Making a ridge in crochet is a very easy technique that can be performed in two different ways with different results. A ridge is a visible line which separates -or better- gives an accent to a certain area of a finished crochet piece.
I have found this technique to be very useful in basket making and it is actually the one I used for my oval baskets. Another use of it is in baby shoes and slippers in general, or, in anything you want to create a bottom that will lay flat and not curve on the sides.

Let’s dive in! First of all, we are going to use half double crochet stitches for the first ridge. As you can see in the picture below the ridge is formed by both loops of the last half double crochet round showing. How are we going to achieve that? By inserting our hook in the third loop.

What is the third loop I hear you asking? It is the horizontal loop-line that is placed on the back of every half double crochet stitch. If you manage to insert your hook -very easily- there you have a beautiful crochet ridge by demonstrating both loops -front and back- of your half double crochets.


That is the only stitch -as far as I know- that can create that beautiful ridge. Wanna test it? Go give my oval baskets a try!
The second ridge we are going to create can be done in just about any crochet stitch. Single crochet, half double, double crochet, you name it! As long as it has two loops on the upper part, you can do it! This is because we are going to utilize the back loop only. This leaves the front loop to create a line-like ridge.
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In the photo below, you can see the front loops and the back loops of any stitch. We are going to insert our hook in the back loops only as shown below, to create the ridge.


That was our tutorial for today and I believe it was an easy one. If you still have any questions use the comments below and let me know. What are you going to use this technique on?
Denise
Saturday 18th of January 2020
Will this pattern work if I use medium #4 yarn by Red Heart?
malloo
Monday 20th of January 2020
Sure! This trick works with any kind of yarn.
Lubna Ayyubi
Monday 23rd of December 2019
Hi,
Hoping you can help - I am trying to use the back loop technique to make a ridged blanket but even though I am working in the back loop correctly it is not creating the ridge in my blanket like I have seen in the picture of the blanket - any idea what I could be doing wrong?
malloo
Friday 17th of January 2020
Can you send me a photo in my email so I can see?
Jennifer
Thursday 7th of November 2019
Hey! I’m new to crochet and am trying the chunky Pom beanie pattern. Do you have a short video or photos that can help me visualize this? Thank you
malloo
Thursday 7th of November 2019
Hi Jennifer! No, I am sorry I don't have any video or photos. Please email me, though, if you get stuck anywhere and I will do my best to help you out.
charlie
Sunday 9th of September 2018
what is this gray yarn in the photos? it is lovely looking...
malloo
Tuesday 11th of September 2018
This gorgeous yarn is Drops Andes, a wool-alpaca mix and I use it all the time!
Maggie
Tuesday 31st of July 2018
Great tutorial. I'm going to give this a try. Thank you.