Front and Back Post Crochet Stitch Tutorial

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This front and back post double crochet stitch tutorial from Caitlin’s Contagious Creations is perfect for a beginner looking to learn the next level of stitches or a seasoned crocheter needing a brush up. This photo, step-by-step guided instruction is perfect to learn a frequently used crochet stitch!

I used front and back post double crochet stitches for this tutorial because it seems to be the most common version of the stitch. BUT you can do the same thing with half double crochets, treble crochets and more. The principle remains the same. Crocheting this stitch is all about how you insert your hook, then follow the normal stitch directions from there.

Keep going to see the crochet stitch tutorial that will help you learn the front and then back post double crochet.

What can you do with these stitches?

Front and back post crochet stitches are a helpful stitch to learn because they are used to create a variety of textures in many different patterns. They are almost the only stitches I used in my Basket Weave Ponytail Hat crochet pattern.

They are used together to make the basket weave texture, but you can use them independently when you want to also. They are very helpful when cabling. They are around the edge of my Zig-Zag Poncho crochet pattern.

About the Hook

I used an I9 crochet hook for this tutorial. It is a good size to see the stitches without having them be too loose. This is probably the second most common hook I use.

I like to use an in-line hook, this set from Lion Brand is a great choice!

If you’d like to learn more about hook types, check out this article from Crochet Cabana.

About The Yarn

I am using Lion Brand’s Vanna’s Choice (a worsted or medium weight yarn). This is a decent quality acrylic yarn that can take some frogging (when you rip-it rip-it) and re-working.

Save the expensive yarn for a non-lesson project; especially because natural fibers sometimes don’t take kindly to being worked and then ripped out.

Before starting this crochet stitch tutorial

• It will be helpful if you know how to double crochet.

• Ch 11. Turn and starting at 2^nd chain from the hook, DC into next 10 st. Ch 2 and turn. DC into same stitch and each of next 9 st. Click Here for a tutorial on the chain stitch.

OR

• Complete 10 Foundation Chain DC. Ch 2 and turn. DC into same stitch and each of next 9 st.

Front Post Double Crochet

Step 1) Yarn Over (YO)

Step 2) Insert hook from front to back to front around the post of the next stitch.

Step 3) YO and draw up a loop through the post

Step 4) From here, it is just like doing a double crochet. YO and draw up a loop through the first 2 loops on your hook. You will have 2 loops on your hook after this.

This is where the directions would be to complete a half double crochet or a treble crochet stitch as you would normally. Once you have drawn the loop up around the post, you can work any stitch you wish.

Step 5) YO and draw through the remaining 2 loops on your hook.

You’ve done it! There is your first Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC).

Keep Practicing!

I would do a few more of these to really get the hang of them before moving on to the back post double crochet. After you’ve done at least 3 or 4 take a look at the back of your work. The tops of the stitches from the last row are back there. They almost look like a horizontal cable across your work.

After you feel comfortable, keep going with the back post stitch tutorial!

Back Post Double Crochet

Step 1) Yarn Over (YO)

Step 2) Insert hook from back to front to back around the post of the next stitch.

You are inserting your hook through the same holes around the same working post as you did for the front post, but now the tip of your hook is following the opposite path. It should start on the back side of your work to the front, through the hole to the right of the working post. Then the tip of your hook will go through the hole to the left of the working post bringing it from front to the back your work.

Step 3) YO and draw up a loop through the post.

Step 4) From here, it is just like doing a double crochet. YO and draw up a loop through the first 2 loops on your hook. You will have 2 loops on your hook after this.

Step 5) YO and draw through the remaining 2 loops on your hook.

You’ve done it! There is your first Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC). Keep going and do a few more!! You’ve totally got this!

Knowing What You’re Looking At… Takes Practice

Just like learning to crochet, learning to read your work is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. But it can be super helpful, you’ll always be able to find your spot when you have to put down a project. And you’ll be better able to find any mistakes you make when working a pattern. (We all do it!)

In the swatch pictured below, I completed 5 FPDC and then 5 BPDC into my practice swatch. When looking at the right side of your work you should be able to see the vertical lines of the front post double crochets and the horizontal line of the back poast double crochet.

If you look at the back of your work, you’ll notice that the front post double crochets look like back post double crochets and the back post double crochets look like front post double crochets…. read that again…

They flip places when you look at the other side of the work. That’s because “front” and “back” are perception based. Many patterns when worked in rows have a “right side” and a “wrong side”. It helps to pay attention to which is which, otherwise you could end up with the wrong texture and a project that doesn’t look like the pattern.

Have Fun!!

One of the most important things is to have fun. If you are having fun and keep working at it, the skill will come with time. You will get better with more practice so keep practicing!

Work a Basket Weave pattern for some quality practice time for these front and back post double crochet stitches. My Basket Weave Ear Warmer is a great beginner pattern to try!

Happy Hooking!