How to FLO and BLO in Crochet
In this tutorial, I’m going to show you How to FLO and BLO in Crochet, specifically in amigurumi. These techniques are essential tools for crocheters who want to expand their skillset beyond the basics and add more texture, depth, and creative possibilities to their work. Whether you’re making cute stuffed animals, dolls, or other small crochet projects, understanding how to selectively work into just one loop of a stitch can greatly enhance the shape and detail of your pieces.
When you first start learning how to crochet, you’re taught to insert your hook through both loops of a stitch. This is known as traditional crochet. However, as you progress and gain more experience, you’ll discover that you can also choose to work into just one of the loops of any basic stitch. By doing so, you can create different effects in your crochet work.
This technique is called Front Loop Only (FLO) or Back Loop Only (BLO) crochet, depending on which loop you choose to work into. It gives you the opportunity to add texture and dimension to your crochet projects, making your amigurumi creations even more expressive and detailed.
Crochet Under Both Loops or Traditional Crochet
The photo below shows the starting position of the hook when making a typical (traditional) crochet stitch. To create this stitch, insert the hook under both loops of the stitch. This means that when you look at the hook, you’ll see both loops resting on top of it.
BLO and FLO stitches are two types of crochet stitches that are similar to regular crochet stitches, but with one key difference. We already know that in regular crochet stitches we work into both top loops of the specified stitch. However, when it comes to BLO (Back Loop Only) and FLO (Front Loop Only) stitches, things are a bit different.
How to FLO in single crochet?
Working FLO stitches, you insert your hook only into the front loop of the indicated stitch (photo 1). The loop closest to you is always the front loop.
To do FLO, insert your hook into the front loop of the indicated stitch (photo 2) and complete the stitch as normal.
Photo 3 shows the right side of the FLO stitches in this amigurumi project, while photo 4 offers a sneak peek at the inside view. On the wrong side of the piece, the unused back loops remain visible.
One advantage of front loop only crochet is that it produces a stretchier fabric than working with both loops or using only the back loop. This makes it a great choice when you want the project to some elasticity.
How to BLO in single crochet?
With BLO stitches, you insert your hook only into the back loop of the indicated stitch (photo 5). The back loop is the farthest one from you.
To do BLO, insert your hook into the back loop of the indicated stitch (photo 6) and complete the stitch as normal (photo 7).
Crocheting with only the back loop creates a ribbing effect, adding more texture to the project (photo 8).
Working in the front loop only (FLO) or back loop only (BLO) is a technique that can be used in any stitch, not just single crochet. The stitch itself is worked the same as usual, but when you need to insert the hook into a stitch, you only do so in the loop you are working on.
I hope you liked this tutorial!
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