Working through the 3rd loop gives you another way to add texture to your project. Normally, you would work through the top 2 loops of your next stitch. Doing this gives your hat a nice flat texture. However, if you work through the 3rd loop instead, it will push those 2 top loops forward and give you a nice horizontal ridge on the front of your project.
You can find this technique used in my newest free pattern, the Season's End Hat!
This stitch technique is always done on the row prior row's stitches. This means, you can really do any stitch through the 3rd loop, but your previous row will need to have one of the following stitches to work this technique:
- Half Double Crochet
- Double Crochet
- Treble Crochet
- Any other stitch with 3 or more loops before completing the stitch.
There are also ways to work this technique with Single Crochet and some others that do not use a yarn over as part of the normal stitch. This tutorial, however, will be focusing on the 3rd loop off of one of the above stitches.
When working through the 3rd loop, you can tell you're doing it right if you see the horizontal "V" texture start to form on the right side of your project.
3rd Loop: In the Round
When working through the 3rd loop in the round, you will need to make sure that you are working on the right side of your work. The 3rd loop will always be located just behind the top 2 normal working loops in this case.
Working through this 3rd loop will push the normal 2 top loops forward, giving you a horizontal ridge on the side of the hat facing you.
3rd Loop: Flat
The major different between working in the 3rd loop on a flat project vs an in-the-round project is where your 3rd loop will be found.
Your 3rd loop will normally be located on the wrong side. When you turn your work to work on the wrong side, you should see your 3rd loop facing you.
This means that instead of inserting your hook into the loop directly behind those 2 top loops, you will instead be inserting your hook into the loop directly in front of those 2 top loops.
You will notice that, contrary to how your in-the-round version looks, your flat version will be completely flat when facing you. When you turn your work to the right side, however, you will see the horizontal ridge we are looking for!
Hope this tutorial helped!
