The Second Row with Half Double Crochet Stitches
Nora XuCrochet Beginner’s Guide 8-2
Similar to making the second row with single crochet stitches, take the first row you have made and mark the final stitch with a stitch marker. Put the hook back into the big loop. Pull the working yarn to adjust the loop to an appropriate size that fits on the hook.
While there is one loop on the hook, turn the piece you have made over to the other side (like turning a page). For a row that will be made with half double crochet stitches, usually you will need to make two chain stitches to form a turning chain. Sometimes, a crochet pattern might call for a different number of chain stitches.
When a turning chain counts as a stitch:
Many patterns will consider this turning chain a stitch. Note that when a turning chain counts as a stitch, no matter how many chain stitches are made to form the turning chain, the entire chain will be viewed as one stitch.
In this case, the turning chain will be viewed as the first half double crochet stitch for the second row. Also, the final stitch of the third row will be made into the top chain stitch of this turning chain.
- Viewing from the top, counting “V shapes,” the first two “V shapes” that are the closest to the hook will be considered one stitch, because these two “V shapes” represent the turning chain.
The first place to make a half double crochet stitch for the second row will be the second stitch of the row. In other words, you will skip the first stitch of the row and make your half double crochet stitch into the stitch just next to the first. Mark the top chain stitch of the turning chain. This will be the place to make the final stitch into when working on the third row.
Continue to make one half double crochet stitch into each of the remaining stitches of the row until approaching the end of the row. When approaching the end of the row, if the chain stitches you skipped in the beginning of the first row do not count as a stitch, your second row is finished.
If the chain stitches you skipped in the beginning of the first row count as a stitch, the final half double crochet stitch for the second row should be made into the top chain stitch of the skipped chain stitches.
- When inserting your hook to make the final stitch, it’s recommended to have your hook under two loops of the chain stitch so the final stitch will sit more stably.
Working on the third row and above is similar to making the second row: after making the turning chain, you will skip the first stitch of the row and make your half double crochet stitch into the second stitch of the row.
In the example here, since the turning chain is considered a stitch, the final stitch of the new row will be made into the top chain stitch of the turning chain made in the beginning of the previous row.
This might look like a lot of information, but the video tutorial at the end of this article demonstrates all the steps in detail.
- Using stitch markers to keep track can be helpful, especially for beginners. Also, it’s recommended to count the number of stitches of a row once the row is finished. Since you are making one stitch into each of the stitches from the previous row, the new row should have the same number of the stitches as the previous. Some common mistakes include making two stitches into the same stitch and missing a stitch in the beginning or end of a row.
When a turning chain is not considered a stitch:
Some patterns will state that a turning chain is not considered a stitch. In this situation:
- You will make your first new stitch for the new row into the first stitch of the row (no stitch will be skipped in the beginning).
- When approaching the end of the new row, do not make any stitch into the chain stitches from the turning chain.
Here are a few ways that a pattern might specify if a turning chain is considered a stitch or not:
Please note that a pattern generally uses crochet stitch abbreviations. For clarity’s sake, the following examples use the full spellings of crochet stitches.
- The 3 chain stitches are (not) considered a stitch.
- The turning chain is (not) considered a stitch.
- Chain 2 (count as the first half double crochet stitch of the row)
- Make 2 chain stitch(es), skip the first stitch of the row, make 8 half double crochet stitches.
Below is a video tutorial about
making the second row and beyond with half double crochet stitches.
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