How to Crochet: Backward Double Crochet
By Candace – 8 CommentsBackward crochet stitches open up possibilities for variation in your crochet, and they are also convenient. Crocheting backward without turning is great for working on blankets. Best of all, it’s simple and only a slight variation from regular crochet. For an introduction to backward stitches, see the backward single crochet tutorial.
Left-handed crocheters can hover over the pictures to see a left-handed view of the backward single crochet.
To start, yarn over (YO) and insert your hook into the next stitch from back to front. (The direction of the yarn overs does not matter; do what is comfortable for you.)
YO and pull up a loop.
YO and pull through two loops.
YO and pull through remaining two loops.
There’s your backward double crochet. If you need any further help, leave a comment below.
In the pictures it looks as if the stitches were still worked from right to left. Shouldn’t it be from left to right if you haven’t turned your project? How would it look then? I imagine there’s a lot of twisting involved. Thanks.
It can be worked in either direction, but for ease of practice I showed it right to left. Working without turning shouldn’t cause the fabric to twist.
Thank you Soooooooooooooooooooooo much. I LOVE how this comes out. After over 50 years of crocheting I think this is the most ‘usable’ *and easy * new thing I’ve ever learned. Merry Christmas!
Does it look different than the regular double crochet?
I guess I just don’t get it either. If the purpose of this stitch is so you can work from left to right (which I can appreciate for big bulky projects), then why are you showing it worked right to left? I like the slightly different appearance that comes from the twisting of the stitch (inserting hook back to front), but I can’t understand the logic of showing it being worked right to left. Am I just being dense??
It’s worked in the same direction as regular double crochet, just the hook goes in from back to front not front to back. Thats it. NOTHING else different. It really is amazing how nice it comes out. So just crochet like normal, but instead of inserting from the front ‘every other row’ , insert back to front. (Sorry if I messed that up Candace, delete this msg if I goofed) but I think I got it right explaining. 🙂
So you do turn your work, but just insert the hook back-to-front one row, and front-to-back the next? You would only work left to right if it is a big project that is inconvenient to turn? Okay, I’ll try that.
The beauty of crochet stitches is that they can be worked in the many different ways people have mentioned, whether it’s working by turning the fabric or working without turning.