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Dear crafters,
The front post stitch and the back post stitch are two fancy, yet easy crochet stitches founded on the use of the double crochet stitch which is a beginner crochet stitch. Each of these two stitches can be used on its own to create beautiful items. The front post double crochet stitch is often used to make mufflers, headbands, cardigans, vests. It is a ”looks like knitted” stitch. Take a look at the images below which showcase some of our crocheted items based on the front post stitch.
But when these two easy stitches are combined, they turn into two of the of the fanciest and prettiest stitches: the waffle stitch and the basket wave stitch. Surely there are many other ways these two stitches can be combined. Creativity in the art of crocheting is infinite. To this point in time we used the waffle stitch and the basket wave stitch to make delicious baby blankets and pillow cases as shown in the images below.
Please be advised that these instructions will not teach you how to crochet the waffle stitch and the basket wave stitch. These two fancy crochet stitches will be explained in up-coming instructions. As such, today’s instructions will teach you how to crochet the front post and the back post double crochet stitch as two separate stitches. Let’s begin!
How to crochet the front post double crochet stitch (abbreviated ”fpdc”):
The front post double crochet stitch is a raised stitch on the surface of the fabric you are working. The base of the front post stitch is the double crochet stitch. However, a row of front post stitches is slightly smaller than a row of double crochet stitches. Follow the images below while practicing these steps:
*Yarn over the hook once (you have 2 loops on your hook); insert hook between a double crochet stitch and the following one from the previous row from front to back, then insert the hook from back to front between that double crochet stitch and the following one; yarn over hook once and pull it around that double crochet stitch (you have 3 loops on your hook); Yarn over the hook once and pull the yarn through the first 2 loops (you have 2 loops on your hook); yarn over the hook one last time and pull the yarn through the last 2 loops on the hook to complete the front post stitch.* Take notice of the fact that the front post stitch is executed around a stitch from the previous row instead of being executed in top of the respective stitch. Also take notice of the fact that this stitch is above the stitch from the previous row, hence the name given as the “front post stitch”. Repeat from * to * to make more front post stitches.
How to crochet the back post double crochet stitch (abbreviated ”bpdc”):
The back post double crochet stitch is yet another raised stitch, yet opposed to the front post double crochet stitch. However, a row of back post stitches will be as short as a row of front post stitches which is shorter than a row of double crochet stitches. This is due to the fact that the back post stitch is executed around a stitch from a previous row as well, instead of beind executed in top of that respective stitch. In comparison to the front post stitch which is executed above the stitches from previous rows, the back post stitch is executed behind the top chains of the stitches from previous row, hence the name of the ”the back post double crochet stitch”. Take a look at the gallery below while practicing these steps:
*Yarn over hook once (now you have 2 loops on your hook); insert your hook between a stitch and the following one from back to front, then insert your hook between that stitch and the next one from front to back in such a way that the top chain of the respective stitch you are working around remains on the top of the fabric; Yarn over hook once and pull the yarn around that stitch from previous row (now you have 3 loops on your hook); Yarn over hook once and pull through 2 loops on your hook (now you have 2 loops on your hook); Yarn over hook one last time and pull through the last 2 loops on your hook in order to complete a back post double crochet stitch.* Repeat from * to * to make more back post stitches.
That is all, dear crafters! These are the baby steps on how to crochet the front post stitch and the back post stitch. Surely, many more tips and how to can be given, however more instructions depend on the pattern and on the item you would like to crochet. Therefore, we believe these steps are enough to give you a basis on how to crochet these two stitches. We truly hope our instructions were helpful. If so, do not forget to share our patterns and written instructions and subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Thank you kindly for supporting our work!
Happy hooking,
The Coolorfuls.
