In this Crochet 101 tutorial, I’m walking you through one of those little pattern abbreviations that can feel weirdly intimidating at first: “back loop only,” aka BLO. I show you exactly how to spot the two loops at the top of your stitches (that little V), which one is the front loop vs the back loop, and how to place your hook so you’re working into only the loop farthest away from you. Same stitch you already know—just a different place to insert your hook. The magic of BLO is what it does to your fabric. Because you’re leaving that front loop untouched, you get a really cute horizontal ridge and a fabric that’s more flexible and stretchy than working under both loops. That’s why you’ll see BLO pop up in patterns for ribbing and snug, comfy edges—think hat brims, sweater cuffs, waistbands, and anything you want to have a little “hug” to it. By the end of the video, you’ll know how to work BLO with whatever stitch your pattern calls for and you’ll understand why it changes the look and feel so much.