Learning how to crochet post stitches is a great way to increase your crochet toolbox and be able to crochet projects with lots of texture.
These special stitches are perfect for creating amazing texture, and can be used in crochet projects to create crochet ribbing and cables.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crocheter, understanding how to create front post stitches, back post stitches and crochet cables with post stitches will take your projects to the next level.
In this ultimate guide on how to crochet post stitches, I’ll explain what they are, when to use them on and provide photo and video tutorial for each crochet stitch so you can master these amazing stitches easily.
What are crochet post stitches?
Crochet post stitches are variations of regular basic crochet stitches.
These include the front post single crochet, front post half double crochet, front post double crochet, front post treble crochet, back post single crochet, back post half double crochet, back post double crochet and back post treble crochet.
You can also crochet post stitches of the taller stitches.
The only difference is that you work around the post of the stitch (around the back or front), instead of the whole stitch.
Materials Needed
To crochet post stitches you can use any crochet hook size and weight yarn. If you’re following a crochet pattern, use the crochet hook and yarn suggested to get the correct gauge.
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Features of the Crochet Post Stitches
Learning how to crochet post stitches are a great technique to learn to expand your crochet knowledge.
It’s a bit more difficult than crocheting normal stitches into the whole stitch, but it opens up a lot of possibilities to crochet unique pieces.
The great features of post stitches are:
- Creates texture: No matter which post stitch you crochet, it creates lovely texture that is great for crochet blankets, garments and so much more.
- Great to crochet ribbing: If you need to crochet ribbing on crochet hat brims or at the bottom of garments, crocheting post stitches are a great option.
- Reversible fabric: Crocheting front and back post stitches every other stitch creates a reversible crochet fabric that doesn’t have a right side or wrong side.
- Crochet Cables: With crochet post stitches you can create the most beautiful crochet cables, perfect for that knit-look effect.
The Different Types of Crochet Post Stitches
Most crocheters come across post stitches at some point, and often double crochet post stitches first. The reason why these stitches are most common to learn first is because they are often used in crochet ribbing.
However you can crochet post stitches for all the basic crochet stitches, including the single crochet stitch (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc) and treble crochet (tr).
You can even crochet post stitches around the post of the taller basic crochet stitches, like the triple treble crochet.
Below you can find written instructions and links to detailed step by step stitch tutorials, with a photo and video tutorial for the different post stitches (us terms), including how to crochet ribbing using the different post stitches.
You can also find the video tutorials on my YouTube Channel.
1. Front Post Single Crochet Tutorial
The FPsc stitches is a great way to get a textured crochet stitch for any crochet project.
The steps of the Front Post Single Crochet Stitch:
- Insert crochet hook from front to back to front again around the post of the stitch on the previous row
- Pull up a loop
- Yarn over (yo)
- Pull through the 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Repeat steps 1-4 to crochet another front post single crochet
2. Front Post Half Double Crochet Tutorial
The FPhdc creates a lovely textured crochet stitch that looks like knitting.
The steps of the Front Post Half Double Crochet Stitch:
- Yarn Over (yo)
- Insert crochet hook from front to back to front again around the post of the stitch on the previous row
- Pull up a loop
- Yarn over
- Pull through the 3 loops on the crochet hook
- Repeat steps 1-5 to crochet another front post half double crochet
3. Front Post Double Crochet Tutorial
The FPdc is a popular crochet stitch used in many crochet stitch patterns.
The steps of the Front Post Double Crochet Stitch:
- Yarn over (yo)
- Insert crochet hook from front to back to front again around the post of the stitch on the previous row
- Pull up a loop
- Yarn over
- Pull through the 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Yarn over
- Pull through the last 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Repeat steps 1-7 to crochet another front post double crochet
4. Front Post Treble Tutorial
The FPtr is often used in combination with the BPtr to crochet cables.
The steps of the Front Post Treble Crochet Stitch:
- Yarn over 2 times (yo)
- Insert crochet hook from front to back to front again around the post of the stitch on the previous row
- Pull up a loop
- Yarn over
- Pull through the 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Yarn over
- Pull through 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Yarn over
- Pull through the last 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Repeat steps 1-9 to crochet another front post treble crochet
5. Back Post Single Crochet Tutorial
The BPsc is a great textured crochet stitch that is often forgotten about.
The steps of the Back Post Single Crochet Stitch:
- Insert crochet hook from back to front to back again around the post of the stitch on the previous row
- Pull up a loop
- Yarn over
- Pull through the 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Repeat steps 1-4 to crochet another back post single crochet
6. Back Post Half Double Crochet Tutorial
The BPhdc is a lovely crochet stitch for any crochet pattern.
The steps of the Back Post Half Double Crochet Stitch:
- Yarn Over (yo)
- Insert crochet hook from back to front to back again around the post of the stitch on the previous row
- Pull up a loop
- Yarn over
- Pull through the 3 loops on the crochet hook
- Repeat steps 1-5 to crochet another back post half double crochet
7. Back Post Double Crochet Tutorial
The BPdc is a popular stitch to crochet ribbing and cables. It creates more texture than the regular double crochet.
The steps of the Back Post Double Crochet Stitch:
- Yarn over (yo)
- Insert crochet hook from back to front to back again around the post of the stitch on the previous row
- Pull up a loop
- Yarn over
- Pull through the 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Yarn over
- Pull through the last 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Repeat steps 1-7 to crochet another back post double crochet
8. Back Post Treble Crochet Tutorial
The BPtr is often used for crochet cables together with the FPtr.
The steps of the Back Post Treble Crochet Stitch:
- Yarn over 2 times (yo)
- Insert crochet hook from back to front to back again around the post of the stitch on the previous row
- Pull up a loop
- Yarn over
- Pull through the 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Yarn over
- Pull through 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Yarn over
- Pull through the last 2 loops on the crochet hook
- Repeat steps 1-9 to crochet another back post treble crochet
9. Front and Back Post Single Crochet Ribbing Tutorial
The FP and BP single crochet ribbing isn’t common, but creates a super soft ribbing for an unique finish.
10. Front and Back Post Half Double Crochet Ribbing Tutorial
The FP and BP half double crochet ribbing creates a more sturdy crochet ribbing than the more common double crochet version.
11. Front and Back Post Double Crochet Ribbing Tutorial
The FP and BP double crochet ribbing is used in many crochet pattern to create crochet brims.
12. Front and Back Post Treble Crochet Ribbing Tutorial
The FP and BP treble stitches ribbing isn’t used as often as the double crochet version and has a more flimsy look.
Stitch Abbreviations for the Crochet Post Stitches
There are many different crochet abbreviations and ways to abbreviate post stitches in crochet patterns. Some of the common ways are:
- FPsc, FPhdc, FPdc, FPtr: In this way of abbreviation the FP stands for front post, then you have the abbreviation for the stitches. In this case single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet and treble crochet.
- BPsc, BPhdc, BPdc, BPtr: In this case BP stands for front post, then you have the abbreviation for the stitches. In this case single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet and treble crochet.
- fp sc, fp hdc, fp dc, fp tr, bp sc, bp hdc, bp dc, bp tr: In this case you have the same abbreviations, but in two separate words.
Ways To Incorporate Post Stitches Into Crochet Projects
There are many ways to incorporate post stitches into different crochet projects.
The most known combination is the front and back post double crochet ribbing. But you also have the waffle stitch, alpine stitch, crochet cables crossing to the right and crochet cables crossing to the left.
However crocheting post stitches can be used in all kinds of crochet projects to create different textures, each stitch alone or in combinations.
