Crochet Stitch Photo Tutorial – Forked Half Double Crochet

A photo tutorial for a solid stitch, perfect for making warm hats, strong bags, and anything that needs a tighter weave. It is like a combination of the half double and double crochet stitches, but much more visually interesting and can be worked in any number of chains or spaces!

I used this stitch to make a baby blanket and warm winter hats, all of which I'm donating to Hooks of Hope, a chapter of the charity, Crochet for Cancer, which gives handmade crocheted hats, blankets, and loveys to those suffering from cancer. The abbreviation for the stitch, which you'll see in written patterns, is FK HDC.

Step #1:

Chain 3

Step #2:

Yarn over the hook, insert hook into the same space as the chain 3, and pull up the loop. There should now be 3 loops on your hook.

Step #3:

Yarn over the hook again, insert hook into the next space (just next to the chain 3 space) and pull up a loop. There should now be 5 loops on your hook.

Step #4:

Yarn over again, pull the loop through the first 3 loops on your hook. There should be 3 loops remaining on the hook.

Step #5:

Yarn over the hook, pull the loop through the last 3 loops on your hook. Done!

See how it forks over two stitch spaces? It almost looks like a v-stitch, or a cluster v-stitch (click on the links for both of those stitch tutorials!)

Done!

See how the stitch looks different with variegated yarn? Changing colors really makes it pop, too. I really like this stitch because it's SO easy and quick, yet still interesting. It's also much cleaner than a straight double or half double crochet – the weave just looks neater and tighter. Here are the hats I made with it – pattern coming in just a few days!

If doing a blanket, you'll end the row with a double crochet at the end in the same space as the space you ended with the forked half double crochet. If making a hat, you'll work a slip stitch into the top of the first chain 3 to finish the round. Then, start at step 1 again!

Get the free pattern for this Crochet Lily Pad baby blanket using the FK HDC stitch!