The crossed double crochet stitch

This stitch, as the name implies, is a combination of two dc stitches that are crossed over each other. It is fairly simple to do, you just skip one stitch, dc in the next stitch and then dc in the skipped stitch. If I am doing several simple rows of this stitch I like to begin and end each row with a half double crochet, mostly because it means I don't have to add a couple of turning chains at the beginning of a row before I skip the first stitch to make my first cross stitch. Instead, I can chain up 1 and make a half double crochet in the first stitch. I find it is nice to end the rows with a half double crochet as then it feels balanced. Below is my little sampler square and how I made it.

Simple square in rows

With yarn in your chosen colour, ch 11

Row 1  Hdc in the second ch from hook, *sk next ch, dc in the next ch, dc in the sk ch* 4 times, hdc in the last ch, ch 1 and turn. (8 dc, 2 hdc)

Rows 2-6 Hdc in the first st, *sk next ch, dc in the next st, dc in the sk st* 4 times, hdc in the last st, ch 1 and turn. (8 dc, 2 hdc)