Lesson 4: Slip Stitch and Half Double Crochet

Abbreviations:
sl st (slip stitch)
hdc (half double crochet)

A slip stitch is often used to join at the end of rounds. It can also be used to skip a certain number of spaces without leaving a stitch with height behind and not having to finish off and re-connect.

A half double crochet is exactly that. Half of a double (you will learn the double in the next lesson.)

So let's get started!
We will start with the half double crochet as it's easier to learn the slip stitch in an existing row of stitches.

With a slip knot on your hook, ch 11.
(Remember you will always be working through both loops unless otherwise indicated.)

YO, (yarn over) insert in third ch from hook.
YO and draw through st. (You should have 3 loops on your hook.)
YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook. (Now you should have one loop on your hook.)
Stitch is complete. The 2 stitches skipped in the beginning counts as your first hdc.

*YO, insert hook in next st.
YO and draw through st. (could also be seen later as pull up a loop) (3 loops on hook)
YO and draw through all 3 loops on hook. (1 loop on your hook)
Repeat this section to finish your row. At the end you should have 10 hdc (counting your ch)

To continue practice: ch 2, turn (remember this counts as your first stitch, so don't crochet in the stitch directly underneath the ch.)
hdc in each st across. (10 hdc)
Then repeat:
ch 2, turn, hdc in each st across. Keep repeating this to get practice with this stitch.

Here are pictures to go along
 

Yarn Over

Insert hook in next stitch.



Yarn Over

Draw through stitch. 3 loops on hook.

Yarn Over

Draw through all 3 loops on hook.
You should have one loop on your hook.

This is one row of half double crochets.

Next row:

Chain 2, turn.

hdc in next stitch and in each across.
You want to be careful here, the ch 2 counts as 1 hdc.
Ignore the stitch directly under the chain and hdc in
the next stitch. My needle is pointing to the stitch
you go into next. You should have 10 hdc including
the chain at the end of every row.

Note: You may feel like you're missing a stitch at the end of each row. Sometimes the chain from your previous row shrinks up a little bit. Don't forget to crochet in the top of it as it is a stitch.



Slip Stitch
don't finish off your hdc practice, we will use that to practice the slip stitch (sl st.)
don't chain, turn your practice work.

Insert hook in first stitch.

Yarn Over

Pull through stitch and

loop on hook.



Slip Stitches
They leave little to no height and are often
used to join rounds or skip spaces.
You should have 10 slip stitches across.