Front Post & Back Post Double Crochet (FPdc & BPdc) ~ Made Simple

Have you ever been working through a crochet pattern and come across FPdc or BPdc… and thought, wait… what is that?

These stitches might sound a little intimidating at first, but once you see how they work, something really fun happens — they click, and suddenly you unlock a whole new level of texture in your crochet. We’re talking that beautiful raised, ribbed look you see on cozy hats, sweater cuffs, and basketweave blankets. That’s all FPDC and BPDC doing their magic.

The best part? If you already know how to make a regular double crochet, you are completely ready for this. The only difference is where your hook goes.

What Are Post Stitches?

To understand front post and back post stitches, you first need to know what a “post” is.

In crochet, the post is the vertical body of a stitch — the tall part that stands up from the row below. Every double crochet you’ve ever made has a post. When you work a regular double crochet, your hook goes into the top loops of the stitch in the row below. Post stitches work differently — instead of going into the top loops, your hook wraps around the post itself, going through the space on one side of the stitch and coming out the space on the other side.

This wrapping motion is what creates the raised, three-dimensional look. The stitch literally sits on top of the fabric rather than being woven into it.

• Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc/FPDC): Your hook enters from the front, wraps around the post, and exits at the front. The stitch pops forward toward you, creating a raised ridge on the front of your work.
• Back Post Double Crochet (BPdc/BPDC): Your hook enters from the back, wraps around the post, and exits at the back. The stitch sits behind the fabric, creating a recessed groove on the front and a raised ridge on the back.

When you alternate FPDC and BPDC stitches, the raised and recessed stitches create that beautiful ribbed texture that looks almost like knitting!

What Do FPdc and BPdc Actually Make?

These two stitches are the secret behind some of the most popular crochet textures:

Ribbing — alternating FPDC and BPDC creates a stretchy, ribbed fabric that looks very similar to knit ribbing. It’s the go-to stitch for hat brims, sweater cuffs, sock cuffs, and any edge that needs elasticity and structure.

Basketweave stitch — groups of FPDC and BPDC alternated in a specific pattern create a woven-looking texture that’s absolutely stunning in blankets and scarves.

Raised stitch patterns — many advanced crochet textures, including cables (yes, crochet cables!), use post stitches worked in specific sequences to create complex three-dimensional designs.

Crochet ribbing that actually stretches — regular crochet can be stiff. Post stitch ribbing has genuine stretch and recovery, making it ideal for anything that needs to fit snugly or hold its shape.

Understanding the Abbreviations

You may see post stitches written several different ways in patterns:

• FPdc, fpdc, FPDC — all mean Front Post Double Crochet
• BPdc, bpdc, BPDC — all mean Back Post Double Crochet
• FPtr / BPtr — Front/Back Post Triple (Treble) Crochet — same concept with a taller stitch
• FPhdc / BPhdc — Front/Back Post Half Double Crochet — same concept with a shorter stitch

The “FP” always means front post and “BP” always means back post. The stitch type comes after (dc = double crochet, tr = triple crochet, hdc = half double crochet, etc.).

What You’ll Need

• Your crochet hook (size specified by your pattern)
• Your yarn
• A foundation row of regular double crochets to work into (post stitches always work into the row below, never into chains)

Important note: Post stitches can only be worked into stitches that have a post — meaning you need at least one completed row of double crochets before you can work FPDC or BPDC. You cannot work post stitches into a foundation chain.ow it’s done.

How to Work Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC)

The FPDC creates a stitch that pops toward you — it will look raised on the side of the fabric facing you as you work.

Step 1: Yarn Over

Start exactly like a regular double crochet — yarn over your hook before inserting it anywhere. This is your starting position.

Step 2: Insert Your Hook From the Front

Here’s where FPDC differs from a regular double crochet. Instead of inserting your hook into the top loops of the stitch below, you’re going to insert it around the post of the double crochet in the previous row.

Insert your hook from front to back, going through the space to the right of the double crochet post you’re working around. Your hook passes behind the post.

Think of it like giving that stitch a little hug from the front!

Step 3: Bring Your Hook Around and Through

Now bring your hook back to the front of the work by pushing it through the space to the left of the same double crochet post, coming toward you.

Your hook has now traveled: in from the front right side → behind the post → out the front left side. The post of the stitch is sitting across your hook, trapped between the two insertion points.

Tip: If this feels confusing, think of it this way — your hook makes a U-shape behind the post of the stitch, entering from the right and exiting from the left, with the post captured in the middle.

Step 4: Yarn Over and Pull Up a Loop

Yarn over and draw your yarn up through, pulling it toward the front of your work. Pull up enough yarn to make a comfortable working loop — don’t pull too tight.

Step 5: Three Loops on Your Hook

You now have 3 loops on your hook — just like at the same stage of a regular double crochet. From here, the stitch is completed exactly like a normal double crochet. Nothing changes!

Step 6: Yarn Over

Yarn over your hook.

Step 7: Pull Through the First Two Loops

Draw your yarn through the first 2 loops on your hook only. Leave the third loop on the hook.

Step 8: Two Loops Remaining

You now have 2 loops remaining on your hook. Almost done!

Step 9: Yarn Over and Pull Through the Last Two Loops

Yarn over one final time and draw your yarn through both remaining loops.

Step 10: FPDC Complete!

You just made a Front Post Double Crochet! Look at the finished stitch — you’ll see the raised bar of the post stitch popping toward you on the front of the fabric. That raised ridge is what creates the beautiful texture.

How to Work Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC)

The BPDC is the mirror image of FPDC — instead of the hook going in from the front, it goes in from the back. The stitch pushes away from you, creating a recessed groove on the front and a raised ridge on the back.

Step 1: Yarn Over

Just like FPDC — and just like a regular double crochet — start with a yarn over before inserting your hook.

Step 2: Insert Your Hook From the Back

This time, insert your hook from back to front, going through the space to the right of the double crochet post — but entering from the back of your work this time instead of the front.

Your hook is now in front of the post.

Step 3: Bring Your Hook Around and Through

Push your hook through the space to the left of the same post and out through the back of your work.

Your hook has traveled: in from the back right → in front of the post → out the back left. The post is now captured across your hook, but on the front side instead of the back side.

This is what a correctly inserted hook looks like for BPDC — check your photo to confirm your position before moving on.

Step 4: Yarn Over and Pull Through

Yarn over and pull your yarn all the way back through to the back of the work — back to where you originally inserted the hook. Pull up a loop.

Step 5: Three Loops on Your Hook

You now have 3 loops on your hook, just like with FPDC and a regular double crochet. From here the finish is identical to both!

Step 6: Yarn Over

Yarn over.

Step 7: Pull Through the First Two Loops

Draw through the first 2 loops only, just like finishing a regular double crochet.

Step 8: Two Loops Remaining — Yarn Over Again

2 loops remain on your hook. Yarn over one more time.

Step 9: Pull Through the Last Two Loops

Draw through both remaining loops.

Step 10: BPDC Complete!

You just completed a Back Post Double Crochet! You can see how the bar of this stitch sits raised on the back of your work — which means on the front of the fabric, it appears as a recessed groove. When paired with FPDC stitches, this in-and-out effect creates that gorgeous ribbed texture.

How FPDC and BPDC Work Together

The magic of these two stitches really reveals itself when you alternate them. Here’s the basic pattern for crochet ribbing:

Simple FPDC/BPDC Ribbing:

• Foundation row: chain any number, work a row of regular double crochets
• Ribbing row: chain 2, turn, FPdc around the next dc post, BPdc around the next dc post — repeat from * to * across

When you turn your work and look at it from the other side, the FPDC stitches of the previous row become the BPDC stitches of the next row (because front and back flip when you turn). This is why many patterns simply say “FPdc over FPdc, BPdc over BPdc” — you work each post stitch to match the raised stitch you see in the row below.

Tips for Beautiful Post Stitches

Pull your loops up to the right height. When you pull up the loop in Step 4 of both stitches, match the height to your other double crochets. If the loop is too short, the post stitch will be tight and puckered. Too long, and it will look floppy.

Don’t skip the post, hit the top loops. The most common beginner mistake is accidentally inserting the hook into the top loops of the stitch instead of around the post. If your stitches aren’t looking raised and textured, this is probably why. Make sure your hook is going around the vertical post, not into the V at the top.

The first post stitch of a row can feel awkward. The turning chain and first stitch position can be tricky with post stitches. Take it slow at the beginning of each row until you find your groove.

Use a slightly larger hook if the fabric feels stiff. Post stitch ribbing can be tighter than regular crochet. If your finished fabric isn’t stretchy enough, try going up half a hook size.

Practice on a swatch first. Before diving into a hat or sweater, make a small practice piece — chain 15, work 2 rows of double crochet, then practice alternating FPDC and BPDC across. After one or two practice rows you’ll feel the rhythm.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

My post stitches don’t look raised — they look flat. Your hook is probably going into the top of the stitch instead of around the post. Slow down and make sure the hook wraps completely around the vertical bar of the stitch below.

My fabric is bunching or puckering. This is usually a tension issue — the post stitches are being pulled too tight. Try to relax your grip and pull the working loop up a little higher before completing the stitch.

I lost track of which stitch is FPDC and which is BPDC. Look at the row below. The stitches that pop toward you are the ones to work FPDC into; the stitches that recede away from you are worked BPDC. Let the texture guide you!

My stitch count keeps changing. Make sure you’re working one post stitch into each stitch — it can be easy to accidentally skip a stitch or work two into the same post when you’re learning. Count at the end of every row until you’re confident.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I work post stitches into the top loops or the post? Always the post — that’s the whole point of the stitch! Your hook wraps around the vertical body of the stitch in the row below, not into the top V-shaped loops. Working into the top loops would just give you a regular double crochet.

Can I work post stitches into any crochet stitch, or only double crochet? Post stitches can technically be worked around any stitch that has a tall enough post to wrap around. Half double crochet posts are short but workable. Single crochet posts are generally too short. The most common are double crochet post stitches, but you’ll also see front/back post treble crochets (FPtr/BPtr) in cable patterns.

What’s the difference between FPDC ribbing and regular ribbing? Regular crochet ribbing is usually made by working into the back loop only (BLO) of single or half double crochets. FPDC/BPDC ribbing is made by wrapping around posts. Both create stretchy ribbed fabric, but post stitch ribbing generally has more pronounced texture and a look closer to knit ribbing. Post stitch ribbing also tends to have more stretch and recovery.

Why does my BPDC look like a raised stitch on the back but a groove on the front? That’s exactly what it’s supposed to do! BPDC pushes the post to the back of the fabric, so from the front it appears as a recessed groove. This is what creates the contrast with FPDC stitches (which raise to the front) and gives the ribbing its dimensional texture.

Can I use FPDC and BPDC to make crochet cables? Yes! Crochet cables are made using post stitches worked in a specific crossed sequence. The process is different from knitting cables (no cable needle needed in most cases), but the resulting texture looks remarkably similar. If you’ve mastered FPDC and BPDC, you’re already most of the way to making crochet cables!

My pattern says to ch 2 at the beginning of a post stitch row — does that count as a stitch? This varies by pattern, so always follow your specific pattern’s instructions. Some patterns count the ch-2 as a stitch, others don’t. Your pattern should clarify whether to work into the first stitch or skip it at the beginning of the row.

Now you have two gorgeous new stitches to add to your crochet library — and a whole world of ribbed, textured, and cabled projects just opened up for you!

~Angie

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