How to Crochet: Backward Single Crochet
By Candace – 14 CommentsCrocheting backward is very simple to do, and once you learn it, it will open up more possibilities for your crochet. You can work without turning–great for blankets and other projects that get heavy and annoying to turn– or you can turn your work and have a more uniform look to your stitches. It is also a good technique for creating mirror images.
All you need to do is work from back to front as shown below.
Left-handed crocheters can hover over the pictures for a lefty view.
To start a backward single crochet, with your yarn in front of your work, insert your hook into the next stitch from back to front.
Yarn over. (I have found that it does not matter which direction you yarn over in. Choose whatever feels right for you.)
Pull up a loop.
Yarn over and pull through two loops.
There you have it! Have fun experimenting with working backwards, and if you need further help, leave a comment.
Is this different than reverse sc or crab stitch?. I’m guessing you could do the rest of the stitches in this manner (hdc, dc, etc.)
Darlene, it is a bit different from the crab stitch/reverse sc, and yes other stitches can be worked back to front as well.
When you get to the end of a row of regular crochet, how do you start the first backward stitch? (the one that would have been the turning stitch)
Lora, if you’re referring to the turning chain, it is still a simple ch.
Thanks
Love this idea…. will help to keep the yarn from twisting and tangling.
Would this not be the same as just turning your work and working it from the opposite side? If this is so, then I could see this stitch coming in handy when you want a couple of rows to appear the same without cutting yarn and starting from the opposite side. Thanks & ~sMiLeS~
Tammy, that is once of the benefits of the stitch–you can get the uniform look of circular crochet while working flat.
It looks like you are still working from right to left . . . how is that backward?
This appears to be a great idea.
Could you tell (or show) what you do when you get to the end of the row?
I do not understand how to continue the next row without turning.
Pan, you can turn if you wish (that’s what gives a more consistent look) or you can follow this tutorial.
If this is still active, could you explain how to change colors in the row.
Hi, Diane. Try this tutorial http://www.crochetspot.com/how-to-change-colors-in-crochet/
Thanks Candice. I can change colors doing regular front crochet but when doing this backwards I can’t seem to figure it out.