How to Crochet in the 3rd Loop of Three Basic Stitches

You’ve probably heard of the front loop and the back loop of crochet stitches. But what about the 3rd loop?

As a refresher, the front loop and back loop are the two loops at the top of the stitch. The 3rd loop is on the back side of the stitch, just below the loops at the top. It depends slightly on the stitch, so in this post and video tutorial, I’ll show you the 3rd loops for single crochet, double crochet, and half-double crochet.

Why would you want to crochet in the 3rd loop? Usually you’ll see the 3rd loop used when crocheting in the round, when all the stitches are facing the same direction without turning. Crocheting in the 3rd loop pushes the front and back loops to the front of your item, which creates the look of a chain going across the fabric horizontally. It gives your project a knit look. I like to use this technique for borders.

Single Crochet in the 3rd Loop

The 3rd loop of the single crochet stitch is on the back of the stitch, just below the top loop (front or back, depending on which side you’re looking at). You can see it highlighted in orange below.

Double Crochet in the 3rd Loop

The 3rd loop of the double crochet stitch is on the back of the stitch, just below the top loop. You can see it highlighted in orange below.

Half-Double Crochet in the 3rd Loop

The 3rd loop of the half-double crochet stitch is on the back of the stitch, just below the top loop. It’s the longer loop that goes a little diagonal. You can see it highlighted in orange below.