Another variation of single crochet is the single crochet in front loop (SCFL). The stitch pattern gives a changed texture to a garment. This stitch pattern looks quite different from SCBL (Tutorial Series: Single Crochet in Back Loop).
After the foundation row for a single crochet has been worked (Tutorial Series: How to Single Crochet), all the following rows are worked only into the front loop. This gives the fabric a distinct textured pattern on both sides of the work. The video and written instructions provided below show how to make a single crochet in the front loop holding the crochet hook in your right hand.
How to Single Crochet in Front Loop (SCFL):
Written Instructions on How to Single Crochet in Front Loop (SCFL):
Skip the first stitch from the hook, and insert crochet hook in the front loop of the next stitch
Catch and pull yarn loop under and through the front loop of the stitch
There are two loops on the crochet hook now
Yarn over (wrap the working yarn around the hook counterclockwise)
Catch and pull yarn through the remaining two loops on the hook.
There is one loop left on the crochet hook
Repeat Steps 2 to 7 till end of the row and all other subsequent rows (chain one after working the last stitch end of each row and turn to the next row)
One variation of single crochet stitch pattern is the single crochet in back loop (SCBL). This stitch pattern is commonly used as a ribbed border for sweaters, blankets etc. In the February 2025 Earwarmer, the ribbing sections for the earwarmers are in the single crochet in the back loop stitch pattern.
Once the foundation row is worked for a single crochet, the crochet hook is inserted only into the back loop for all the the stitches in the next and the subsequent rows. After inserting the crochet hook in the back loop, a single crochet is worked. This differs from a regular single crochet where the crochet hook is inserted under both loops (strands) of a stitch. Using the single crochet in back loops gives the worked fabric a ribbed look.
The video and written instructions are below showing how to make a single crochet in the back loop. This technique is used for all the rows after the foundation chain row. The video and instructions below are for right-handed crocheting
How to Single Crochet in Back Loop (SCBL):
Written Instructions on How to Single Crochet in Back Loop (SCBL):
Hello folks, it’s been a while since my last pattern post. A bad case of the flu at the end of January, the passing of my adorable pet dog in mid-February, and other personal issues needed my time. I started working on the February 2025 Earwarmer crochet pattern a few days before my beloved dog passed away. I am grateful that my knitting and crocheting hobby gave me much-needed comfort. It supported me during this difficult period of grief and reflection. I am also thankful to all the readers and subscribers of this blog. I appreciate the knitting and crocheting community for their support and understanding.
The February 2025 Earwarmer is crocheted flat and then the two ends are joined together with slip stitch crochet. The construction of this Earwarmer pattern is comparable to the “Goes with Everything Earwarmer” knitted version. It starts with a chain of eight stitches and ribbing. Then, it goes through a series of increases and length extension. It ends with a series of decreases and ribbing. The two ends are then joined together with a slip stitch crochet. A variation of the crochet moss stitch pattern is used for both earwarmers. February 2025 Earwarmer 1 is made with a cotton blend yarn and measures about 4.5 inches x 20 inches. February 2025 Earwarmer 2 is made with a merino wool blend yarn and measures about 4 inches x 19 inches.
The February 2025 Earwarmer Pattern
Materials Needed: Yarn: Earwarmer 1 – Caron Blossom Cakes® yarn in Colorway: Bark Yarn: Earwarmer 2 – Loops and Threads® Luxe Merino™ Wool Blend Colorway: Raindrops Gauge: 5.5 stitches per inch for Earwarmer 1 and 5.0 stitches per inch for Earwarmer 2 in the variation crochet moss stitch pattern Crochet hook: US size H-8 (5.00 mm) for February 2025 Earwarmer 1 and US size 7 (4.5 mm) for the February 2025 Earwarmer 2 Tapestry needle to weave in ends
Abbreviations: sc: single crochet (Tutorial Series: How to Single Crochet) scbl: single crochet in the back loop (insert crochet hook in the back strand of the stitch only) […]: pattern repeat Skill Level: Beginner friendly pattern with single crochet, single crochet in the back loop, and crochet slip stitch)
The February 2025 Earwarmer Pattern (text and images for personal use only)
The February 2025 Earwarmer pattern is made up of the following sections:
Foundation Chain
Ribbing
Increase
Length Extension
Decrease
Ribbing
Joining of the foundation row and the last (bind off) rows
Foundation Chain:
For February 2025 Earwarmer 1: Chain 8 stitches using crochet hook size H-8 (5.00 mm) For February 2025 Earwarmer 2: Chain 8 stitches using crochet hook size 7 (4.50 mm)
Foundation Chain Set up and Ribbing Section:
Row 1 (RS): Skip the first stitch, [single crochet the purl bump in the back the next stitch], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc the purl bump in the back of the last stitch (on the slip knot side), chain 1 and turn
Row 2 (WS): Skip the first stitch, sc under both strands of the next stitch, [scbl (single crochet in the back loop) in the next stitch], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc under both strands of the the last stitch, chain 1 and turn
Row 3 (RS): Repeat Row 2
Row 4 (WS): Repeat Row 2
Row 5: Repeat Row 2
Row 6: Repeat Row 2
Row 7: Repeat Row 2
Row 8: Repeat Row 2
Increase Section:
Row 9 (RS): Skip the first stitch and sc in the next stitch, chain 1 and sc again in the same stitch, chain 1, [skip a stitch, sc in the next next stitch, chain1], repeat […] till 2 stitches left, sc in the last stitch, chain 1, sc again in the same stitch, chain 1 and turn
Row 10 (WS): [Skip the first stitch, sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc in the last stitch, chain 1 and turn – 12 stitches
Row 11 (RS): Repeat Row 9
Row 12 (WS): Repeat Row 10 – 16 stitches
Row 13 (RS): Repeat Row 9
Row 14 (WS): Repeat Row 10 – 20 stitches
Row 15 (RS): Repeat Row 9
Row 16 (WS): Repeat Row 10 – 24 stitches
Customization Option: Repeat Rows 9 and 10 to increase the number of stitches to preferred size
Length Extension Section:
Row 17 (RS): [Skip the first stitch and sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till 2 stitches left, sc in the last stitch, chain 1, and turn
Row 18 (WS): Repeat Row 17
Repeat Rows 17 and 18 till preferred length reached. The length extension for Earwarmer 1 is about 12 inches and for Earwarmer 2 it’s almost 11.5 inches
Decrease Section:
Decrease Section Row 1 (RS): Skip the first stitch, insert crochet hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull the loop under and through that stitch (there are 2 loops on the crochet hook), skip a stitch and insert hook in the next stitch (4th stitch from the beginning), yarn over and pull the loop under and through that stitch (three loops on the hook now), yarn over and pull loop through the three loops on the hook, chain 1, [skip a stitch, sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till 4 stitches left, insert crochet hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull the loop under and through that stitch (there are 2 loops on the crochet hook), skip a stitch and insert hook in the last stitch, yarn over and pull the loop under and through that stitch (three loops on the hook), yarn over and pull loop through the three loops on the hook, chain 1 and turn
Decrease Section Row 2 (WS): [Skip the first stitch and sc in the next stitch, chain 1], repeat […] till 2 stitches left, sc in the last stitch, chain 1, and turn – 20 stitches left
Customization Option: Repeat Decrease Section Rows 1 and 2 if there are more than 24 stitches
Ribbing Section:
Decrease Section Row 9 (RS): Skip the first stitch, sc under both strands of the next stitch, [scbl (single crochet in the back loop) in the next stitch], repeat […] till the last stitch, sc under both strands of the the last stitch, chain 1 and turn
Crochet Slip Stitch Join of the Last (Bind-off) and the Foundation Rows:
The earwarmer pattern is reversible so either sides can be used for joining. As in the image above, insert the crochet hook into the first stitch of the foundation row first, then insert it into the last stitch of the last (bind off) row, yarn over and pull the loop through both stitches for a slip stitch join, repeat to the last stitches of both ends and pull yarn through (see video below)
The joined foundation and last row of the earwarmers:
Weave in the ends, wash and block the February 2025 Earwarmers
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Another way to decrease a stitch in knitting is to do a “Slip Slip Knit (SSK)”. In SSK, a stitch is decreased when two stitches are slipped and then knit together through the back loop. Decreasing stitches like increasing stitches are techniques in knitting used to give shape to knitted items. Unlike K2tog (Tutorial Series: K2tog and P2tog) technique which forms a right-leaning decrease, SSK technique forms a left-leaning decrease. The written instructions and video below show how to decrease one stitch for right handed knitting.
Slip Slip Knit (SSK):
The Steps for Slip Slip Knit (SSK):
Slip the first two stitches knitwise (one at a time) on the left knitting needle to the right knitting needle
Transfer the two slipped stitches (one at a time) now on the right knitting needle back to the left knitting needle
Insert the right knitting needle through the back loop of those two slipped stitches on the left knitting needle
The provisional cast-on is a temporary cast on method. With this technique, the “live” stitches on the waste yarn are picked up later. They are then knit in the opposite direction. A common way to make a provisional cast on is to make a crochet chain from waste yarn first. Then, with the project yarn, make stitches using the purl bumps of the crochet chain. Later, remove the crochet chain waste yarn by picking up the “live” stitches and knitting them in the opposite direction. For example, I use provisional cast on to start a top down sweater. Once the body of the sweater is finished, I pick up the “live” stitches. Then, I knit the collar in the opposite direction. There are several different kinds of knitting projects that use the provisional cast on method. The written instructions and video on how to do the provisional cast on is shown below for right handed knitting.
The Provisional Cast-On Method:
The Provisional Cast-On Stitches:
The Steps for the Provisional Cast-On Method:
Using a waste yarn (or a yarn different from the knitting project yarn), make a crochet chain (Tutorial Series: How to Crochet Chain) with the number of stitches specific for a project
[Tip: chain a few extra stitches than needed for the project]
Turn the crochet chain so that the purl bumps are facing you (image below)
Insert a knitting needle into the purl bump (image below)
Make a loop with the project yarn and slide it onto the knitting needle
Tighten and secure the project (working) yarn as needed
Bring the project yarn loop through the purl bump and onto the needle
Insert the knitting needle into the next purl bump
Bring the project (working) yarn around the knitting needle (counterclockwise), catch and pull the yarn loop through the purl bump and onto the needle
Repeat Steps 8 and 9 till you have all the stitches needed for a knitting project
Coffee Tea Knits 