How to Back Loop Only (BLO) for Beginners

Back loop only crochet (BLO) is a technique in which stitches are worked through only the back loop of the stitch, rather than both loops. This creates raised ridges and stretchy textured crochet fabric often used for ribbing, garments, hats, and amigurumi. This beginner tutorial will show you how to identify the back loop, how to crochet in BLO, and how to use back loop only crochet for ribbing and textured crochet projects.

What is Back Loop Only Crochet?

Back loop only crochet is a technique used to create ribbing in crochet projects. Back loop only adds a lovely textural ridge to your crochet surface. It is useful when joining crochet pieces together and if you are working Fair Isle crochet it helps to keep your stitches aligned nicely. It is often used in Amigurumi, to form a crocheted rib, or to form a fold line in the crochet fabric.

Where to Insert the Hook for Back Loop Only? If you work a row of crochet stitches and look at the top of that row, you will see a row of V-shaped stitches at the top.

What Is the Back Loop in Crochet?

At the top of most crochet stitches, you will see a V-shape made from two loops.

• The loop closest to you is the front loop
• The loop farther away is the back loop

Usually, you insert your hook through the entire V to work your next row of stitches and have 2 loops over your hook.If you look carefully at the top of the stitches, the part of the V closest to you is the front loop, and the part farthest away, at the back of the V is the back loop.

How to Back Loop Only Pattern (Step by Step)

Here is how to do back loop only for half double crochet. The technique is the same for all types of crochet stitches. You crochet the stitch as you would normally, with the only difference being that you insert the hook into the back loop instead of through both loops.

1. Crochet the First Row

Chain the required length of stitches, turn and crochet the first row with your chosen basic crochet stitch. Chain the correct amount of turning chains and turn your work ready for the first row of back loop stitches.

2. Insert Hook into the Back Stitch

Now, to work BLO technique, you will skip over the front loop, yarn over, and insert your hook into the center of the V, so that it only goes through the back loop to start your stitch. You can work any crochet stitch as a BLO stitches but this is showing a half double crochet.

Here is a half double crochet back loop only (hdc blo).

3. Continue Back Loop for Whole Row

You will see that when you work BLO, all those front loops will stand out in front of your fabric and create a ridge.

These ridges work very effectively if you want to create a crochet rib at the bottom of your piece. The rib section has to be worked sideways. Rib worked in this way is very elastic and reverts back to form nicely.

Back Loop Only Techniques

Using Back Loop Only Crochet for Ribbing

Back loop only crochet is commonly used to create stretchy crochet ribbing for hats, cuffs, sweaters, and beanies. Working into the back loops creates raised horizontal ridges that resemble knitted ribbing. Single crochet back loop only (sc blo) is one of the most popular ribbing methods because it creates excellent stretch and texture.

Back Loop Crochet For Amigurumi

If creating amigurumi is your crochet passion, you may want to try using BLO, even if your pattern doesn’t ask for it.

Using BLO crochet will make a difference in the texture and appearance of your project. There will, of course, be little ridges along each round. This makes it easier to count rows, add stitch markers, and join all the pieces of your amigurumi together. (You can join them using the easily available front loops.) Your fabric will also be softer, as you are not creating such thick, firm stitches as you would when working through both loops. You can convert any amigurumi pattern into a BLO pattern, simply by working exactly the same stitches, but only into the back loops.

Back Loop vs Front Loop

Although both back loop only and front loop only crochet create textured fabric, they produce slightly different ridge placement and stretch.

Back Loop Only (BLO)	Front Loop Only (FLO)
Ridge appears at front	Ridge appears at back
Common for ribbing	Common for decorative texture
More commonly used	Less common
Creates stretchy fabric	Creates layered texture

Back Loop Only vs Both Loops

Normally crochet stitches are worked through both loops at the top of the stitch. Back loop only crochet works through just one loop, creating extra stretch and raised ridges in the fabric.

Both Loops	Back Loop Only
Flat crochet fabric	Textured ridges
Firmer structure	More stretch
Standard crochet method	Decorative technique
Smooth surface	Ribbed appearance

Back Loop Only Crochet FAQs

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Back Loop Only – In Conclusion

Although all my pictures have been using single or hdc crochet, you can use the back loop only technique for any basic crochet stitch. Simply work the required number of yarn wraps, then when inserting your crochet hook, insert it into the back loop only, and continue forming the stitch as normal.

Next time you are working on a crochet pattern and come across the BLO instruction, you will know exactly what to do. You may even find yourself using ‘Back Loop Only’ even when the pattern doesn’t say you should! It is very easy to learn, and does have quite a few advantages!