In this guide9 sections
Front loop only and back loop only crochet are two small changes that do a lot of work. Instead of putting your hook under both strands at the top of a stitch, you pick up just one. The strand you leave behind turns into a ridge, a seam or a shelf. Patterns write these as FLO and BLO, and amigurumi designers use them constantly. This guide shows how to find each loop and what each one is used for.
The two loops of a stitch
Look at the top edge of a finished single crochet. You will see a small sideways V. The two strands of that V are the loops. The front loop is the strand closest to you, and the back loop is the strand farther away. Normally you slide the hook under both, which is what most patterns mean when they just say "sc".
When a pattern says "BLO" or "FLO", it means you put the hook under only that one strand. Everything else about the stitch stays the same: yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through. If the basic stitch is still new to you, start with our guide to how to single crochet.
Which loop is "front"?
The front loop is always the one on the side of the work that faces you right now. When you work in rounds with the right side facing out, that is the outer strand. When you turn a flat piece, the loop that counts as "front" changes with each row, because a different side now faces you. Just ask which strand is nearer to your body at the moment you start the stitch.
How to work back loop only (BLO)
- Find the V on top of the next stitch. Identify the strand farther from you.
- Insert the hook under that back strand only, and leave the front strand alone.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop. You now have 2 loops on the hook.
- Yarn over and pull through both loops to finish the single crochet.
- Repeat in each stitch the pattern names. The front loops stay unworked and lie in a row facing you.
How to work front loop only (FLO)
- Find the V on top of the next stitch. This time identify the strand nearest to you.
- Insert the hook under that front strand only. The back strand stays behind it.
- Yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over again and pull through both loops.
- Continue across. The back loops remain as a row on the far side of the work.
What the unworked loops look like
The loop you skip does not disappear. It sits as a horizontal bar on the surface, and you see it as a neat ridge. In rounds, working BLO leaves the front loops as a raised line on the outside of the toy, while FLO leaves the back loops as a line on the inside. That one round of loops is why a flat circle can suddenly fold upward into a wall.
In flat rows, a BLO row leaves a ridge on one side only. Working BLO in every row gives a stretchy, ribbed fabric that is popular for cuffs and hat brims, and a slip stitch worked in the back loop is common for those too. Because it stretches, check your row count more often than usual.
BLO and FLO in amigurumi
- Shaping a cup: after a flat circle, one round in BLO makes a crisp corner, and the following rounds climb straight up. This is how bodies, cups, pots and hats get a defined base.
- Adding a rim or brim: the front loops left behind can later be picked up to crochet a flat disk, such as the brim of a hat or the sole of a boot.
- Invisible decrease: most patterns work it through the front loops only of two stitches, which closes the gap neatly. We explain it fully in our invisible decrease guide.
- Decoration: a ridge makes a natural line for a collar, a belt or the edge of a cheek.
Round-by-round work like this relies on an even spiral, so it helps to read about crocheting in the round before you try it. The increase and decrease numbers in a pattern always count the stitches, not the loops, so one stitch worked in BLO still counts as one stitch.
How to read it in a pattern
You will see "sc BLO" or "sc in back loop only" for one stitch, and "BLO" next to a round number when the whole round uses it. A line such as "Rnd 7: BLO sc in each st around (36)" means every stitch in round 7 goes into the back loop, and you should still finish with 36 stitches. If the abbreviations still look strange, our guide to reading a crochet pattern walks through them. Each pattern in our amigurumi shop lists its skill level, so you can choose one that matches how comfortable you feel.
Common problems and fixes
| What you see | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No ridge shows after the round | The hook went under both loops | Undo the round and look for the single strand before each insertion. |
| The ridge is on the wrong side | You worked FLO when the pattern said BLO, or the other way round | Check which strand is nearer to you, then redo the round. |
| The work looks gappy or has holes | A stitch went into the wrong loop, or a loop was skipped | Count the stitches, and make sure each stitch has one clear unworked loop beside it. |
| The cup will not stand up | The corner round was worked in both loops | Redo that one round in BLO and keep the next rounds snug. |
| The yarn splits | The hook tip catches part of a strand | Use a smoother hook and yarn, and enter each loop straight on. |
Practice
Make a flat circle of 6, 12, 18 and 24 stitches, then work one round in BLO with 24 stitches and a few more plain rounds. You will get a small cup, and the ridge at the base shows that you used the right loop. Next, try a simple toy such as a bunny or a teddy from our bunny patterns or teddy patterns, or browse the free crochet patterns to see the technique in context.