The Front and Back Sides of Crochet

By Deb Richey

Yes, Virginia, there IS a difference!

There might not be a real Santa but there IS a difference between the front and back sides of a crochet!

If you are just working in single crochets and do not have to work in the front or back loop of something it really isn't all that noticeable - BUT say your project suddenly calls for a half double crochet? Oh yeah, the cat is out of the bag and you will notice!

See the difference here:

This is the front side of a round of half double crochets -- it just looks like a longer skinnier version of a single crochet:

But if that piece were being worked backwards? Here is the tell-tale evidence... bumps!

How do you get rid of the bumps?

You got those bumps because you were crocheting like this: inside-out, or counter-clockwise.

But if you work with your front sides out, or clockwise, your bumps will disappear and all those front and back loop crochet rounds will actually work the way they are suppose to!

If you are working in rounds you really won't see a difference until you have to work in the front or back loops of something. It will sit differently, believe it or not. If you do work inside out, or counter-clockwise, just remember to reverse your front or back loops: if the pattern calls for something to be worked in a front loop, put it in the back loop, and vice-versa. Easy-Peasy!

Just remember that you will get those tell-tale bumps unless you crochet clockwise with your front sides out.