Front Loop and Back Loop in Crochet (Left-Handed)
Some crochet patterns may specify front loop (FL) or back loop (BL) for certain stitches and you may be asking yourself what that means. Luckily, the front and back loop are easy to identify and it makes a unique and interesting visual effect in your crochet work when you crochet just into the front or back loop of your work.
In this tutorial we are going to talk about what the front loop and back loop are in crochet and how to identify them in a pattern and in your work.
All of my tutorials have a right-handed and left-handed version. This is the left-handed version, so if you are right-handed, make sure you head to the right-handed version OR click on the left-handed video tutorial below.
Now that we have that out of the way, let's go ahead and learn about the front loop and back loop in crochet!
Prefer to Watch the Video Instead?
Front loop and back loop in crochet (left-handed)
Front loop and back loop in crochet (right-handed)
Top view of your work
When you look at your work from the top view, you will notice that the top of your stitches look a bit like a braid.
The "braid" is made up of two small sections of yarn. One is a loop that is closer to your body as you are working, and one loop is on the far side of your work.
If your pattern does not specify to crochet into the front loop or back loop, you will always insert your hook under both of those loops that make up the braid-like section of the stitch.
IMPORTANT TIP
Please note that when you are working into the front loop or back loop only, the rest of your stitch will be done exactly the same as usual. The only thing that is different is where you are inserting your hook.
For example, if you are doing double crochet (US terms) you will still start your work with a yarn over, then proceed to insert your hook under the designated loop, whether front or back.
Front loop
The front loop is part of the braid-like section on top of the stitch that you are working that is closest to you.
When you crochet into the front loop only, you will put your hook only under that one loop so that it comes out in the middle of the "braid."
When a pattern asks you to crochet under the front loop only, it will be denoted as "FLO."
One way to remember front loop is with a little alliteration: "the front loop faces me."
Example of work in FLO
This is how a row of double crochet stitches will look when worked in the front loop only. It will look quite smooth on this side, but when you turn it around, you will notice that each stitch shows the back loop from the row below, creating an effect that looks a bit like a horizontal line.
Back loop
The back loop is also part of the braid-like section at the top of the stitch. However, it is the part of this top section that is further away from your body while you are crocheting.
When you crochet into the back loop only, you will insert your hook in between the front and back loops so it can go just underneath the back loop.
When a pattern asks you to crochet under the back loop only, it will be denoted as
"BLO."
Example of work in BLO
This is how a row of double crochet stitches will look when worked in the back loop only. If you continue to work each row in the back loop only, this visual effect will be shown on both sides of your work since the back loop is the loop furthest from you during the row that you are crocheting.
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Enjoy :)