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This is a free tutorial for waistcoat half double crochet or split half double crochet which is an easy knit-look crochet stitch. Use it for garments, accessories or homewares with amazing results.
I am super excited to share this knit-look crochet stitch tutorial with you! This idea has been swirling in my head and I can finally share it with you.
We as crocheters are sometimes obsessed with making our crochet items look knitted. Knitting has a classy and clean look and I must say I adore the way knitting looks sometimes.
So effortless, clean and polished stitches make knitted pieces very desirable.
But it is safe to say that knitting needles and I have a very funny relationship. I swear the needles hate me sometimes and don’t do as they are told.
We all know that crochet is much more forgiving than knitting when it comes to making it. Crocheters are often scared of dropping stitches and making a mistake that is going to cost them the whole project.
Let’s be honest, frogging knitting is as scary as Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie!
But, what if I tell you that there is a stitch that creates a lovely knit-look fabric achieved with your humble crochet hook and only one stitch?
Knit-Look Crochet Stitch – Waistcoat Half Double Crochet (whdc)
Most of us are fairly familiar with the waistcoat single crochet, sometimes called split single or centre post single crochet.
This is a standard single crochet stitch, however, rather than working through the top loops, you will insert you hook through the “V” at the front of the stitch.
Through the centre of the “V” and split the stitch in half to create the knit-look crochet stitch.
If you have not heard about this stitch, check out a quick tutorial on my Chunky Crochet Hat Pattern – A Shade of Grey post.
If you have used this stitch before you will be familiar with what I am about to say…
Firstly, the stitch is a pain in the back side to work. You really have to be mindful to crochet loosely and not to pull the stitches too tight.
Otherwise you will have very painful fingertips from trying to push the hook through the stitch.
Secondly, I have to say that the finished fabric is rather dense, stiff and doesn’t have a lot of drape. This is not the beast qualities to use for a crochet garment.
And lastly, the fabric doesn’t allow for a lot of stretch width or lengthways. Again, this is not the fabric you would want to use for a crochet garment.
Why Knit-Look Waistcoat Hdc Crochet Stitch?
I was over the moon when the plan in my head worked out. I have applied the same technique of working into the front “V” of the stitch and splitting the stitch in half to half double crochet.
To my delight, this technique worked and produced the same knit-look crochet stitch as of I was working the single crochet.
However, the finished fabric is much more forgiving. It is lighter, has a lot of movement and drape and it stretches both width and lengthways.
I think I have achieved amazing results and I am excited to use this stitch in a few of my upcoming projects.
If you fancied giving this knit-look crochet stitch a go, I have just the project for you.
I have previously used this stitch for my Easy Crochet Potholder – Free Pattern that is available on my site as a free pattern.
I have also designed a second pattern using this great stitch, check out Knit-look Crochet Cowl Free Pattern – Etela Cowl.
Waistcoat Half Double Crochet Video Tutorial
I am bringing you a video tutorial on how to work this knit-look crochet stitch. I have included instruction to work this stitch in both the rounds and rows.
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Waistcoat Hdc in Rows
The stitch is super versatile and can be worked in round as well as in rows.
The only thing you have to be mindful of when working in flat rows, is to know where to place your hook!
You have to insert your hook through the middle of the “V” of the stitch facing you. Before you finish the stitch you need to look at the back of your work.
This is to ensure that your hook has come out on the other side through the “V” of the stitch too. If you don’t look, you might end up missing the “V” of the stitch.
This will result in a fabric that is not neat and does not resemble the look of knitted fabric.
Insert your hook through the “V” at the front of the stitch
Look at the back of your work and make sure the hook is coming out the other side through the middle of the “V” at the back of the stitch
Make sure to pull the “golden loop” of the stitch up to the height of the other loops so it stays nice and loose to work into on the next row.
And here is the finished result of the knit-look crochet waistcoat hdc stitch worked in rows.
You can use this fantastic stitch for any project you wish to. The stitch doesn’t need a stitch multiple, it is a stand alone stitch.
So, for your project you can chain as many stitches as you need to reach the width or length, then add 2 extra chains.
This is to account for the 2 ch at the start of the row. You will then start working into 3rd chain from the hook where the first 2 chain sts don’t count.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this knit-look crochet stitch tutorial. I have more free crochet tutorials that you might enjoy right here on the blog.
Other stitches you might like
If you enjoyed this tutorial, you might also like these:
- Paired double crochet tutorial and bed runner pattern
- Half Double Crochet V Stitch Free Step-by-step Tutorial
- Linked Double Crochet Stitch – Free Tutorial
- How to Crochet Blanket Stitch – Free Video and Written Tutorial
- Crochet Rice Stitch In Round And Rows – Free Video Tutorial
- Herringbone Double Crochet (HBdc) – Free Video Tutorial
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