9 Crochet Questions & Answers

Hello, my dear crocheters! Here I will try to answer some of the most common questions crocheters have and to anticipate some questions you might have in future. In my opinion, being a “good” crocheter is not about making perfectly stitched, elaborate, artful creations. It is rather a matter of confidence. You need to be sure of what you are doing and how to do it, and then have the confidence to figure out what to do if things aren’t going quite right. Understanding why you do certain things and why they turn out the way they do increases confidence and leads to successful crocheting. The more you learn, the better you become, in crochet as in life. So feel free to leave your questions below! Be sure to make them as detailed as possible, and I will try to help you as best as I can.

1. What are some uses for slip stitch?

The slip stitch is most often used for joining rounds, for seaming, and for moving the yarn and hook to a ­different spot without adding height to a row. For example, when you are decreasing for an armhole, you might use a slip stitch to move the yarn and hook in from the edge of the fabric without building height. It is used for creating some specialty stitch patterns, as well.

2. What are some uses for chain stitch?

 The versatile chain stitch is ideal for shoelaces, ties, drawstrings, handles, buttonholes, turning chains, foundation chains, decorative increases, and lacy stitch patterns. In stitch patterns, it is used in conjunction with other stitches to create open spaces.

3. What does it mean to “pull up a loop”?

 This is the basic move in every crochet stitch. It means to wrap the yarn around the hook and pull it through the fabric. It is usually preceded by “insert hook into stitch/fabric/etc., yarnover, etc”

4. What does end off or fasten off mean?

 This is what you do to secure the last stitch and keep it from unraveling. Take your hook out of the stitch and cut the yarn, leaving at least a 6" tail. Pull this end through the last stitch and pull it tight.

5. Where do I put my hook when it says “back loop only” or “front loop only”?

A: The back loop of a stitch is the one that is farther away as you look at the work. The front loop is the one closer to you. Inserting into one or the other gives a completely different look to the stitch.

6. What is a post?

 The post is the vertical part of the stitch. Single crochet stitches have a post, but they are hard to find! For that reason, many front post and back post stitches are worked into double crochet and taller stitches.

7. What is front post double crochet and back post double crochet?

These stitches are created by putting your hook around the post of the next stitch on the previous row instead of into the top loop. Often crocheting around the post is alternated with single crochet.

For front post double crochet (FPdc). Yarnover; keeping hook in front of work, insert hook from front to back to front around post of next stitch and pull up a loop; *yarnover, pull through two loops on hook; repeat from * once.

For back post double crochet (BPdc). Yarnover; keeping hook in back of work, insert hook from back to front to back around post of next stitch and pull up a loop; *yarnover, pull through two loops on hook; repeat from * once.

8. Do I need to adjust my turning chain for front post and back post double crochet?

Because working around the post brings the new stitch down into the previous row, it creates a shorter-than-normal height for the row. You may need to chain only one or two stitches to reach the needed height for your next row. If you are alternating front/back post double crochet with single crochet stitches, just chain 1.

9. How do I put my hook between stitches?

Instead of inserting the hook under the top V of the stitch, insert it in between the posts of the stitches on the previous row. This creates a more open fabric (and a different gauge) than stitching into the tops of the stitches.