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How To Crochet the Back Loop Single Crochet Stitch

Janne Kleivset
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The back loop single crochet (BLSC) is an excellent way to extend your crochet skills and knowledge.

This stitch is a variation of the basic single crochet stitch and it will give your work texture, ridges, elasticity and great lines.

You can use this great crochet beginner technique in crochet projects where you want a knitted look like cuffs, scarves or hems.

In this blog post I’ll cover everything from what BLsc is, how to crochet it, materials needed and chart symbols!

So grab your yarn and hook, let’s learn one of the most useful stitches in crochet: Back Loop Single Crochet!

How To Crochet the Back Loop Single Crochet Stitch

What is the Back Loop Single Crochet

The back loop single crochet is one of the crochet in the back loop only stitches. These crochet stitches are a variation of basic stitches.

Crocheters often learn the regular single crochet first. Then after learning the back loop stitch, they will often learn the front loop single crochet stitch.

The single crochet back loop only is a variation of the normal single crochet stitch where you insert the crochet hook into the back loop only, otherwise the steps are the same.

The steps of the Back Loop Single Crochet Stitch:

  1. Insert crochet hook into back loop only
  2. Pull up a loop
  3. Yarn over
  4. Pull through the 2 loops on the crochet hook
  5. Repeat steps 1-4 to crochet another back loop single crochet

Materials Needed

To crochet the back loop single crochet you can use any crochet hook size and weight yarn. If you’re following a crochet pattern, use the crochet hook and yarn suggested.

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How To Crochet the Back Loop Single Crochet Stitch

Crochet Abbreviations

The Back Loop Single Crochet is often abbreviated BLsc, sc-blo, sc tbl or BLOsc in crochet patterns.

Learn more about crochet abbreviations & find a complete list on our Crochet Abbreviations & Terms post.

Back Loop Single Crochet Chart Symbol

The back loop single crochet chart symbol is related to the single crochet (sc) stitch chart symbol.

It is a “x” or “+” like the regular single crochet stitch, but also has a half circle pointing downwards below it representing that it’s worked into the back loop only.

It will be turned in the direction it will lay in your finished crochet work.

Photo showing the BLsc crochet stitch chart symbol.

How To Crochet the Back Loop Single Crochet Stitch

Crochet a blanket!

Use this crochet stitch pattern to crochet a blanket! Learn more about crochet blanket sizes & making one with any size crochet hook & yarn:

  1. Crochet Blanket Sizes
  2. Any Yarn & Hook Blanket Calculator
  3. Other Crochet Stitches for Blankets

Back Loop Single Crochet Tutorial

In this photo tutorial (shown right handed) you will see how to crochet a back loop single crochet stitch.

Grab a crochet hook in your right hand, make a slip knot and crochet chains.

Back Loop Single Crochet Step By Step Photo Tutorial

1. Identify the front & the back loop

How To Crochet the Back Loop Single Crochet Stitch

In this picture you can see what the back & front loop is. For the single crochet BLO you will insert the crochet hook into the back loop only.

2. Insert hook in back loop

showing how to crochet the back loop single crochet stitch

Insert crochet hook in the back loop from front to back.

3. Yarn over

showing how to crochet the back loop single crochet stitch

Yarn over from back to front.

4. Pull up a loop

showing how to crochet the back loop single crochet stitch

Pull up a loop. You have 2 loops on your crochet hook.

5. Yarn over & pull through both loops on hook

showing how to crochet the back loop single crochet stithc

Yarn over & pull through both loops on the crochet hook.

The single crochet through the back loop only is now finished. Repeat step 2-5 to crochet more BLsc stitches.

Crochet Ribbing With The Back Loop Single Crochet

In the photo below you can see how the BLsc looks after a few rows. The ribbing effect are starting to show and you can see the nice lines forming.

If you crochet a swatch you can get a better feel of how the crochet fabric feels.

You will immediately notice the different look the single crochet stitches takes when crocheting into the back loop only.

how to crochet the back loop single crochet after a few rows.

Back Loop Single Crochet Video Tutorial

How to Back Loop Single Crochet In Rows

To crochet back loop single crochet stitches in rows, follow these steps:

  1. Start the row with 1 turning chain.
  2. Work back loop single crochet in each stitch from previous row.
  3. After working into final stitch, you have finished a row of back loop single crochet stitches. Turn your work.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 to crochet more rows.

How to Back Loop Single Crochet In Rounds

To crochet back loop single crochet stitches in rounds, follow these steps:

  1. Start the round with 1 turning chain.
  2. Work back loop single crochet in each stitch from previous round.
  3. After working into final stitch, you have finished a round of back loop single crochet stitches. Do not turn your work, but slip stitch into chain from beginning of round.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 to crochet more rounds.

Back Loop Single Crochet FAQ

How many turning chains for the back loop single crochet?

For the back loop single crochet you will need the same amount of turning chains as for the regular basic crochet stitch, which are 1 turning chain.

How to crochet rows of stitches with the the single crochet through back loop only?

To crochet rows of the single crochet through the back loop only, you will crochet it the same way as the normal stitches.
Start the row with 1 chain, crochet single crochet stitches into the back loop (BL) until the last st at the end of the row.
To crochet another row, turn your work and start the next row with a chain again and work single crochet into the back loop of each stitch again.
Repeat to crochet a new row of crochet stitches.

What does SC in the back loop mean?

SC is the abbreviation for single crochet, and to SC in the back loop means to crochet a single crochet into the back loop of the stitch only, not the whole stitch.

Can the back loop single crochet be used to create a fold line?

Yes, the back loop single crochet is a great way to create a fold line when crocheting double layered pieces, like double brimmed crochet hats and double brimmed crochet headbands.

Is there a right side and wrong side of the back loop single crochet?

No, both sides of the back loop single crochet looks the same, so there’s no right side or wrong side.

Janne Kleivset

Janne Kleivset

Founder, Crochet Pattern Designer & Owner of Joy of Motion Crochet.

Janne has helped millions of crocheters find their next crochet project with more than 250 free crochet patterns and 110 crochet tutorials on her blog.

With more than two decades of crochet experience, and crochet designing since 2011, she's been featured on multiple prominent sites such as Lion Brand Yarn, in crochet magazines and the OML "Make" book.

Learn more about Janne.



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