Single Crochet yarn over versus Single Crochet yarn under are very different. Both have a purpose, and depending on who taught you to crochet, you may not realize you may be doing it differently than others.
I contacted Yarnspirations this morning to clarify if there is a term for these two different approaches. I suggested maybe there needs to be an abbreviation for single crochet yarn under hook, aka sc yuh.
My mother taught me to crochet, and what neither of us realized was that we were doing yarn under a hook. It makes the stitches much tighter, and anything like the gauges can throw us off. It's a great use for amigurumi to tighten up the stitches to prevent the fluff from coming out. As much as you can be tight with typical single crochet, yarn under hook will always be tighter.
In 2013, I was asked by RedHeart.com to change my ways in teaching to do yarn over hook. It took a bit of practice but it's doable.
The crochet reindeer basket uses yarn under the hook for the sides to compress the stitches so the basket stands on its own easily. The pattern currently says it's twisted single crochet, which really isn't what it's meant to be, as the technique is different.
A local friend and a few crocheters from YouTube stated the pattern isn't really twisted single crochet at all. That's not what the description says it is. Sure enough, they were right. Now that the mystery is solved, the reindeer basket is back on my to do list.
Tutorial
Karen Williams says
I’m usually not very chatty on The Crochet Crowd, but please know that I recommend The Crochet Crowd to everybody I teach. I do have a question today. I watched the yarn over versus yarn under video, and I do understand the concept. My question though is about completing the stitch. In the video, you yarned under your hook and pulled through the stitch so that you had two loops on your hook then you put your yarn over your hook to pull through those final loops. At that point in the stitch, do you think it matters if you are over or under?
Mikey says
That's a super question. It's definitely shorter in height to tighten up the stitch.
Robin C says
I was taught over the hook. I watched your tutorials and thought I was crocheting wrong. However I continued with the way I learned never had an issue with Guage. Everything was consistent. Now thanks to your tutorials my amigurami will be tighter Thanks Mikey.
Deborah Schisler, OFS says
For yarn under, it looks like you yarn under, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops.
Why do you not under for both?
Mikey says
You can decide what works for you. You can do both for sure.
Sandy R says
WOW, JUST WOW.
Fortunately, I was taught just like you. A new abbreviation would be great. I appreciate you showing the difference.
Karen Stephenson says
So the first part of the stitch is yarn under but the final is yarn over as I was taught?
Mikey says
yes, correct.