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Another piece of the Harvest Hex costume is officially finished! 🙌
I'm excited to share Part 3: The Harvest Hex Crochet Purse! 👜🎃
I wanted this purse to match the spooky patchwork style of the costume, so I went with black crochet, fiery orange details, and a creepy little pumpkin face on the front! 🧡🖤 I love how the pumpkin stands out against the black, and the orange edging pulls the whole design together.
This purse is the perfect little accessory to complete the Harvest Hex look, adding one more touch of Halloween magic to the outfit!
And the best part? I've finished the crochet purse pattern, too! 🧶✨
Now that the jacket, pants, and purse are complete, the Harvest Hex costume is coming together one spooky piece at a time. Every finished piece brings me closer to seeing this creepy creation come to life!
Now that you've learned the chain stitch and single crochet, it's time to add another important stitch to your crochet toolbox: the
The half double crochet, usually abbreviated HDC, is a little taller than a single crochet and creates a fabric that is soft and has a nice amount of drape.
What You'll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll know:
What a half double crochet is.
How to make a half double crochet.
Where to insert your hook.
How to count your stitches.
How to turn your work.
How to recognize a half double crochet stitch.
Common beginner mistakes.
What Is a Half Double Crochet?
A half double crochet is a stitch that falls between a single crochet and a double crochet in height.
It's:
Taller than a single crochet
but
Shorter than a double crochet.
The abbreviation you'll see in patterns is:
HDC
Half double crochet is commonly used for:
Blankets
Hats
Scarves
Sweaters
Bags
Baby items
Amigurumi
Home décor
The Half Double Crochet Formula
Here's the basic sequence:
Yarn Over → Insert → Yarn Over → Pull Up a Loop → Yarn Over → Pull Through 3
That's the big difference between single crochet and half double crochet.
With single crochet, you pull through 2 loops at the end.
With half double crochet, you pull through 3 loops all at once.
Step 1: Start With Your Foundation Chain
For practice, make a foundation chain of 11 chains.
Remember from our previous lessons:
The loop currently on your hook doesn't count as a chain.
Step 2: Yarn Over
Before inserting your hook, wrap the working yarn over your hook.
This is your first yarn over.
Step 3: Insert Your Hook
Insert your hook into the third chain from the hook.
Why the third chain?
The first two chains act as your turning chain for this practice row.
Step 4: Yarn Over Again
Yarn over once more.
Then pull the yarn back through the chain.
You should now have:
3 loops on your hook
This is your checkpoint.
Step 5: Yarn Over One More Time
Yarn over again.
You'll still have your three loops on the hook.
Step 6: Pull Through All 3 Loops
Pull your yarn through all three loops at once.
🎉 You've made your first half double crochet!
You should now have one loop remaining on your hook.
The HDC Formula Again
Let's make it easy to remember:
YO → Insert → YO → Pull Up → YO → Pull Through 3
Or:
Over → In → Over → Up → Over → Through 3
Practice saying the steps while you crochet until the movement becomes natural.
Continue Across the Row
Repeat the same process in each chain:
Yarn over.
Insert hook.
Yarn over.
Pull up a loop.
Yarn over.
Pull through all 3 loops.
Continue across your foundation chain.
With an 11-chain foundation, you'll make 9 half double crochet stitches when working into the third chain from the hook.
How to Turn Your Work
Once you've reached the end of the row:
Chain 2
The chain-2 turning chain gives your next row the height it needs.
Then:
Turn your work.
Now you're ready to make your next row of half double crochet.
Where Do You Insert Your Hook?
Look at the top of your half double crochet stitches.
You'll see little V shapes.
For standard HDC, insert your hook under both loops of the V unless your pattern tells you to work into a specific loop.
Counting Your HDC Stitches
Each completed half double crochet counts as one stitch.
Look along the top edge of your row and count the V shapes.
For your practice swatch, you should have:
9 HDC stitches per row
Try counting each row before moving on to the next one.
Common Beginner Mistakes
❌ Forgetting the First Yarn Over
Unlike single crochet, HDC begins with a yarn over before inserting the hook.
❌ Pulling Through Only 2 Loops
Remember:
HDC pulls through all 3 loops at once.
❌ Working Into the Wrong Chain
Your first HDC goes into the third chain from the hook for this exercise.
❌ Making Your Stitches Too Tight
If your hook is difficult to insert into the stitches, relax your tension.
Don't force the hook through.
❌ Losing the Last Stitch
The last stitch of a row can be easy to miss.
Count your stitches before turning.
Practice Exercise 🧶
Let's make a small HDC swatch.
Foundation
Chain 11.
Row 1
HDC in the third chain from the hook.
Continue across.
You should have:
9 HDC
Row 2
Chain 2 and turn.
HDC across the row.
Again, aim for:
9 HDC
Continue for 5–10 rows.
Compare Your Stitches
Now compare your HDC swatch with your single crochet swatch from Lesson 9.
You should notice that HDC:
Is taller.
Works up faster.
Creates a softer, more flexible fabric.
Has a slightly different texture.
This is one reason choosing the correct stitch matters when following a crochet pattern.
⭐ Beginner Tip
Don't worry if your first HDC stitches look a little loose.
HDC can feel awkward at first because you're managing three loops on your hook.
Once your hands get used to the movement, the stitch becomes much easier.
Lesson Summary
Today you learned:
✔ What half double crochet means.
✔ The abbreviation HDC.
✔ How to make an HDC.
✔ Where to insert your hook.
✔ How to pull through all three loops.
✔ How to turn your work.
✔ How to count HDC stitches.
✔ Common beginner mistakes.
⭐ Remember:
Yarn Over → Insert → Yarn Over → Pull Up → Yarn Over → Pull Through 3
That's your half double crochet!
Homework
Make a small HDC swatch that's approximately:
9 stitches × 10 rows
As you work, practice keeping your stitches approximately the same size.
Then compare your HDC swatch with your single crochet swatch.
Notice the difference in height, texture, and drape.
Now we're ready to turn those foundation chains into actual crochet fabric! 🎉
The single crochet is one of the most important basic crochet stitches. You'll find it in blankets, amigurumi, hats, bags, clothing, borders, and countless other projects.
If you can make a chain and a single crochet, you've already learned the foundation of a huge amount of crochet.
What You'll Learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll know:
What a single crochet is.
How to work into a foundation chain.
Where to insert your hook.
How to complete a single crochet.
How to turn your work.
How to count your stitches.
How to recognize the top of a single crochet.
How to avoid common beginner mistakes.
What Is a Single Crochet?
A single crochet, abbreviated SC, is one of the basic crochet stitches.
The basic movement is:
Insert → Yarn Over → Pull Up a Loop → Yarn Over → Pull Through 2
It creates a fairly short, dense stitch that produces a sturdy fabric.
Before You Start
For practice, gather:
🧶 #4 Medium/Worsted yarn
🪝 5.0 mm or 5.5 mm crochet hook
Start with a foundation chain of about 11 chains.
Why 11?
Because for this exercise, we'll work 10 single crochet stitches across the chain.
Step 1: Insert Your Hook
Look at your foundation chain.
For your first row of single crochet, insert your hook into the second chain from your hook.
Why the second chain?
The loop currently on your hook doesn't count as a chain stitch.
So skip the first chain directly below your hook and insert your hook into the next one.
Step 2: Yarn Over
Once your hook is inserted into the chain:
Yarn over (YO).
Bring the working yarn over your hook.
Step 3: Pull Up a Loop
Pull the yarn back through the chain.
You should now have two loops on your hook.
This is an important checkpoint:
2 loops = you're ready for the next step.
Step 4: Yarn Over Again
Yarn over one more time.
You'll now have the yarn sitting on your hook with your two existing loops.
Step 5: Pull Through Both Loops
Pull the yarn through both loops on your hook.
🎉 You've made one single crochet!
You should now have one loop remaining on your hook.
The Single Crochet Formula
Here's the whole stitch in a simple sequence:
Insert → YO → Pull Up Loop → YO → Pull Through 2
Or remember it as:
IN → OVER → UP → OVER → THROUGH
Once this movement becomes familiar, single crochet will become much easier.
Continue Across the Row
Repeat the same process in each chain:
Insert hook.
Yarn over.
Pull up a loop.
Yarn over.
Pull through both loops.
Continue until you reach the end of your foundation chain.
If you started with 11 chains, you should have 10 single crochet stitches.
How to Turn Your Work
When you reach the end of your row, it's time to turn.
Step 1
Make 1 chain.
This is called a turning chain.
Step 2
Turn your crochet piece around so you can work back across the row.
Step 3
Now you'll work your next row of single crochet into the stitches you just made.
Here's a video I made a while back showing single crochet
Where Do You Insert Your Hook?
This is one of the most important things to learn.
When you look at the top of a crochet stitch, you'll see something that looks like a little V.
That V has:
A front loop
A back loop
For standard single crochet, you'll normally insert your hook under both loops of the V.
Think:
V = two loops
Your hook goes underneath both loops unless your pattern tells you otherwise.
Counting Single Crochet Stitches
Counting stitches is an important skill.
After completing your row, look along the top edge of your crochet.
Each stitch looks like a little V.
Count the Vs.
If you started with 11 chains and followed the instructions above, you should have:
10 single crochet stitches
If you have 9 or 11, don't panic!
Simply go back and find where a stitch was accidentally skipped or added.
Common Beginner Mistakes
❌ Skipping the First Stitch
Remember to work into the second chain from the hook when starting your first row.
❌ Working Into the Wrong Part of the Stitch
When working subsequent rows, make sure you're inserting your hook under the correct loops.
For standard single crochet, that's usually both loops of the V.
❌ Losing a Stitch at the End
The last stitch can be easy to miss.
Before turning your work, count your stitches.
❌ Making Your Stitches Too Tight
If you can barely insert your hook into the stitches, your tension may be too tight.
Try relaxing your yarn hand.
❌ Adding Extra Stitches
Sometimes beginners accidentally crochet into the turning chain when they shouldn't.
Keep track of your first and last actual stitches.
Practice Exercise 🧶
Let's make a little practice swatch.
Row 1
Chain 11.
Single crochet into the second chain from the hook.
Continue across.
You should have:
10 SC
Row 2
Chain 1 and turn.
Single crochet across.
You should still have:
10 SC
Row 3
Chain 1 and turn.
Single crochet across again.
Continue until you have around 5–10 rows.
Look at Your Fabric
Now take a moment to look at what you've made.
You should see rows of small, fairly compact stitches.
That's your first piece of crochet fabric! 🎉
And this simple stitch can eventually become:
Blankets
Hats
Bags
Amigurumi
Clothing
Coasters
Borders
And much more
⭐ Beginner Tip
Don't worry if your first few rows don't look perfectly straight.
Your edges may wiggle.
Your stitches may be different sizes.
You might accidentally skip a stitch.
That's completely normal when you're learning.
The goal at this stage isn't perfection—it's learning to recognize the movement and understand where your hook goes.
Lesson Summary
Today you learned:
✔ What single crochet means (SC).
✔ How to insert your hook.
✔ How to yarn over and pull up a loop.
✔ How to complete the stitch.
✔ How to work across a foundation chain.
✔ How to turn your work.
✔ How to recognize the V-shaped top of a stitch.
✔ How to count your stitches.
✔ How to avoid common beginner mistakes.
Homework
Make a small single crochet practice swatch.
Try to make:
10 stitches × 10 rows
As you work, practice counting each row.
Then look at your finished piece and see if you can identify:
The individual stitches
The rows
The turning chains
The top Vs of the stitches
This little swatch is going to become a very useful reference as we move into the next stitches.
