Today I want to share my tutorial for how to do a Half Double Crochet Decrease, which is also known as the HDCDEC, DC2TOG or Half Double Crochet Two Together Stitch. This stitch is a variation of the Half Double Crochet Stitch and is regularly used as a way to reduce two Half Double Crochet stitches to a single Half Double Crochet Stitch. I’ve got both a photo and video tutorial for us today so let’s grab our hooks and our yarn and let’s learn how to crochet the Half Double Crochet Decrease Stitch or HDCDEC.
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You can use any hook and yarn combination with this stitch but today I’ll be using a Furls Odyssey 5.5mm crochet hook and a Brava Worsted Weight Yarn from We Crochet.
Check out my How to do the Half Double Crochet Decrease Stitch video tutorial here:
Abbreviations:
- CH = Chain
- HDC = Half Double Crochet
- HDCDEC = Half Double Crochet Decrease*
- HDC2TOG = Half Double Crochet Two Together*
- ST(s) = Stitch(es)
- YO = Yarn Over
**You may see HDCDEC or HDC2TOG used to describe this same stitch in different patterns. I tend to stick to HDCDEC in my own designs but know that if you see HDC2TOG in other patterns, they tend to mean the same thing.
How to Crochet the Half Double Crochet Decrease Stitch
Step 1: Yarn over (YO) hook and insert hook into the first stitch (ST) from the row below. YO and pull up a loop. You should have three (3) loops on your hook.
Step 2: YO hook and insert hook into the next ST. YO and pull up a loop. You should have five (5) loops on your hook.
Step 3: YO hook and pull through all five (5) loops on your hook. HDCDEC/HDC2TOG completed.
That’s it! Isn’t that’s so simple? Here are some free crochet patterns on my blog that use the Half Double Crochet Decrease Stitch so you can practice your new skill:
- Into the Fade One Skein Crochet Hat Pattern
- Norse Crochet Mittens
- Juneau Blues Beanie Free Crochet Pattern
Want to learn something else? Check out these other great free crochet tutorials:
This is incorrect. Hdcdec is different than hdc2tog. The decrease is done all in the same stitch.
Some designers may use it that way for certain cluster-type stitches but the actual standards, set forth by the Craft Yarn Council say that HDC2TOG is the official terminology for the HDCDEC.They are both done the same way, unless a pattern specifically outlines a variation like the above-mentioned cluster stitch.
My apologies. I came to delete my comment but was unable. It must just be that way in the 2 recent patterns I am using as I see they specifically state “in one stitch only”. I am very sorry. Thank you for the explanation.
No problem at all!