Blocks 10-12  FLO/BLO   

If you want to learn to crochet, join us in making this cozy Afghan.  Each month, you will learn how to crochet three different blocks.  After 10 months (in November), you will have 30 different blocks in total that we will learn to stitch together in December to make a wonderful lap-sized afghan.

Our crochet along is finished, but you can start anytime and work at your own pace.

This is the fifth part of the twelve-month series.   You can find the links to all the posts in Part 1 HERE.

Now that you know all the basic stitches, it is time to have some fun.  We are going to twist and turn, create clumps and learn some new methods! 

If you haven’t mastered the basic stitches yet, you will find them in the past posts.

This month we are going LOOPY.  We are going to change the basic stitches by crocheting into the front and back loops only.   Crocheting in only the front loop or back loop creates a totally different look to your stitches.

Before we begin, you will notice that I have switched colors!  My readers have decided that I should make my afghan using three different yarns.  A special thanks to those who voted!  This month I am using the aqua.

When making the past few squares we were working through both loops but now you’ll  learn that you can crochet in either the front loop only or the back loop only.

Working the front or back loops only of a crochet stitch will leave a horizontal bar exposed on the fabric and is often used when changing directions.  For example, on a bootie when you change from the sole to the boot.

When you crochet  in the back or front loop only the crochet fabric becomes more elastic than the traditional way of working under both loops, therefore it is often used in ribbing.

Back and Front Loop Only crochet can be done with all of the basic crochet stitches(such as single crochet, double crochet, etc.) as well as with some of the more advanced stitches.

If the pattern doesn’t state otherwise, stitches are worked through both loops.  If a back loop only stitch is required the abbreviation will read BLO.  For example,a double crochet into the back loop only will be BLODC.  The same with the front loop.  A front loop only single crochet will be abbreviated as FLOSC.  I have found variations of this such as DC-BLO and DC-TBL. Check your pattern for the list of abbreviations used.

Let’s start crocheting!

BLOCK 10-  BACK LOOP ONLY

“Front” and “back”  depend on the position from which you are looking at your work.  The back of the work will change if you flip the work over to the other side.

When you’re only working into back loops, you will work into the back loops no matter which side of the work you are working from. You will always work through the loops furthest away from you.

When making your stitch into the back loop only,  you’ll will insert your hook ONLY under the back loop, without the hook going under the front loop. Each stitch is formed as usual, EXCEPT that after you wrap the hook around the yarn to form the first part of the stitch, you only reach under the back loop, then complete the rest of the stitch.

Because the front loops are unworked, they create a little ridge under each stitch.

TO CREATE THE BLOCK

NOTE:  We are going to work the first and last stitch of each row through BOTH loops. This helps to keep your edges straight.

Foundation chain – After checking your gauge make a foundation chain equal to  the number of stitches in your gauge plus ONE.  I needed 35 stitches = 36 chains.  NOTE: Because this stitch has more stretch you may have to pull slightly when measuring.

ROW 1 – SC in first chain from hook. Work a full row of SC (through both loops).Turn

ROW 2 – chain 1 (turning chain), SC in first stitch,  SC-BLO across row until 1 stitch remains. Single crochet through both loops in last stitch.  Turn.

Repeat Row 2 until square measures 10 inches.

Edging – Create an edging as you did for the SC square.(Block 1)  SC across top, 3 SC into corner, SC into each row down the side, 3 SC into corner, SC across bottom, 3 SC into corner and SC into each row of remaining side.  End with 3 SC into last corner, then slip stitch to first stitch.  Finish off.

BLOCK 11-  FRONT LOOP ONLY

Originally I was going to have us crochet this block in Double crochet but I wanted you to see the difference in how the two stitches looked.  For this block, we will use the Front Loop only.  As with the BLO, you will crochet only into one loop.

When you worked the back loop, your hook was inserted through the middle and down through the back loop.  When working the front loop, your hook is inserted through the front loop and UP through the middle

TO MAKE THE BLOCK

Create your foundation chain.  Although you should check your gauge, I found that mine was the same as block 10, therefore, my foundation chain was 36 chains.

ROW 1 – single crochet in FIRST chain from hook. Work a full row of SC (through both loops).Turn

ROW 2 – chain 1 (turning chain), SC in first stitch,  SC-FLO across row until 1 stitch remains. single crochet through both loops in last stitch.  Turn.

Repeat Row 2 until square measures 10 inches.

Edging – Same as Block 10

BLOCK 12  BLO/FLO HDC

I have searched and although I have seen it used in several patterns, I cannot find an official name for this stitch.  So let’s call it Bloflo.

Just to get you totally confused, let’s make a block using both the BLO and the FLO stitches.  It is actually a very pretty stitch with lots of texture.

Make a foundation chain equal to an even number of stitches to make 10 inches plus 2 for turning chain.  My chain was 38 stitches.

ROW 1 – Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (36). Turn

ROW 2 – Ch 2 (turning chain), hdc in first stitch. *Working in BLO, hdc in next. Working in FLO, hdc in next. Repeat from * across until 1 st remains. Hdc in last st. Turn.

Repeat Row 2 until square measures 10 inches.

Edging – Create an edging as you did for the HDC square.(Block 4)  SC across top, 3 SC into corner, SC into each row down the side, 3 SC into corner, SC across bottom, 3 SC into corner and SC into each row of remaining side.  End with 3 SC into last corner, then slip stitch to first stitch.  Finish off.

ARE YOU LOOPY YET??  Want more?

As promised, here are some projects that I have pinned that you can make with what you have learned so far!!

OOh. I can hardly wait for next month when we learn about posts! 
HAPPY HOOKING!  And remember to share your blocks with us on Facebook!  And if you have any questions, please comment below or send me an email.   

See you June 3!

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