How To Make the Double Crochet Post Stitch: Front Post and Back Post

Making the Double Crochet Post Stitch. 
by Janice Jones     

If you can crochet the double crochet or the treble crochet stitch, then you make crochet post stitches. They are so-called post stitches because they are worked around the post of the stitch rather than in spaces or through the top loops of stitches from previous rows.

By working around the post, you can make very decorative, textured fabric that adds an interesting variation to the standard double crochet. The fabric created is rich and denser than a typical fabric created with double crochet stitches only.

The good news is that they are easy to learn and master for the crochet beginner.

Example of how post stitches are used in patterns. This is called the basketweave stitch in crochet.Basketweave Crochet Pattern using Post Stitches

This easy basketweave crochet stitch uses post stitches and is a quick way to learn how to make them.

What is the Post of the Crochet Stitch

Diagram of the post of a double crochet stitch.

To make it a little easier to visualize, I’ve created a picture of a crochet stitch labeled with the various parts. Think of it as the anatomy of a crochet stitch.

Two Types of Double Crochet Post Stitches

There are two types of stitches you can work around the posts of a crochet stitch.

  • Front Post (fp)
  • Back Post (bp)

These two stitches are differentiated by where you insert your hook. (More about that in a moment)

If you are creating crochet post stitches around double crochets, they are called a front post double crochet (fpdc) or a back post double crochet (bpdc).

Likewise, if you are making post stitches around treble crochet stitches, they would be called front post treble crochet (fptr) or back post treble crochet (bptr).

You can also make post stitches around half-double crochet or single crochet, but it is not easy to get your hook around these smaller stitches.

Typically post stitches are worked around the post of the stitches worked in the previous row.

Crochet Symbols for the Front Post and Back Post Double Crochet

Besides the abbreviations fp, bp, you may also see the symbols for the front post double crochet fpdc and the back post bpdc in a crochet chart.

symbols for front post double crochet and back post double crochet

Why Make the Double Crochet Post Stitch?

A front post stitch will push the stitch forward, and the back post presses to the back. When you alternate them, you can create a ribbing effect like ribbing in knitting. Crochet Stitches are also incredibly useful if you want to make crochet cables and the basketweave stitch is made using post stitches.

How to Make the Front Post Double Crochet Stitch

How to make a front post double crochet stitch.

You start out with a yarn over as if you are working a normal double crochet stitch. But instead of inserting your hook in a chain stitch or the top loop(s) of the previous row’s stitches, you would insert your hook from the front to the back around the post so that the hook is behind the post and the post is in front of your hook.

Yarn over, pull through, and 3 loops on the hook. From here, you complete the double crochet stitch in the normal way.

Steps for Making the Front Post Single Crochet

  1. Create a chain of about 15, and turn.
  2. Make a double crochet in the 4th chain from the hook.  Continue making a double crochet stitch in each chain across.  Chain 3 and turn. Ch-3 doesn't count as a stitch.
  3. To make a back post double crochet:  Yarn over
  4. Insert the hook from front to back through the crochet post from the previous row and the hook is behind the post.
  5. Yarn over and pull through.  (3 loops on the hook)
  6. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (2 loops on the hook)
  7. Yarn over and pull through two loops (1 loop of the hook)

Notice that steps 3 through 5 are exactly the same whether you are working a double crochet post stitch or a double crochet stitch working through loops or spaces.

A sample of the front post double crochet stitch using white yarnHere is an example of what the front post double crochet stitch should look like. It is showing horizontally, but when rotated to its vertical position, it looks like a rib stitch.

How to Make the Back Post Double Crochet

The back post stitch is worked around the post also, but you insert your hook from the back of the work towards the front. The post will be behind the hook. The rest is like making a double crochet stitch.

Steps to Making the Back Post Double Crochet

Before beginning to make the back post double crochet stitch, you will need to create a row of chain stitches, and then work a row of regular double crochet stitches.

First row of the back post double crochet stitch must be a row of regular double crochet stitches
Where to position the hook when making a back post double crochet stitch
  1. Yarn over.
  2. Insert your hook around the post so that your work is in front of the post.  
  3. Yarn over and pull through (3 loops on the hook)
  4. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops remaining on hook)
  5. Yarn over and pull through two loops (1 loop remaining on hook)
Final step for making the back post double crochet stitchNotice that steps 3 through 5 are exactly the same for a normal double crochet stitch.

TIPS for Making the Double Crochet Post Stitch

If you want a stitch to always pop to the front of a project (like with cables), work those stitches as front post stitches on RS rows and back post stitches on WS rows.

If you want a stitch to always fall to the back of a project (like some background stitches for cable projects), work those stitches as back post stitches on RS rows and front post stitches on WS rows.

Increasing and Decreasing the Double Crochet Post Stitch

If your pattern calls for increases or decreases, don’t panic. They are done exactly as you would for normal double crochet working in the loops of the stitches in the previous row.

Increasing with Post Stitches in Double Crochet

To increase a stitch in double crochet, simply work two double crochet stitches in the same space or stitch.

Decreasing with Post Stitches in Double Crochet

  1. Yarn over and insert the hook either from the front to the back (fpdc) or from the back to the front (bpdc)
  2. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on the hook (2 loops on the hook)
  3. Yarn over and insert the hook and insert the hook into the next stitch from back to front or front to back depending on what you are making
  4. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook)
  5. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops (1 loop on hook)

Where to Use the Double Crochet Post Stitch

Now that you know how to crochet post stitches, maybe you're thinking that they are kind of fun, but you're not sure what to use them for. Well, there are many ways that post stitches can be used. They create richer, denser, more textured fabric than traditional stitches. Some of the types of techniques that use post stitches include:

Double Crochet Post Stitch Pin Image shows a closeup of the stitch and a sample project

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