three loops on hook).

4. Yarn over, pull through one loop (three loops on hook).

5. Yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.

First Foundation Half Double Crochet complete!

To make subsequent stitches you will…

6. Yarn over, insert hook into both sides of the TOP of the previous stitch.

7. Pull up a loop (three loops on hook).

8. Yarn over, pull through one loop (three loops on hook).

9. Yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.

Voila! The second Foundation Half Double crochet stitch is complete! Now you’ll simply add to those foundation half double crochet stitches until your foundation row reaches desired length.  You’ll also want to learn these two tips for making sure that #1) your chain isn’t too tight (does not curl) and #2) each stitch looks uniform in shape.

Tip #1: To make sure your foundation row does not curl you’ll need to make sure that your stitches aren’t too tight. To do this, after you pull up that first loop in the stitch make sure that the hook is perpendicular to the foundation row itself, not at an angle. This helps to ensure that the bottom of the row isn’t way tighter than the top, meaning that it will not curl as much/if at all.

Tip #2: To help each stitch remain uniform in appearance, I find it helpful to coerce the first loop (when you pull through just the first loop on your hook) to lay to the left. It will naturally want to lay that way but by pushing it slightly with my thumb (also to the left) on each and every stitch the foundation row helps it to turn out beautifully!

Would you rather see a video of it in action? It’s cool, I prefer that too.

More crochet tutorials:

How to Make an Invisible Join in Crochet
The Double Crochet (Video Tutorial)
What to Do When You Forget Which Crochet Hook Size You Used
5 Reasons You Should Time Yourself While Crocheting
How to Crochet the Lemon Peel Stitch