How to Crochet in the Chain & Back Ridge Loops – Made Easy!

As you can see in the picture above, the foundation chain(s) (also called the starting chain(s), beginning chain(s) or just the chain row) creates three places where you can crochet into:

• Top loop
• Bottom loop
• Back ridge loop

With your work facing towards you, there is the top loop and bottom loop. If you look at the back of the chain, you can see little bumps along the back. Those are called the back ridge loops. They are also referred to as the back bumps or the back of the chain.

Top or Bottom Loops of the Chain

By default, if the pattern doesn’t indicate to crochet in the back ridge loop, I normally work into the top loop of the chain but this is a personal preference.

In some patterns, such as my Star Flap Purse Crochet Pattern, it will indicate that you should crochet in the top loop of the chain.

To crochet into the top loop of the chain, insert your hook through the one top loop and complete the stitch as indicated in the pattern.

As for working into the bottom loop of the chain, I’ve personally never seen a pattern indicate to work into the bottom loop (none of my patterns instruct you to work into the bottom loop). If you come across a pattern that says to crochet in the bottom loop of the chain, insert your hook only through the one bottom loop and complete the stitch as indicated in the pattern.

Back Ridge Loops of the Chain

Many of my patterns instruct you to crochet into the back ridge loops (back bumps).

Why Work into the Back Ridge Loops

Working into the back ridge loops on certain projects/patterns can greatly improve the end result. For example, when making blankets that have a border added after the blanket body is completed, working into the back ridge loops prevents large gaps or unwanted holes between the blanket body and the blanket border.

I have a number of other patterns (not blankets) where I specify to work into the back ridge loops when working into the starting chains as after careful designing and testing, I found that the finished item looked better if you worked into the back bumps at the start.

When to Work into the Back Ridge Loops

I only state to crochet in the back ridge loops when it’s important to do so. Otherwise, if it doesn’t say to crochet in the back ridge loops of the chain, where you crochet in the chain is just a matter of personal preference. When a pattern doesn’t specify to work into the back ridge loops, I personally default to working in the top loop unless I am designing my own pattern. When designing my own pattern, I try both ways (working in the top loop and working in the back ridge loop) to see which method looks better.

In my patterns, when I specify to work into the back ridge loops, you’ll see the following instructions: “For Row 1 (only), work into the back ridge loops.” These instructions appear after the “Start” instructions and before the instructions for Row 1. I also indicate with the word “only” in brackets to remind you to just work into the back ridge loops for the first row, when working into chain stitches.

How to Crochet into the Back Ridge Loops

If the pattern says to crochet in the back ridge loops (or in the back of the chain or in the back bumps), after completing the necessary number of starting chains, rotate your chain slightly towards you so you can see the back ridge loops.

Insert your hook into the back ridge loop of the designated chain (i.e. second ch from the hook) and complete the stitch as indicated in the pattern.

You can make any stitch into the back bumps. If you are making a half double crochet stitch, for example, you would yarn over and insert your hook into the back ridge loop of the designated chain. Next, pull up a loop (you will have three loops on your hook). Yarn over and pull the yarn through all three loops on your hook.

Tips for Working into the Back Ridge Loops

Crocheting into the back ridge loops is tighter than the top or bottom loops so it is normal for it to be quite tight when inserting your hook into the bumps.

If you are struggling to work into the back bumps, you can try the following tips:

Make your chain stitches much more loosely:

Many crocheters make their chain stitches very tight. This makes the back ridge loop very small and difficult to work into. Relax your tension and the tightness of your chain stitches so there is more room to work into the back ridge loops.

Go up a hook size or two when making your chain stitches:

Instead of using the hook size that the pattern recommends, when making your chain stitches (only), use a larger hook. You can go up one hook size or even two hook sizes. For example, let’s say the pattern says to use an H/8 (5.00 mm) hook. When making your starting chains, try using an I/9 (5.50 mm) hook or even a J/10 (6.00 mm) hook. After you finish making your chain stitches, before starting the first row (or round), switch to the hook size recommended in the pattern (in this example, it would be using an H/8 (5.00 mm) for the first row and the rest of the pattern).

You can use this Crochet Hook Sizes Chart to find a larger hook.

Practice with a small swatch:

Instead of jumping right into a pattern and making hundreds of chains to start, practice by making a small sample of the pattern. You’ll be able to try out making stitches into the back ridge loops and see if you need to adjust your tension when making your starting chains or if you need to go up a hook size or two.

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Learning how to crochet in the back bumps is one of my top tips for beginners. Working into the back ridge loops, when specified in a pattern, can make such a difference in your work. After all the hours you put into making a project, you want to love what you made and I promise it’s worth the effort!

I hope this guide and tips help you crochet in the chain and in the back ridge loops more easily!

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