How to make the modified single crochet - perfect for tapestry crochet

In this video tutorial, we go over one of the most useful stitches I have come across for perfecting your tapestry crochet technique. This is the modified single crochet stitch which combines yarning over and yarning under. It helps keep stitches neatly one on top of the other which makes your tapestry pattern look extra good by adding definition to your design.
If you have ever had trouble with your tapestry design becoming slightly squinted especially when working in the round, then using the modified single crochet stitch is the perfect solution.
Check out my blog post here: butfirstwecroc...
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Check out also my Christmas tree tapestry crochet pattern, which is worked in a similar way: butfirstwecroc...
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Happy Crochet!

[@danibattles3287]

Thank you so much!!! Two hours on here looking for a tapestry video that shows how to make neater tapestry AMAZING!! YOU ARE AMAZING!! Thank you!!!

[@celestek.2395]

💗thank you so much for sharing this very useful modified sc stitch💗 it looks SO much neater than the regular way. I’m a perfectionist, and was just about to quit tapestry style crocheting because it looks too messy for me, but this looks so much better. I think I’ll give it a try!😊

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

So glad to hear that 😊

[@strawberry0sunset]

I have always just grabbed the yarn with my hook like that. I have never actually done a "yarn OVER". For what ever reason, my little child brain (since I was taught when I was around 8 or younger) was concerned with getting arthritis when I was an old woman so I eliminated as much unnecessary movement as possible when I learned to crochet. I do knife hold instead of pencil grip for the same reason lol.

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

You were ahead of us all! I think we all crochet just a bit differently having developed our own little techniques to get things done in a more convenient way :)

[@i_cee_u]

Bro was ahead of her time. She goes to school kate and everyone else apologises for being early

[@rhondahankins4026]

That is cooler than sliced bread. I have done the extended single crochet with tapestry to get a straighter/truer shape to designs, but I have never even heard of the modified single crochet and I have been crocheting for close to fifty years. Never once in all those years did it ever occur to me to just pull the yarn through like that. You, dear one, are a genius and I thank you for that new way to do single crochet. ❣️

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Thank you for your kind words! Lots of experimenting and research went into this but it made me so happy when I got my crochet piece to look good the first time :)

[@patd.3368]

Bravo to you!!! Subtle changes are sometimes hard to explain…you did a fantastic job…I will remember your explanation!!!!!

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Thanks Pat! I am glad you found the tutorial helpful :)

[@nngryChd]

Thank you so much for this video, I wondered why my tapestry were looking wonky. Now with your video it helped me so much to improve my projects! Merci! :)

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Super! It's so frustrating when it goes wonky so I was very happy when I found out about this technique. Plus it's so easy!

[@anaclf1]

Ingenious technique!! Thank you very much for sharing! 🥰

[@TheCarolynrose]

Very nice, thank you. ❤️

[@julianamargules325]

Thank you! Please continue creating videos 🥰

[@mireah]

I have been crocheting for several years, but have never had the nerve to try some of the more adventurous colour work like tapestry and mosaic, as I still think I'm at the intermediate (ish) level. I have finally found the nerve to try mosaic after watching a Icelandic crocheter and found that it was far less difficult than I thought. My next project I wanted to try was tapestry. So this vid of yours was just what I needed to find! Make me want to start it this minute!

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

So glad to hear that! Hope your project was a success!

[@mayarussell6717]

This was an amazing description. Thank you so much!

[@nacuyong]

i’m starting tapestry and i was so sad i made several attempts and noticed it always offset my grid, i will be trying this tomorrow for that stacked stitches look. Thank you!

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Good luck! I am sure it will turn out great!

[@nacuyong]

@@butfirstwecrochet3185 i actually did try it and it worked out very nice, i already finished my first tapestry project actually, thank you lots!

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

That's so lovely to hear! Tapestry crochet is such a lovely technique 😍

[@thunyamaipunnanithi3927]

thanks for your VDO! I wondered why my work is not stack on the top until I found your tutotrial. 😊😊

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

I am glad you found it useful! It's actually made me love tapestry crochet so much more!

[@toriacrochetsandknit3423]

This is lovely, thank you for sharing ❤️

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Thank you! Hope you find this stitch useful! Since discovering it I have found a new love for tapestry crochet ☺️

[@courag1]

Makes total sense. I knit also and am a Combined knitter which means I wrap the yarn the direction I have seen gives the better results. When the results look good, and the one producing the work likes it, even so, there are those who cannot see the forest for the trees. Bravo to you. I will try your technique.

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Thank you for the feedback! Let me know how you get on :)

[@rosemarievigil5381]

Oh my gosh just beautiful! Would love to see a vedio on to start from beginning. Thanks for sharing 🎉🎉

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Will try to make one soon! Thank you 😊

[@vickyagudelo9248]

EMPIEZA DESDE EL PRINCIPIO MIJA😮😮😮

[@karolinasiwka2543]

Your tutorial helped me a lot🥳thank you😉

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

That is lovely to hear, glad it helped!

[@elatosia7251]

Super! Thanks a lot ❤🌻

[@mettekragballe5344]

Thankyou for your lovely video. Very usefull. My problem is though that my yarn splits when i go under, so i have to do it slowly😃😃 greetings from Denmark

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Hello from sunny (for now at least) Scotland! Oh yarn splitting is the worst. I use Lion Brand 24/7 cotton and didn't have an issue but it does come down to each yarn!

[@ElvinPalacio-pr1jl]

Me gustari aprender este estilo

[@marienilsson5163]

Very good video. Thanks for sharing🥰

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Glad you found it helpful :)

[@AdrianaSD]

BEAUTIFUL,!!!

[@__yussra]

I want a tutorial or a grid for these gorgeous hearts

[@amyfreeze9772]

Thank you❤

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

You're most welcome 🤗

[@TheCarolynrose]

Thank you very much. 💕💕💕

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Glad you found the video helpful 😊

[@froufroudeluxe]

So suppose you work this stitch but instead of going in the round you turn your work, would you alternate BLO and FLO stitches per row?

[@HannahJay-HBH]

Can you use this technique with more than two colours. Great video 😊

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Yes you absolutely can! I would recommend having all the colours from the start as if you add too many as you go the thickness of your piece may change. Thank you for your kind words :)

[@Life_X_Lucy]

Hi I'm trying to make a flat tapestry piece, can this modified single crochet only be used for in the round projects?

[@wachukiama4786]

Can this work with back and forth rounds instead of in the round?

[@LushMontana]

THANK YOU😻😻😻🎈🎈🎈🧸🧸🧸👍👍👍

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

You are most welcome :)

[@sean19122]

This makes sense when you’re working in the round but when you turn the work this method is almost impossible to work in the front loops.

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Absolutely, this method is most useful for when working in the round! Usually I dont find that the shape or design gets particularly distorted when working in the flat.

[@demyjc3400]

Thank you so much 😊 please how do you end each row and start the new one

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

It depends on your pattern and its design or your preference. You can work in continuous rounds or slip stitch at the end of each round before starting the next. I prefer a seamless look so use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round and crochet continuously. But if the end of the round coincides with a design element or colour change I would probably end with a slip stitch so that the design is not affected.

[@lillypaulinagonzaleztabilo3137]

Como puedo tejer sin que se corra el diseño? Gracias. Hice algo parecido a este trabajo, pero solo por delante. Atrás no le puse diseño y al final se fue moviendo. Teji en redondo como tu lo hiciste. Pero solo quería por el frente el dibujo. ❤

[@elyna9722]

😍😍😍😍😍

[@breonna.nicole]

would the BLO work if you aren’t working in the round? like would it switch to FLO once you turned the work or is that only for working in the round??

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

I will prob make a post with some photos about it. Personally I feel this is a technique for working in the round. If you are working in the flat the shape of your design does not get distorted so the only thing you need to keep an eye on is hiding the non working yarn in your piece which can be done in a couple of different ways depending on what you are making ❤️ Hope this helped!

[@chinoreyes5611]

Hi! Just saw this tutorial and I was wondering what would happen if I do the yarn under but go though both the front and back loops of the stitches?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Hi, I've tried it and the design begins to slant a bit. To me this is noticeable enough so going under the back loop only and yarning under is the only method I use for working in the round especially on tapestry crochet projects. Hope this helps!

[@shubhangikundu2827]

​@@butfirstwecrochet3185 is the back loop method used in tapestry crochet in the round to avoid the slanting? Because I could never figure out why one would go through the back loop instead of going through the entire stitch 😮

[@justinecatherine24]

Is it always the back loop only?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Yes, exactly! This in combination with yarning under helps ensure the design sits straight and does not slant :)

[@sapirmizrahi4628]

Thank you for the explanation! Do you have a pattern for this lovely project?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Hi! Thank you 😊 Yes I do on my blog: butfirstwecrochet.com/2021/12/01/hearts-tapestry-crochet-zipper-bag-pattern/

[@ClaudiasCrochetCreations]

This is beautifully explained, is there a pattern or chart for the purse?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Hi thank you :) Yes there is a pattern available on my blog: butfirstwecrochet.com/2021/12/01/hearts-tapestry-crochet-zipper-bag-pattern/

[@ClaudiasCrochetCreations]

@@butfirstwecrochet3185 Thank you so very much! ❤️ Love it!

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Super :) let me know if you give it a go and of course if you have any questions ❤️

[@verena_techie355]

Do you have a video on how you start a project like this? Thanks for this video. I might translate a knit KAL to crochet!

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Hi unfortunately I have not made a video but you can check my blog linked in the description box to see how I started the project. It's got lots of photos to accompany the text instructions. Here's the link: butfirstwecrochet.com/2021/12/01/hearts-tapestry-crochet-zipper-bag-pattern/

[@lesleyshields367]

What if you are working back & forth NOT in the round. Do you work in the front LP only on the off rows??????

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

If you are working in the flat, I would not croceht in the front or back loop only. While it works, I find that it makes the project looks a bit more 'loose'. You can try it in a swatch to see how it works for your project. Personally, I still yarn under when working in the flat and I crochet in the back loop only when I am changing colours in the row for a more defined look.

[@reverie5749]

would you switch to front loops on the back side when working with a project that isnt in the round?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Hello, I would say that this is a technique best suited for working in the round. The shapes and designs made when working back to front don't 'bend' in the same way. So I either carry my yarn and crochet as normal when I am using two colours or use this technique of picking up a colour as needed (as done here with the white yarn: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d57cimqHfK-MbMU). Hope that helps!

[@benduran3198]

​@@butfirstwecrochet3185,

[@sonjaburger2736]

Love the look of it. Do you think this method could maybe work if you crochet a flat portrait and use the "cut and tie" method? I usually use the backside of my work, as the "right side" for my portraits.

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

I have never tried it but you may want to do a small swatch to check it? You would need to change between the front and the back loop depending on the side your are crocheting in so in the end it might not be as different to the method you already use?

[@Neuro_spicy98]

Can this be done in rows? Would you have to do front loop only when working down the wrong side?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Hi Megan, this is really for projects that are worked in the round as this is when projects can become slightly wonky. What is the project you wanted to do? There are other options for working with multiple colour of yarn that may be a better fit for your project.

[@meganshaw4836]

so helpful! will this work with a half double crochet?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

thank you! Good question! I think it would but you might end up with a less tight weave? Just like normal single crochet differs from half double? Would be worth experimenting with a small swatch. Let me know if you try it out.

[@simplylily9811]

will the same BLO and yarn under concept work for hdc?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Yes it should work!

[@gillianbc]

Once you release the yarn from the hook, it doesn't matter whether it was under or over - it is free and has no memory.

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

I don't know if yarn is sentient 🙃 but yarning over vs under makes a difference 🙂 just like with the single crochet cross stitch!

[@valentinabenavides950]

Algún video que enseñe a cómo tejer corazones ?

[@dianagonzalez6769]

Do you have a tutorial on how to do the same thing but with clouds

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Sorry I don't have a clouds pattern but you can create a small design and try it out? Because the shape of clouds is quite circular it might need a bit of tweaking.

[@mirandamajewicz5263]

If you’re not working in the round, would you alternate between FLO and BLO?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Hi there, this is really a technique for working in the round as the design does not get as distorted when you are working flat. Feel free to experiment though 😃

[@imaaneh_]

🌻

[@Camila-bx5ld]

I tried it but my stitch looks different

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Sorry to hear that! Maybe try some other tutorials to see if their explanations can help you more? Your project must be in the round and you work in the back loop under and you use the yarn under rather than over technique. Hope this helps and good luck ❤

[@shubhangikundu2827]

Hello! May I know which yarn is the best for tapestry crochet?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Hi you can use most yarns but I think a cotton based yarn gives a more crisp and defined look especially if you want the design to be as clean as possible. For this tutorial I used Lion Brand 24/7 cotton but I've also used Scheepjes catona and it also looks great. The weight of the yarn is also important as you don't want yarn that is too thick and can't be easily hidden in the back of your work. It's always a good idea to do a swatch to make sure you're happy with the result. Hope this helps :)

[@meritwolf3428]

why do you only work into the back loop?

[@butfirstwecrochet3185]

Working in the back loop only helps keep your stitches stack up neatly one on top of the other and helps make the design lines more clear.

[@meritwolf3428]

@@butfirstwecrochet3185 thanks, I understand it now!

[@AlfonsoCococcioni-pm8wh]

Per cort3sia in italiano

[@AlfonsoCococcioni-pm8wh]

Traduci in italiano grazie

[@aichazahiri3133]

Mo