How to Front Post Treble Crochet and Back Post Treble Crochet – fptr and bptr Tutorial
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Have you been mystified by post stitches? Scared to try them? The idea of post stitches can be a bit intimidating, but once you get the hang of them, you will love them. Front Post and Back Post Treble crochet are a great place to start learning how to crochet post stitches.
Post stitches create unique textures of raised stitches and can be used in a variety of ways to create beautiful patterns.
Because both the front post treble crochet and the back post treble crochet are used in the Ribbed Crochet Dishcloth and Dish Scrubbers patterns, I wanted to put together a step-by-step photo tutorial showing you how to work these beautiful stitches.
Keep reading to see the full photo tutorial for how to front post treble crochet and back post treble crochet. After following these steps, you can approach post stitches with confidence and use them in your next crochet project.
US Terms
In US crochet terms a treble crochet has two yarn overs, where in the UK a treble crochet has only one yarn over (a US double crochet).
On this website, all crochet terms are US terms.
About Treble Post Stitches
Treble post stitches combines a basic stitch, the treble crochet stitch with a stitch technique of working around the post of the stitch below intead of into the top of the stitch. Post stitches can be made with any of the basic stitches but I think they are easiest with treble crochets since the post of the stitch is long and easy to work around.
You may have also heard these stitches called the front post triple crochet stitch and the back post triple crochet stitch. Like many other crochet stitches, these stitches can go by multiple names.
And like having multiple names, these stitches are generally abbreviated in one of two ways: fptr/bptr or fptc/bptc. Since treble crochet is abbreviated as tr it makes more sense to use the fptr/bptr abbreviations, but I wanted you to be aware that you may see either abbreviation.
It is a bit easier to master post stitches with treble crochets, even easier than with a double crochet stitch since the post of each stitch is long and more obvious than on shorter stitches. You should have a good understanding of how to do a treble stitch before launching into this crochet tutorial.
As you practice your stitches, try alternating fptr crochet and bptr crochet to create a gorgeous ribbed texture.
What You Need to Get Started
When I work through new stitch patterns, I like reaching for yarn that is easy to work with, frogs nicely, and gives good stitch definition.
For this tutorial I used a tube yarn, Red Heart Strata, which has sadly been discontinued. Bernat Maker Home Decor yarn is really similar, but you don’t need to buy special yarn just to work through a tutorial.
Just grab some sturdy yarn and the hook size recommended on the yarn and you’ll be ready to get started.
Step-by-Step Instructions
You’ll want to start with a regular row of treble crochets (also called a triple crochet). Both the front post treble crochet and the back post treble crochet begin just like a normal treble crochet with yarning over two times.
If you need a refresher on treble crochets, head over to Crochet 365 Knit Too to see a great photo tutorial on the treble crochet stitch.
I have found that, since each row of post stitches isn’t as tall as a regular treble crochet, I only need to chain 3 to start each row. You will want to experiment with chaining 3 or 4 to see what works best with your crochet tension and style.
Front Post Treble Crochet Stitch (fptr)
Chain 3, yarn over twice.
Insert the hook between the first and second stitch of the previous row, around the post of the tr, and back out between the second and third stitch.
Yarn over and pull up a loop. You’ll now have four loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through two loops, leaving three loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through the next two loops on the hook and finally yarn over and pull through the last two loops on the hook. (Just like a normal tr!)
Here you have a completed front post treble crochet.
Continue by inserting the hook from front to back to front again around the post of the next treble crochet.
Flip your work over to see a row of fptr viewed from the wrong side. Look at that beautiful ridge!
Back Post Treble Crochet Stitch (bptr)
Chain 3 to start your row, yarn over twice, then insert your crochet hook from back to front between the posts of the 1st and 2nd stitch.
Continue around the front of the post and insert your hook between the 2nd and 3rd st.
Here is a view from the top showing how the stitch is being pulled toward the back.
Yarn over and pull up a loop. You’ll now have four loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through two loops. Yarn over and pull through the next two loops on the hook and finally yarn over and pull through the last two loops on the hook.
Row of bptr from the front showing a front ridge.
From the wrong side, the bptr looks a lot like the right side of the fptr.
Now that you have the basics down of how to work a post stitch, you can use this guide for double crochet post stitches and even half double crochet post stitches. If you want to get super fancy, post stitches also allow you to work crochet cables.
Helpful Tip
It can take some practice to maintain good tension when working with so much yarn on your hook. Try to be mindful to not tilt your hook up too far as you are working your stitch or you may find your tension is very loose and you end up with a wonky looking stitch.
How to Practice fptr and bptr Stitches
In my opinion, the best way to practice your new stitches is by using them in a small project. The Ribbed Dishcloth and Dish Scrubbers crochet pattern uses alternating treble crochet post stitches to make kitchen essentials with scrubbing power! Head over to the pattern to give these new stitches a try.
The abbreviations fptc and fptr are used for the same stitch. Treble crochet is generally abbreviated as tr however sometimes tc is used instead and this has carried over post stitch abbreviations as well.
To do a treble crochet, yarn over your hook two times, insert the hook into the next stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through the first two loops on the hook, yarn over pull through the next two loops on the hook, yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops on the hook.
The back stitch in crochet is a post stitch where you work around the post of the stitch in the row below instead of into the top of the stitch. For a back post, you’ll insert your hook from the back of the fabric, around the front of the post, and then out the back on the other side of the stitch.
Do you like photo tutorials and learning new stitches? SO DO I! You might want to head to how to single crochet rib stitch to learn another fun crochet stitch. Check out the Shadow Box Pillow Cover for another fun pattern with post stitches.
