If you haven’t yet mastered starting crochet stitches, now is the time. I use them in almost every pattern now because they are so much better than turning chains.

Here are the benefits of using starting half treble/ half double crochet over turning chains:

• They create a thicker first stitch which is more substantial.
• The thicker stitch stops the big hole from forming on the edge of your work.
• The top of the stitch is really easy to work back into, whereas, the final turning chain can be fiddly to try to get a hook through.
• No confusion with stitch counts. You use a starting stitch and mark it as your first and simply work into the next stitch.
• The edges of your fabric (if working in rows) are much neater.
• If you are adding a border to the edge of your fabric, the starting stitches offer very clear, repeatable places to put your hook through. With turning chains, it is often added into the chain space which can make the hole even more obvious.

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

Here’s how to crochet starting half treble/ half double stitches:

Step 1 – Pull the loop on the hook up a little, to almost double what it was.

Step 2 – Hook through first stitch.

Step 3 – Yarn around hook.

Step 4 – Pull up a loop (two loops on hook).

Step 5 – Yarn around hook.

Step 6 – Pull through both loops (one loop on hook).

Step 6 continued – You have just made a starting dc/ sc. The front of the stitch is made up of a V, which is not the same as the front and back loops at the top of the stitch just made.

Step 7 – Place hook through left leg of V on the front of the stitch just made.

Step 8 – Yarn around hook.

Step 9 – Pull up a loop (two loops on hook).

Step 10 – Yarn around hook.

Step 11 – Pull though both loops on hook.

Step 12 continued – The starting half treble/ half double crochet stitch is more substantial than a turning chain and creates neater edges.

Step 12 continued – The starting half treble/ half double crochet stitch has a natural top of stitch which is easier to work into when you come to work it on the next row/ round.

Other useful tutorials

• Starting Double Crochet (US Starting Single Crochet) is here as a video tutorial, OR here as a photo tutorial.
• Starting Extended Double Crochet (US Starting Extended Single Crochet) is here as a video tutorial, OR here as a photo tutorial.
• Starting Treble Crochet (US Starting Double Crochet) is here as a video tutorial, OR here as a photo tutorial.

Patterns that use Starting htr/ hdc stitches

• Strata Cardigan – click here for more details
• Kinbaine Shawl
• Positivity Spiral Cowl