This Simple HDC Between Stitches Trick Hides the Crochet Line

Updated: 6 November 2026 by Sylwia (MyCrochetory)

HDC between stitches is the little trick behind a cardigan I wear all the time, my Rhea V-Neck Cardigan.

Before Rhea, I frogged a few cardigans. When I finally sat down to design it, I knew one thing for sure. I didn’t want that typical crochet line between the rows.

Rhea was inspired by knitting, and I wanted the fabric to look just as calm and smooth. Working my half double crochet in between the stitches did exactly that, and the rows simply blend into each other.

It’s an easy switch if you already know hdc, but it does change your gauge, so read that part before you start. Or jump straight to the step-by-step tutorial.

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Helpful tools for this tutorial

Hdc between stitches can make your fabric a little wider, so it’s worth swatching with a couple of hook sizes. The Dots Crochet Hook Set has the size marked on every hook. Want a comfier grip for longer sessions? Ergonomic Furls crochet hooks are sold one size at a time, so you can pick just the size you need.

What Is HDC Between Stitches?

Same stitch, different spot. HDC is short for half double crochet, a US term, and normally you work it into the top of a stitch.

For hdc between stitches, also called hdc between posts, you skip the top. You insert your hook into the gap between two stitches of the row below, under all three loops.

It’s an easy swap for an adventurous beginner, and it works in flat rows and in rounds.

Where I Use HDC Between Stitches

Rhea wasn’t the only one. Once I saw how smooth this fabric looks, it found its way into more of my garments.

My Pocket Raglan Sweater is worked in hdc under three loops, in turned rounds for the yoke and in a spiral for the body and sleeves. In the Mosaic Cropped Sweater, everything outside the mosaic part is plain hdc between stitches.

HDC Between Stitches Changes Your Gauge

Heads up before you swap it into any pattern. HDC between stitches is shorter than regular hdc.

So if a pattern was written for regular hdc, your rows will come out lower and you may need extra rows to get the same length. Make a swatch in the stitch your pattern actually uses, and measure it before you start.

How to Crochet HDC Between Stitches, Step by Step

Step 1

Chain any number. Work the first row in regular hdc, starting in the 3rd chain from the hook. Turn.

Step 2

Ch2 (doesn’t count as a stitch here and throughout). Yarn over and insert your hook under the three loops between stitches. See the open space between the first and second stitch on the right?

Yarn over and draw up a loop, so you have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over again and pull through all 3 loops.

Keep working hdc between the stitches to the end of the row. Make the last stitch between the last hdc and the ch-2 from the row below, then turn.

Step 3

Repeat Step 2 for every row until your piece is as long as you want.

Patterns That Use HDC Between Stitches

Want to see it in a real garment? These free patterns use hdc between stitches.

• Rhea V-Neck Cardigan
• Pocket Raglan Sweater
• Mosaic Cropped Sweater

More Crochet Stitch Tutorials

Still in a learning mood? Try one of these next.

• How to Half Double Crochet
• How to Half Double Crochet 2 Rows at Once
• How to Crochet the Moss Stitch
• How to Crochet the Waistcoat Stitch

HDC Between Stitches FAQ

What does HDC mean in crochet?

HDC means half double crochet in US terms. In UK terms the same stitch is called a half treble (htr).

Is hdc between stitches the same as hdc between posts?

Yes. Both names mean working your half double crochet into the gap between two stitches of the row below.

Can I work hdc between stitches in the round?

Yes. In my Pocket Raglan Sweater the body and sleeves are worked in rounds of hdc under three loops.

Have you tried hdc between stitches yet? Tell me in the comments below, and ask away if you get stuck.