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

Making the Half Double Crochet Post Stitch, by Janice Jones,  Published 11-04-2023

If you can crochet the half double crochet 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 half 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.

Swatch worked in blue yarn demonstrating the half double crochet front post stitch.Half Double Crochet Front Post Stitch

What is the Post of the Crochet Stitch

Diagram of the post of a double crochet stitch.This is a photo of the double crochet post.
Half double crochet swatch with the post circled for identification.This swatch shows the post of the Half Double Crochet Stitch. Notice that this stitch's post is shorter which makes it somewhat more challenging to do post stitches through the half-double crochet stitch.

Two Types of Half 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)

Abbreviations for the Half-Double Crochet Post Stitches

  • Half Double Crochet Front Post: fphdc
  • Half Double Crochet Back Post:  bphdc

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 Half-Double Crochet

Besides the abbreviations fp, bp, you may also see the symbols for the front post half-double crochet stitch. 

Crochet symbols for the front and back post stitches

Why Make the Half 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 Half-Double Crochet Stitch

Half double crochet post stitch: Where to insert the hook.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.

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.

How to Make the Back Post Half 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. 

Steps to Making the Back Post Half Double Crochet

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

  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 all three loops.
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 Half-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 Half-Double Crochet Post Stitch

If your pattern calls for increases or decreases, don’t panic. They are done exactly as you would for normal half-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 half-double crochet, simply work two half-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 Half 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:

Half-Double Crochet Post Stitch
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