FLO in crochet means Front Loop Only, a stitch-placement instruction that tells you to insert the hook under the loop nearest you instead of under both strands of the stitch top. The unworked back loop forms a horizontal ridge, changing the fabric’s texture, flexibility, height, drape, and sometimes its stretch direction. Key Facts FLO means Front Loop Only, not a separate crochet stitch. The front loop is the strand closest to the crocheter on the current working side. You can work FLO with single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and other stitches. FLO usually creates horizontal ridges and a…
Author: Ahmed
How to Change Colors in Crochet means replacing the working yarn during the final pull-through of a stitch, so the completed stitch shows the new color cleanly. The technique creates stripes, motifs, geometric designs, tapestry crochet, amigurumi details, and multicolored texture without a bulky knot. Key Facts Change yarn during the final pull-through of the last stitch made in the old color. Leave a typical 4-6 inch tail when cutting yarn for later weaving. A color change usually takes 2-5 seconds; weaving each tail commonly takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Carry yarn for short, frequent changes, use bobbins for…
Chenille yarn is a tufted, fuzzy textile yarn made by trapping short cut fibers between two twisted core yarns. Its caterpillar-like pile creates a soft, velvety surface, but the same construction can hide stitches, shed fibers, slip at knots, and suffer damage from heat or aggressive unraveling. Key Facts Chenille means “caterpillar” in French and describes the yarn’s fuzzy appearance. Two core plies hold short pile fibers that project around the yarn’s circumference. Common retail weights range from medium weight 4 to jumbo weight 7. Typical knitting needles and crochet hooks range from 5 mm to 15 mm. Polyester is…
Why does my crochet keep getting wider? Crochet fabric usually widens because the stitch count increases at one or both row ends, although looser tension can also make the same number of stitches occupy more space. The fastest diagnosis is to count stitches, compare row widths, and inspect the first and last stitch before choosing a repair. Key Facts and Quick Answer One unintended stitch per row adds 50 stitches across a 50-row project and gradually changes a rectangle into a trapezoid. A widening edge usually comes from working into the wrong turning-chain space, adding a stitch beside the first…
What does asterisk mean in crochet pattern instructions? An asterisk (*) marks the boundary of a stitch sequence that you must repeat, either a stated number of times or until a row or round reaches a specified point. The stitches before the asterisk are usually worked once, while the instructions after it form the repeat. Key Facts / Quick Answer A single asterisk usually marks where a repeated instruction begins. “Repeat from *” means return to the asterisk and work the same sequence again. “Repeat from * across” means continue until the row’s stated endpoint, not automatically beyond it. A…
A puff stitch in crochet is a textured cluster made by drawing up several unfinished half double crochet loops in one stitch or space, then closing them together. The result is a soft, raised oval that adds warmth, thickness, and visual relief, although it uses more yarn and usually reduces fabric drape compared with a flat stitch. Key Facts A typical puff uses 3-5 draw-up repetitions and closes with 7, 9, or 11 loops in US crochet terminology. Every elongated loop should reach the same height before the final pull-through. A puff often consumes about 1.5-2.5 times the yarn of…
A yarn winder is a mechanical device that turns a loose hank, skein, or tangled yarn into a stable center-pull cake. A rotating spindle and moving yarn guide distribute the strand diagonally, creating a flat-bottomed shape that feeds smoothly from the center or outside during knitting and crochet. Key Facts About Yarn Winders What Is a Yarn Winder and How Does It Work? A yarn winder converts loose yarn into a compact cake by combining spindle rotation with a lateral guide movement. The spindle turns as the crank moves, while the guide arm shifts the strand from side to side;…
Bobble Stitch vs Popcorn Stitch compares two raised crochet clusters that create three-dimensional texture from one base stitch. A bobble usually combines incomplete stitches closed together at the top, while a popcorn uses complete stitches joined by pulling the active loop through the first stitch. The construction changes height, firmness, drape, yarn use, and working speed. Key Facts and Quick Answer What Is the Difference Between a Bobble and a Popcorn? A bobble closes several incomplete stitches together, producing a compact mound whose bulk depends on uncompleted stitch shafts and the final closing yarn-over. A popcorn completes every stitch first,…
Front post vs back post crochet compares two ways to wrap a hook around the vertical body, or post, of an existing stitch instead of its top loops. A front-post stitch pushes that post toward the viewer and forms a raised ridge, while a back-post stitch pushes it away and forms a recessed channel on the working side. Key facts Front-post stitches are worked front-to-back-to-front around a stitch post. Back-post stitches are worked back-to-front-to-back around a stitch post. Alternating FP and BP stitches creates flexible 1×1 or 2×2 ribbing. Post stitches usually consume more yarn and reduce row height compared…
Tunisian crochet is a needlecraft method that combines a crochet hook with knitting-like loop management. A long or corded hook holds several live loops during a forward pass, then works them off during a return pass, producing a dense fabric with distinctive vertical bars, low vertical stretch, and often more structure than ordinary crochet. Key Facts About Tunisian Crochet How Does Tunisian Crochet Work? Tunisian crochet creates one row through a forward pass and a return pass. The forward pass builds a row of loops on the hook, while the return pass reduces those loops until one working loop remains,…