Front Loop and Back Loop in Crochet - the easy way to know everything
Even wondered about the front loop only and back loop crochet stitches? Or maybe you never even know that you have been working into both loops? If you are wondering what's the difference and what's the point then you are in the right place.
First let's talk about what each of these loop stitches mean, how they are done and why would you pick one over another.
Table of Contents Show
Both loops
Here both loops consists of inserting the hook through BOTH the front loop and the back loops of the stitch. So when your hook is inserted, you should see 2 loops resting on the hook.
Do I crochet into both loops?
Traditionally, most crochet patterns are meant to be carried out into both loops, unless really otherwise specified. Usually in my patterns, if I intend for the hook to be inserted into the front loop, I would put the abbreviation FLO together with the stitch.
The only other situation where FLO might not be explicitly implied is when you do an invisible decrease in the stitches, which requires you to insert into 2 consecutive FLO to make the decrease. For more information about all kinds of decreases in crochet, remember check out this article called '15 different detailed Ways on How to Decrease in Crochet’.
How do you do both loops in crochet?
To do this, simply insert the hook through the desired stitch, underneath both the front loop that you see and the back loop. See the picture below for an example.
Which loop do you crochet into?
This really depends on what is written inside the pattern. By default, you would assume crocheting involves both loops. If it specifically states front loop only, then insert only into the front loop, likewise for the back loop.
Front loop
What does front loop mean in crochet?
Look at the top of the stitches when crocheting in a row or a round, you should see a 'V' like appearance with 2 almost horizontal yarn loops across.
The front loop refers to the horizontal loop of the 'V' that is closer to you when crocheting. As it is considered facing forwards towards you, it is designated the 'front' loop.
Which loop is the front loop in crochet?
Like I mentioned above, the loop closer to you when you are crocheting is considered the front loop.
What does FLO mean in crochet?
As for the abbreviation, the front loop is often written as FLO, which refers to front loop only. Meaning no other loops involved.
What is SC FLO?
Front loop only crochet need not necessarily apply to just single crochet, it could be done for taller stitches as well like hdc or dc. If the pattern states specifically SC FLO, it is referring to crocheting into the front loop only of a single crochet stitch.
How do you crochet in the front loop only?
Here we will briefly talk about the steps involved in working into the front loop only, which is really quite simple. We will talk about the different situations it could be used for and then apply it for taller stitches later on.
How to front loop only crochet in the chain?
Let's talk briefly about the parts of a crochet chain first. Firstly, you need to know after completing the chain, which part is supposed to be facing forwards. The front part of the chain should have a 'V' shape appearance while the backward facing part has a horizontal bump in the middle.
When you do a front loop only crochet into the chain, you are inserting the hook in between the 'V' front and back loops and then proceeding with your first stitch, like a single crochet for example.
So technically, in the case of crocheting FLO into a chain, it is the same as working into BLO. This is not the same for rows and rounds.
How to front loop only crochet in the row?
This time, when you insert your hook inside a stitch along the row, instead of inserting into both the horizontal loop closer to and further from you, insert only into the front loop facing you.
This refers to you inserting the hook underneath the front loop and out into the space between the front and back loops.
After inserting the hook into FLO, yarn over, pull loop through behind the front loop (and in front of the back loop), then proceed with a single crochet stitch.
How to front loop only crochet in the round?
It is very much the same process for working a FLO in a round but the final appearance looks different from that of a row. The insertion point is the same, underneath the front loop and out into the space between the front and back loops.
For a row you will get a linear almost staggered appearance, for a round, you get an elevated circle appearance, right above the BLO below that remained unworked.
Taller front loop only crochet stitches
I'll just briefly mention front loop only crochet for taller stitches here so you know how it is similar to that for sc.
How do you HDC in front loop only?
Yarn over first, insert hook underneath the front loop and out in between FLO and BLO. Then yarn over again, pull up loop, yarn over again, then draw through all 3 loops. This is a hdc FLO stitch.
How do you do a double crochet on the front loop?
The starting part is the same as for hdc. Yarn over first, insert hook underneath the front loop and out in between FLO and BLO. Then yarn over again, pull up loop, yarn over again, then draw through only 2 (of 3) loops. Yarn over for final time and draw through last 2 loops. A dc FLO stitch done.
How to treble crochet in front loop only?
Start with yarn over 2 times, insert hook only into the front loop, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over again, draw through 2 (of 4) loops. Then yarn over, draw through 2 (of 3) loops, and then a final yarn over, and draw through the last 2 loops. A completed tr FLO stitch.
Why do you crochet in the front loop only?
When you choose to crochet only inside the front loops, it creates a slightly different effect from crocheting in both loops. You might choose to do this to create certain appearances especially in amigurumi.
What does crocheting in the front loop do?
Crocheting in the front loop along a row results in a staggered or layered appearance, which is sometimes used to make a textured look. I did it for this amigurumi's pleated skirt - see the textured effect?
As for the examples specifically in a round, see the next point on amigurumi.
Why crochet front loop only in amigurumi?
There were so many instances of me using FLO for amigurumi so I decided to list some down here. Once you have seen some of these suggestions, maybe you can consider experimenting with them!
For the simplest example, if you work into FLO increasing and then decreasing and then increasing again (think sc-hdc-dc-hdc-sc), you can make a cap!
Also, frequently for my doll dresses, I choose to work into the FLO to crochet the skirts and the BLO to continue into the legs.
Another experiment I did was to repeatedly only work into select FLO of repeated rounds to create a slight curved appearance of a cylinder. I then made it into my doll amigurumi's legs
If you found this post useful, please remember to share it or Pin the image below to Pinterest! Also, remember to grab my free 45-paged cheat sheet on how to crochet for beginners step by step with pictures PDF download below. It is basically a beginner printable crochet stitch guide with free printable crochet instructions for complete beginners!
Free Beginners Step-by-step Guide
Grab these 45-pages of cheat sheets that will help you with crochet stitches, magic rings, increases and decreases, FLO and BLO. Click on image on left for access!
Back loop
Now let us talk about the reverse, the back loop only.
What does it mean to crochet in back loops only?
Remember how I mentioned the 'V' appearance or the 2 horizontal yarn loops across.
The back loop refers to the horizontal loop of the 'V' that is further away from you when crocheting. It is facing backwards away from you and hence, designated the 'back' loop.
Which is the back loop in crochet?
Like I mentioned above, the loop further from you when you are crocheting is considered the back loop.
What is a BLO stitch?
The abbreviation for back loop only is BLO, which is written together with the stitch inside a crochet pattern.
How do you do a back loop only in crochet?
Let us talk about crocheting BLO in different situations, first in a chain, then in a row and in a round. Then we move on from single crochet stitches to taller ones.
How to back loop only crochet in the chain?
When you do a back loop only crochet into the chain, you are inserting the hook in between the 'V' front and back loops and then proceeding with a single crochet stitch.
So when working into a chain, crocheting BLO is the same as FLO.
How to back loop only crochet in the row?
When working along a row, to crochet BLO only, it refers to inserting the hook between the front loop and back loop, and out through behind the back loop.
After inserting the hook into BLO, yarn over, pull loop through beneath the back loop, then proceed with a single crochet stitch.
How to back loop only crochet in the round?
Work into the back loop much like for the row above but in a round instead. Insert the hook between the front and back loop and out behind the back loop.
The final appearance will be a narrower round just layered below the unworked FLO. Which is basically how a cylinder starts off.
Taller back loop only crochet stitches
For this short section, let us see how the do the taller stitches into the back loop only.
How do you HDC in back loop only?
Yarn over first, insert hook in between FLO and BLO and out behind the back loop. Then yarn over again, pull up loop, yarn over again, then draw through all 3 loops. This is a hdc BLO stitch.
What does DC in back loop mean?
Yarn over first, insert hook into BLO. Then yarn over again, pull up loop, yarn over again, then draw through only 2 (of 3) loops. Yarn over for final time and draw through last 2 loops. A dc BLO stitch done.
How to treble crochet in back loop only?
Start off with yarn over 2 times, insert hook only into the back loop, yarn over, pull up loop, yarn over again, draw through 2 (of 4) loops. Then yarn over, draw through 2 (of 3) loops, and then a final yarn over, and draw through the last 2 loops. A completed tr BLO stitch.
Why do you crochet in back loop only?
Working into BLO creates totally different appearances from working into FLO. More so for the rounds than for the rows.
What does crocheting in the back loop do?
Crocheting in BLO in rows also similarly creates a staggered appearance but instead of layered in front, it is layered behind. Some crocheters consider it a form of ribbing. The appearance in rounds is more different between BLO and FLO.
Why crochet back loop only in amigurumi?
Some of the examples I will be giving here are much like the FLO ones above but in the opposite direction.
The easiest example would be crocheting BLO all around can result in a well demarcated cylinder edging, which I have sometimes used to making something like a top hat.
I also mentioned above about using FLO to continue into making skirts while using BLO to make the legs.
Also, working into repeated BLO rounds results in a curved cylinder as well, but in the reverse direction from the FLO curve I mentioned above.
If you found this post useful, please remember to share it or Pin the image below to Pinterest!
Conclusion of FLO and BLO
I hope this post has shown you all the different ways front and back loops can be used. I remember using it to make all kinds of effects in my amigurumi but for some reason I can't recall all of them, but I will definitely add to this post once I remember! In the meantime, after learning these basics, try FLO and BLO in rows and rounds, and also for hdc, dc and tr crochet!
Also, remember to grab my free 45-paged cheat sheet on how to crochet for beginners step by step with pictures PDF download below. It is basically a beginner printable crochet stitch guide with free printable crochet instructions for complete beginners!
Free Beginners Step-by-step Guide
Grab these 45-pages of cheat sheets that will help you with crochet stitches, magic rings, increases and decreases, FLO and BLO. Click on image on left for access!
