Abbreviations:

Chain: ch

Stitch: st

Half-Double Crochet: hdc

Yarn over: yo

Sk: skip

Before we learn half-double crochet, I'm going to teach you how to finish off the swatch of single crochet you've (hopefully) been practicing. Finishing off is simple: slip the loop off the hook at the end of a row. Then snip the yarn at least 4 inches from the swatch. Lastly, thread the ending tail through the leftover loop and pull it snug. We'll learn how to weave in those ends later so they're invisible in the finished project, but for now, just leave that be since it's a practice project.

Half-double crochet is just like single crochet, except it has a simple extra step to it, but it'll look really nice once it's finished. Let's learn how to do it. From here onward, I'm going to use the abbreviations for instructions, but the chart will always be up there if you need a reference.

1.) Ch 12. Yo the hook clockwise (counterclockwise for lefties). 

2.) Skip first two chains and insert hook into 3rd chain from the hook. You should have 4 loops on the hook.

3.) Yo, pull through the chain on the hook. You should now have 3 loops on the hook.

4.) Yo, pull through all three loops on the hook: 1 hdc made. 

5.) Repeat down the line of chains: 10 hdc made. Ch 2, turn. 

6.) Repeat steps 1-5 until you are comfortable with half-double crochet. Here's what the swatch should look like:

Note: I borrowed this one off of Google because my own swatch was actually double crochet - I've been using it a lot these days. And what a coincidence! That's what we'll learn next.