How to Alternate Back & Front Loops in Single Crochet
Regular crochet stitches are made into both loops of the stitch. Rows of these stitches have a neat, uniform appearance of clear, delineated rows. Changing where in the stitch you make your crochet stitches subtly changes the look of the project. Crocheting into the back loop only of every stitch creates a ribbed pattern. Crocheting alternating rows of front loop only and back loop only stitches creates a slightly raised horizontal row pattern in the project. Alternating back and front loop crochet stitches obscures the clear row lines you would see in rows of normal crochet stitches by pushing stitches forward and backward alternately.
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Instructions
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Alternate Rows
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Make a single crochet base row. To do this, make a base chain of as many stitches as required in your pattern. Turn and chain one. Make a single crochet stitch into each chain, starting with the second chain from the hook. If you prefer, you can use the single crochet no chain foundation method instead.
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Turn and chain one.
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Make a single crochet into the back loop of the stitch below. To do this, insert your hook between the two loops of the stitch and push your hook toward the back, catching only the back loop on your hook. Make a single crochet stitch as normal. Repeat across all stitches, making a single crochet stitch into the back loop. Turn and chain one. Continue to make rows of single crochet stitches into the back loop only. Alternately, you can make your stitches into the front loop only of every stitch. To crochet into just the front loop, insert your hook as normal into the stitch, but instead of pushing the hook through both loops of the stitch, bring your hook up between the two, so that only the front loop is on your hook. Single crochet as normal. You can make every row the same -- back loop or front loop only stitches -- or alternate rows, one row of back loop only, one of front loop only.
Alternate Stitches
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Make a single crochet base chain. You can do this by making a base chain and then making a row of single crochet stitches into it, or use the single crochet foundation chain method.
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Turn and chain one.
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Make your first stitch into the front loop of the stitch below. To do this, insert your hook into the stitch as normal, but instead of continuing through both loops, just catch the front loop on your hook. Yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull your hook through both loops.
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Make your next stitch into the back loop of the stitch below. To do this, insert your hook between the two loops of the stitch below and push it toward the back, catching only the back loop on your hook. Yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull your hook through both loops.
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Continue to alternate between crocheting in the front and back loops across the row.
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Tips & Warnings
Alternating front and back loops can also be done with half-double crochet stitches.
