Crochet Kit Loops: Where Does Your Hook Go?
Your crochet kit says “BLO”, but the stitch in front of you looks like a little V. Does the hook go under one strand or both? For an ordinary stitch worked into the top of the previous row, the usual starting point is under both top loops, unless the pattern gives another instruction. BLO means back loop only; FLO means front loop only.
The useful question is not “Which loop always looks best?” It is “Which part of this stitch does my pattern ask me to use?” This guide helps you check that placement before you make the next stitch in your crochet kit project.
Find the top V before choosing a loop
Look along the top edge of an ordinary completed crochet stitch. Its two top strands form a small V, rather like a link in a chain. Together, those two strands belong to one stitch. They are not two separate stitches to work into.
Hold the work in its current working position. The strand of the V nearer you is the front loop; the strand farther away is the back loop. “Front” and “back” describe that view, not the colour of the yarn or a permanent label for the right and wrong sides of the fabric.
This shortcut applies to the top of a stitch. A foundation chain, a chain space, a stitch post or a specially named loop needs its own instructions. Do not hunt for a top V when the pattern explicitly asks you to work into a space or around a post.
Match the hook placement to the pattern wording
Check the pattern notes as well as the current line. A general instruction such as “work in back loops throughout” can apply even when every row does not repeat BLO.
| Instruction | Placement in the selected stitch | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Usual top-of-stitch placement, with no exception stated | Under both strands of the top V | The hook passes beneath the whole V, not through the yarn fibres. |
| BLO, back loop only | Under the farther strand only | The nearer strand is left unworked by this stitch. |
| FLO, front loop only | Under the nearer strand only | The farther strand is left unworked by this stitch. |
The stitch name still matters. Choosing a loop tells you where to insert the hook; it does not change a single crochet into a double crochet. If the stitch names themselves are confusing, first use our US and UK crochet terms guide.
Pause after insertion and check the strands
Before drawing yarn through, look at the top V you selected. For both-loops work, both of its strands should sit over the hook shaft. For BLO or FLO, only the requested strand should sit over it. The hook should not split a strand into thinner plies.
Then complete the named stitch as your instructions describe. There is no need to pull the fabric hard to make the hook fit. If the loops are difficult to see, move into better light and gently spread the edge. Use spare suitable yarn for practice rather than assuming the kit contains extra yarn for a large test piece.
Finding the correct stitch comes before choosing its loops. If the uncertainty is at the start or end of a flat row, our turning-chain and row-edge guide handles that separate decision.
Recheck the view and the instruction scope
After turning a flat piece, identify near and far again from the new working view. Do not keep using the same physical strand merely because it was the back loop on the previous row.
Also check how long the instruction lasts. “BLO for this row” does not automatically mean every later row. A loop instruction inside a repeat follows that repeat's stated scope; it is not permission to change the rest of the pattern. Our guide to brackets and pattern repeats can help you read those boundaries.
An unexpected ridge is a reason to check, not guess
Working into only one top loop leaves the other unworked and can change the fabric's texture and movement. A ridge may be intentional. It may also be a clue that you used one loop where the pattern expected both. A stitch count can remain correct in either case.
Compare the first changed section with the written notes and the matching tutorial moment. Check whether the instruction changed there. If the placement is wrong, establish the affected section before undoing anything; do not change hook size to hide a loop-placement mismatch.
If the placement and stitch count match but the finished dimensions do not, move to our crochet kit gauge and tension guide. That is a different problem from selecting the wrong strand.
If the kit guidance is unclear, ask a precise question
Use the guidance supplied for your exact kit and check the Woolique tutorials page for available help. Do not assume that every bag, flower or amigurumi project uses the same loop method.
If the written instruction and demonstration appear to disagree, pause at a known stitch. Send WOOLIQUE CRAFTS STUDIO the kit name, the row or round, the relevant instruction and a clear photograph of the top edge. “Should this section use both loops or BLO?” is easier to resolve than “Why does mine look different?”
Quick answers about crochet loops
Do both loops count as two stitches?
No. The two strands of the top V belong to one stitch. Working under both normally makes one stitch into that position, unless the pattern asks for more.
Does BLO mean back post?
No. Back-loop work uses one top strand. A back-post instruction works around the stitch post and is a different placement. Follow the exact abbreviation key and demonstration.
Should I always use both loops if nothing is written?
Both top loops are the usual placement for an ordinary stitch, but read the whole pattern first. Global notes, spaces, posts and special stitches can override that default.
Can I alternate loop methods because one is easier?
Not without changing the fabric the pattern was designed to produce. Practise the requested placement first, and ask for clarification before substituting it in the project.
