Post Stitches

Post stitches are decorative stitches that add dimension to crochet projects. They can be worked using any of the basic stitches. Depending on how they are worked, they either pop out of the fabric or are pushed back from the fabric. They can be worked in combination with many other special stitches to create even more dimension. Post stitches are used in a lot of textural stitch patterns. They are also used in many crochet ribbing stitch patterns.

You will work post stitches around the body, or the post, of the stitch. You can go around the post from the front, creating popping the stitch out, or from behind, pulling the stitch back. Below are explanations of several kinds of post stitches.

Back Post Single Crochet (abbreviated bpsc)

Insert the hook from the back to the front to the back again around the vertical post of the next stitch, yarn over and draw the loop through, yarn over, draw through 2 loops on the hook.

Front Post Single Crochet (abbreviated fpsc)

Insert the hook from the front to the back to the front again around the vertical post of the next stitch, yarn over and draw the loop through, yarn over, draw through 2 loops on the hook.

Back Post Double Crochet (abbreviated bpdc)

Yarn over, insert the hook from the back to the front to the back again around the vertical post of the next stitch, yarn over and draw the loop through, [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on the hook] twice.

Front Post Double Crochet (abbreviated fpdc)

Yarn over, insert the hook from the front to the back to the front again around the vertical post of the next stitch, yarn over and draw the loop through, [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on the hook] twice.

Back Post Treble Crochet (abbreviated bptr)

Yarn over twice, insert the hook from the back to the front to the back again around the vertical post of the next stitch, yarn over and draw the loop through, [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on the hook] 3 times.

Front Post Treble Crochet (abbreviated fptr)

Yarn over twice, insert the hook from the back to the front to the back again around the vertical post of the next stitch, yarn over and draw the loop through, [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on the hook] 3 times.

Front Post Treble Crochet-Single Crochet (abbreviated fptr-sc)

This is an example of how post stitches can be worked as a combination stitch. This combines a front post treble crochet stitch with a regular single crochet for a unique ripple pattern.

This stitch is used in the Sweetheart Ripple Afghan pattern by Kim Guzman from the Reversible Ripple Afghans pattern book. In the video, the instructor has worked the first four rows of the pattern. She will be demonstrating row 5, which uses this stitch.

Note: Crochet does not have standardized naming conventions for special stitches. Designers may call stitches by whatever name they prefer. For this reason, it is difficult to search online for how a particular special stitch is created. Another reason it is hard to find the “correct” way to work a particular special stitch is because each designer might work a special stitch in their own unique way. Be sure to follow the directions stated in your pattern for how to work the stitch.

Row 5: Chain 1, single crochet decrease in the first 2 stitches, front post treble crochet-single crochet as follows:

Work around the single crochet directly before the 3-single crochet group 3 rows below. In the pattern, you can identify the 3-single crochet group as that is the peak of the ripple and 3 rows below is the last row worked with the current color. Next, yarn over twice, insert the hook from the front to the back to the front around the stitch before the 3-single crochet group, yarn over, pull up a loop, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook] twice (2 loops on hook—front post treble crochet has been partially completed), on the current row (or working row), insert the hook in the next stitch (this is the stitch directly behind the post stitch just made), yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops (single crochet and stitch have been completed).

Single crochet in the next 3 stitches on the current row, 3 single crochet in the next stitch, single crochet in the next 3 stitches, front post treble crochet-single crochet as follows:

Work the first of the 2 front post treble crochet-single crochet around the single crochet directly after the 3-single crochet group. Yarn over twice, insert the hook from the front to the back to the front around the stitch after the 3-single crochet group, yarn over, pull up a loop, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook] twice (2 lps on the hook—front post treble crochet has been partially completed), on the current row (or working row), insert the hook in the next stitch (this is the stitch directly behind the post stitch just made), yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops (single crochet and stitch have been completed).

Work second front post treble crochet-single crochet in the next stitch beside the front post treble crochet just worked. Yarn over twice, insert the hook from the front to the back to the front around the stitch after the 3-single crochet group, yarn over, pull up a loop, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on the hook] twice (2 loops on hook—front post treble crochet has been partially completed), on the current row (or working row), insert the hook in the next stitch (this is the stitch directly behind the post stitch just made), yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops (single crochet and stitch have been completed).

You should have 2 front post treble crochet-single crochet side by side before continuing on with the pattern. The remainder of the video walks you through how to complete this row of the Sweetheart Ripple Afghan.