Change the look of basic crochet stitches when you crochet through the back loop only. By inserting your hook though only one of the stitch loops, you can create ribbing and ridged crochet work that stretches but remains solid.

There’s nothing too mysterious about back loop (or front loop!) crochet. Once you know how to work simple crochet stitches—even just single crochet—you can do this.

Some patterns that use back loop crochet have different names or abbreviations for this variation of basic stitches. You might see it as back loop only (blo), through the back loop (tbl), or simply back loop (bl). The same goes for crocheting through the front loop with similar abbreviations.

The first step is to get yourself familiar with the loops of the crochet stitches, so grab some DK or worsted weight yarn and a crochet hook in a size that matches your yarn, and give it a try.

Note: This tutorial uses US crochet terms, but the process is the same for UK terms.

Look at the Row of Stitches

Half double crochet is a beautiful crochet stitch; it’s simple but versatile. It is one of the basic crochet stitches that a beginner should master when learning how to crochet. This guide shows you how to crochet the HDC stitch and tips for working with half double crochet. Beginners who have already mastered single crochet and double crochet would do well to try this stitch next.

As the name suggests, HDC is taller than single crochet but shorter than double crochet. It is a foundational crochet stitch and worked similarly to those two basic stitches. A slight difference creates a unique third loop and the smaller height. 

Choosing Yarn and a Crochet Hook

The half double crochet stitch shows up in all different types of projects, so you can use any yarn and any crochet hook to work on HDC. If you are working with a crochet pattern, the pattern will tell you the exact materials needed.

If you aren’t working from a pattern, choose your yarn then look at the yarn label to find out what hook size you need for that yarn. Beginners may want to try a worsted weight yarn and size H crochet hook as a good starting point.

Tip: Smooth, worsted weight yarn in a light color is a good choice for learning new crochet stitches.

Crochet is an easy craft to learn. You only need to know a few stitches to be able to begin making a wide variety of projects. In this guide, you’ll learn about the six most common beginner crochet stitches with tutorials, videos, helpful tips, and a few project ideas, too.

Within a short time, you’ll know how to make a crochet chain and a slip stitch so you can start easy projects. From there, learn more basic stitches and begin to make a variety of scarves, hats, shawls, and blankets.

Before learning the chain stitch, learn the slip knot, which is what you need do to secure the yarn on the hook to begin crocheting. Then learn the basic chain stitch, abbreviated in patterns as “ch.” Most crochet projects begin with the chain stitch as a grouping, typically referred to as a starting chain, base chain, or a foundation chain.

A turning chain often starts each new row in a crochet project. The height of the turning chain, which is the number of chains you create, depends on the stitches used in that row. For example, a double crochet row begins with three chains.

Crochet chains often connect other stitches in a crochet pattern, particularly when working in the round. For example, throughout the classic crochet granny square motif, a “ch 2” separates double crochet stitches to create a space in each corner of the square.

The picot stitch is a common crochet edging which incorporates a crochet chain to create a texture. Openwork lace or mesh, long fringe, and big loops all use crochet chains as a core feature of their design.

Experiment with a simple project using a basic crochet chain. Crochet a set of long chains, knot them together at both ends, and make your first simple crochet scarf.

Don’t let the name fool you. The Tunisian knit stitch isn’t actually knitted; it’s actually a crochet stitch. It’s only called a knit stitch because it looks like stockinette stitch (also known as a stocking stitch) in knitting. This tutorial will teach you how to work the Tunisian knit stitch, which is a handy stitch to know if you’d like your crochet work to resemble knitting.

If you aren’t already experienced with Tunisian crochet, you may wish to learn more about Tunisian hooks and how to hold a Tunisian crochet hook. They look like a crochet hook on one end and a knitting needle on the other. This is necessary for the process of Tunisian crochet. Each row consists of two halves, or passes. The forward pass adds loops to your hook, and the return pass takes them off again.

Once you’ve learned the Tunisian knit stitch, be sure to check out a couple of fun projects you can use for practicing it. The Tunisian knit stitch is a fantastic stitch for using all those beautiful, eye-catching variegated yarns that are available.

Chain stitches have three loops, two in front and one in the back. You could work into either one of the loops on the front side (View A), or into the back loop (Views D, E). View B and C illustrate working into the top loop on front of the starting chain; Views F and G illustrate working into the back of the starting chain. In this tutorial you will be working into the back loop of the starting chain. Doing so rolls the front loops to the front of the work (View H), providing two loops you can work into later to add an edging or other embellishment.

Make a starting chain of 10-20 stitches.

Insert your hook into the second chain from your hook and pull up a loop (views C, G); leave this loop on your crochet hook. Insert your hook into the next chain stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop; leave loop on hook. Continue down the chain: for each stitch, insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, leave the new loop on the hook. At the end there will be 10-20 loops on your hook; do not turn the work.