How To Crochet 3rd Loop Starting Half Trebles - Photo Tutorial

If you are going to work third loop half treble (US third loop half double) crochet stitches in the round, you will also need to know how to make Starting Half Treble (US Starting Half Double) crochet stitches in the third loop.

The close up of my Halo Cowl in the image below shows how 3rd loop starting half treble crochet has been used to start of each round.

Crocheted cowl with third loop starting half treble sticthes to start rounds. — 4ply Long Version of **Halo Cowl**

If you would prefer a quick video tutorial, I have one right here.

Here’s how make Starting Half Trebles in the 3rd loop in The Round:

Close up of a starting half treble crochet in the third loop.

Step 1 – Ignore the front and back loops at the top of the stitch that you would normally work into.

Swatch of half treble crochets in 3rd loop showing third loop on WS of work.

Step 2 – The third loop sits at the back of the stitch (on the wrong side of the fabric). If you turn your work to the wrong side, you will easily see a horizontal bar at the back of the starting half treble in the thrid loop and the other half treble crochets (US half double crochets).

Step 3 – With right side facing, rotate the fabric towards you to make the 3rd loop easier to see. Place hook from front to back, through the third loop.

Step 4 – Yarn around hook.

Step 5 – Pull up a loop. You will have two loops on your hook, then yarn around hook again.

Step 6 – Pull through both loops. You have just made a double crochet (US single crochet) in the third loop, which is the first stage of the stitch.

Step 7 – Ignore the front and back loops at the top of the double (US single) crochet just made and instead look at the V at the front of the stitch.

Step 8 – Place your hook through the left leg of the V at the front of the stitch.

Step 9 – Yarn around hook.

Step 10 – Pull through both loops to finish the stitch.

Stitch Anatomy of Starting Half Treble Crochet in the 3rd Loop

It is well worth looking at the anatomy of the finished stitch.

Close up of a anatomy of a starting half treble crochet in the third loop.

Because the front and back loops of the stitches of each round below were ignored, they get pushed to the front of the fabric. This creates a more condensed round than standard half trebles.

Adding place markers to the final stitch of the round and the top of the first stitch of the new round will help you to ignore the loops that occur at the side of the starting stitch, which will help to keep your stitch count on track.

I used it for my Halo Cowl (see image below) which combines 3rd loop half treble crochet with chains, half treble back loop only and extended double crochet (US extended single crochet) stitches.