What are front post stitches?

In June I’m teaching the How to Crochet Raised Stitches short course. I thought this would be a good time to write a tutorial explaining raised stitches for those of you who can’t join us in person. So, first up is the tutorial for left-handed crocheters about front post stitches (if you crochet right-handed take a look at this tutorial).

You may be wondering what raised stitches are, or you may have been asked to work a raised stitch in a pattern but been uncertain how to do so.

Crochet designers write patterns with the assumption that everyone inserts their hook into the top of crochet stitches in the same way. Therefore, if their design needs a different approach, then they will tell you in the pattern instructions. Raised stitches are one example of this. They are formed by inserting the hook between stitches instead of into the top of a stitch. And because you could insert your hook from front to back or back to front, there are two types of raised stitches, known as front or back post stitches. We’ll start with front post stitches.

Start with something familiar

Start by crocheting a row of about 15 treble crochet stitches (US: double crochet). Then work a turning chain (3 chain stitches) and a couple more treble crochet stitches. Your crochet should look similar to mine in the photo below. You can see the turning chain and the first two treble crochets of the second row, each stacked above a treble crochet stitch in the first row.

Where is the “post”?

The post of the stitch is the upright part of a stitch. You can see the post of a treble crochet stitch between my thumbs in the photo below.

I’ve worked a turning chain and two treble crochet stitches on my second row. The next stitch I’m going to make will be a front post treble crochet. Instead of inserting my hook into the top of the fourth stitch in the row below, I’m going to work around its post.

I’ll insert my hook, in the gap between the third and fourth stitches, from front to back.

Then I’ll insert my hook, in the gap between the fourth and fifth stitches, from back to front.

How to work a front post treble crochet

Start the front post treble crochet in the same way as a normal one, that is yarn round hook.

Now, insert your hook, in between the third and fourth stitches, from front to back. This is going to look and feel a bit strange!

Then, move your hook forward and insert it in between the fourth and fifth stitches, from back to front. This will form a front post stitch because the post of the stitch is now in front of the hook. It looks a little strange, doesn’t it?

From now on you’ll be working your treble crochet as normal, however, it will feel a bit strange until you get the hang of it.

Grab the yarn with your hook.

Pull a loop under the post. This can be a little tricky; you may lose the yarn. Don’t worry, just go back, grab the yarn again, rotate the hook down a little, and try again. You’ll have three loops on your hook, which should look a bit more familiar.

Grab the yarn with your hook and …

… pull it through the first two loops on your hook. Now you have two loops.

Grab the yarn with your hook again and …

… pull it through the remaining two loops on your hook.

Now you have one loop and you have made your first front post treble crochet stitch.

Front post stitches are raised

Work a few normal treble crochet stitches and take a look at your crochet.

You should be able to see that the front post treble crochet stitch is raised above the other treble crochet stitches.

Back post treble crochet

There is a second type of raised stitch: the back post stitch. If you would like to have a go at back post treble crochet stitches I’ll write a tutorial about the back post treble crochet another time. Meanwhile, you can have a go: insert your hook, in between the third and fourth stitches, from back to front, then, move your hook backwards and insert it in between the fourth and fifth stitches, from front to back. The post of the stitch is now behind the hook and the stitch is lower than the normal treble crochet stitches.

What can you do with post stitches?

Lots of stitch patterns use front and back post stitches in combination with normal stitches. Here’s some examples:

Basic stitches

You can use post stitches to make mock ribs as well as interesting textures such as the basketweave pattern below.

Cables

Post stitches are essential for crochet cables.

Lacy texture

There are lots of stitch patterns which combine post stitches and lace.

There are so many beautiful stitch patterns that use post stitches. You’ll have fun trying them out!