What is Back Post Double Crochet?
Back post double crochet stitch is a technique that adds texture and depth to various crochet projects. It may appear intimidating at first, but with a bit of practice, it can become a valuable addition to any crocheter’s skill set. This technique involves working around the post of a stitch from the row below, instead of into the top loops like in traditional double crochet, which creates an interesting effect on the fabric.
To master the back post double crochet, it is important to understand the basic crochet foundations, such as yarn over, inserting the hook, and working through various stitches. With a good understanding of these essentials, crocheting enthusiasts can easily adapt to using the back post double crochet in their patterns and projects.
How to Perform Back Post Double Crochet (BPdc)
Back post double crochet, abbreviated as BPdc, is like a normal double crochet (dc) stitch, the only difference being how and where you insert your hook into your work. In a normal double crochet stitch, the hook is inserted into the top of the stitch in which it is being worked, under the top two loops. However, for a back post double crochet stitch, the stitch is made around the post of the earlier stitch but inserting the hook around that post from the back of your work.
Let’s look at the steps for forming a back post double crochet stitch in more detail:
1. Yarn Over
To begin a back post double crochet (BPdc) stitch, the first step is exactly the same as for a normal double crochet stitch. Hold onto the crochet hook in a comfortable manner. Make sure the working yarn is behind the hook. Perform a yarn over (YO) action by wrapping the yarn around the hook from back to front. This will create a loop on the hook.
2. Insert Hook into Post
This is where the method varies slightly from the standard double crochet stitch. Now, locate the post of the designated stitch in the row below. For a back post double crochet, you will be working around this post rather than through the top loops. The post is the vertical part of the double crochet stitch from the previous row. To insert the hook, slide it from the back side of your work, facing you, to the front of your work, then around the post, and out the back of your work again.
If you are right-handed, the hook should go in from right to left, encircling the post. For left-handers, the hook will go around the post from left to right.
3. Pull Up Loop
Having the hook around the post, execute another YO action. Carefully draw the yarn around the hook from back to front. Gently pull the hook through the post, bringing the yarn along with it. This process results in three loops on the hook.
4. Yarn Over and Pull Through Twice
The remaining steps are exactly the same as for a standard double crochet stitch.
YO the hook again, and then pull it through the first two loops on the hook. At this point, you’ll have two loops remaining on your crochet hook.
Then, YO again and pull the hook smoothly through both loops, completing the back post double crochet stitch and ending with one loop left on your hook.
Summary of BPdc Stitch Technique
In summary, a back post double crochet (BPdc) stitch involves:
- Yarn over.
- Insert hook around the post from right to left if right-handed, and left to right if left handed, and in both cases from the back of your work to the front and then back again.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (two loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through last two loops (one loop on hook).
Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc) Stitch
Now that you have learnt the back post double crochet stitch, it is easy to also learn the front post double crochet (FPdc) stitch. By using both of these stitches and combining them in various ways you can create even more interesting and attractive textures and effects in your work.
To make a front post double crochet (FPdc) stitch, follow these steps:
- Yarn over.
- Insert hook around the post from right to left if right-handed, and left to right if left handed, and in both cases from the front of your work to the back and then to the front again.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through the first two loops (two loops on hook).
- Yarn over and pull through last two loops (one loop on hook).
Patterns and Techniques
As the back and front post stitches are worked around the post of the previous stitch, this creates a slightly raised effect compared to when the stitches are worked through the top loops. This raising of the stitches can create some attractive effects in your crochet projects.
Simple Ribbing
By working back (or front) post stitches back and forth in rows, this can create a simple ribbing which can be used around garments and accessories.
Accentuating Parts of a Pattern
Use of one or two post stitches in specific parts of a design can add localised pops of texture to an otherwise relatively flat item. This can be especially effective when combined with colorwork techniques, such as tapestry crochet, as in the hexagons shown below.
Brioche Crochet
Post stitches, particularly front post stitches, are a key component of the “brioche” crochet technique. This technique seeks to emulate the pretty textures and patterns achieved with brioche knitting. By using front post stitches worked in different colors you can create colorwork designs where the pattern quite literally stands out in the finished item.
Back Post and Front Post Double Crochet Alternation
In some crochet patterns, the back post double crochet (BPdc) and front post double crochet (FPdc) stitches are alternated in a round or row. This pairing of stitches creates a ribbed texture while maintaining a consistent pattern. To achieve this, a crocheter begins with creating a BPdc stitch around the post of the designated stitch in the row below, then follows it by creating a FPdc stitch around the next post. This is then repeated across the required number of stitches.
For example:
- BPDC around first stitch
- FPDC around second stitch
- BPDC around third stitch
- FPDC around fourth stitch
And so on, repeating the sequence until the end of the round or row.
Textured Stitches
Post stitches, such as BPDC and FPDC, are often used in special combinations to create attractive textured crochet stitches.
Some textured stitch patterns incorporating post stitches include:
- Basketweave: A popular textured pattern, the basketweave stitch consists of a combination of BPdc and FPdc stitches to create a woven appearance.
- Cabling: Cabling creates a twisted, raised effect on the surface of the crochet fabric. To form cables, work back post treble crochet (BPtr) stitches around the posts of stitches from previous rows, crossing them in a specific manner.
Implementing these patterns and techniques using post stitches opens up a whole new world of possibilities for crocheters, allowing them to create beautifully textured and visually appealing projects that showcase mastery of their craft.
Different Types of Post Stitches
Single Crochet Post Stitches
Single crochet post stitches, also known as front post single crochet (FPsc) and back post single crochet (BPsc), are worked around the post of the stitch below. To create a FPsc, insert your hook from the front to back and then back to the front around the post of the stitch. BPsc is worked similarly but from the back instead. These stitches provide a textured appearance and tighter fabric, making them popular for projects like hats and cuffs.
Half Double Crochet Post Stitches
Half double crochet post stitches also consist of two variations: front post half-double crochet (FPhdc) and back post half-double crochet (BPhdc). Both are created by working around the post of the stitch in the previous row. FPhdc is worked by inserting the hook from the front to the back, then back to the front around the post. BPhdc is done by inserting the hook from the back to front, then front to back around the post. These stitches also create a unique texture, often found in the ribbing or borders of garments and accessories.
Treble Crochet Post Stitches
Treble crochet post stitches include front post treble crochet (FPtr) and back post treble crochet (BPtr). Like the previous post stitches, these are worked by wrapping your hook around the post of a stitch from the previous row. To create an FPtr, insert your hook from the front to the back, then back to the front, while a BPtr is made by inserting the hook from the back to the front, then front to back. With increased height and a strong texture, treble crochet post stitches are often used in intricate stitch patterns and cables.
When working with any post stitches, always pay attention to which side of the fabric you are working on and be sure to form the stitch as instructed. This will help you achieve the desired effect and create beautiful, textured crochet projects.
UK Terminology for Back Post Double Crochet
As you may already be aware, the US and the UK use slightly different crochet terms. A double crochet stitch in US terms is referred to as a treble crochet stitch in UK terms.
In addition, standard UK crochet terminology does not use the phrase “back post” but rather uses “raised … back” to denote this kind of stitch.
For example, a “back post double crochet (BPdc)” stitch in US terms is known as a “raised treble back (RtrB)” in UK terms. On the other hand, a “front post double crochet (FPdc)” stitch in US terms is a “raised treble front (RtrF)” in UK terms.
However, you may often come across UK crocheters and patterns referring to BP and FP stitches as in the US, but combined with UK stitch terms, such that a BPdc in US terms may be referred to as a BPtr in UK terms.
In order to avoid confusion or mistakes in your work, always read the pattern carefully to check whether US or UK terminology is being used.
Conclusion: What is Back Post Double Crochet?
The back post double crochet (BPdc) stitch is a great technique for crocheters looking to add texture and depth to their projects. Mastering this stitch can bring a whole new dimension to your creations, whether you’re making blankets, scarves, or intricate garments.
BPdc stitches are similar to regular dc stitches. The only difference is where and how the hook is inserted into the work. For a BPdc stitch, the stitch is made around the post of the previous stitch, rather than through its top two loops. For a back post stitch, the hook is inserted from the back of the work, around the front of the post of the stitch, and back out through the back of the work.
By working and combining BPdc stitches in various ways, such as with FPdc stitches, you can create unique and attractive textures in your work.
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