Learn to Crochet: Front Post Double Crochet Stitch (fpdc)

Learn how to crochet the Front Post Double Crochet Stitch (abbreviated fpdc) to add beautiful texture to your crochet projects.

The “front post double crochet stitch” sounds a little intimidating, but it’s really just a variation to the double crochet stitch. Except, as the name implies, you’re crocheting around the post of the stitch in the previous row instead of through the top of the stitches.

And, if you can crochet the front post double crochet stitch, I’ll bet you can also crochet the back post double crochet stitch (bpdc). As the name implies, you crochet around the back of the post instead of the front. But, we’ll save that tutorial for another day.

Learn to Crochet

Seriously, if you can crochet at all, you can crochet the fpdc stitch! If you’d like to learn to crochet, I’ve got you covered there, too! Today’s tutorial is part of an entire ongoing series on how to crochet, including:

Plus, there are many more tutorials on various crochet stitches and techniques. For even more help with learning to crochet, be sure to visit my YouTube Channel (and it’d be awesome if you would subscribe to my channel!).

In fact, I even have a Playlist of crochet tutorials that you can add to your YouTube Playlist.

Front Post Double Crochet Stitch (fpdc)

Before you begin to learn or practice the front post double crochet stitch, you’ll want to grab some yarn and a crochet hook.

Same Stitch, Different Placement

As I’ve already said, the fpdc stitch is the same stitch as the double crochet stitch. The difference is in the placement of the stitch.

The same thing could be said of ALL post stitches no matter if you’re working a front post double crochet stitch, back post double crochet or front post treble crochet stitch (fptr) or some other post stitch.

Regardless of what post stitch you are crocheting, you will insert your hook into an empty space, not a loop, and you will be working around the post of the stitch.

Crochet Stitch Anatomy: Identify the Post

In order to crochet the fpdc stitch, you’re gonna first have to be able to identify the post. If you take a look at a normal double crochet stitch, you should see:

Post: The post of the stitch is the main vertical portion of the stitch.
Front/Back Loop: The upper part of the stitch is defined by 2 loops. The front loop is the loop that is closest to you, the back loop is the one that is farthest from you.
Top of the Stitch: This is the space just underneath the front and back loops and above the 3rd horizontal thread of the stitch. Unless your crochet pattern instructs you otherwise, this is the spot where you insert your crochet hook to create a crochet stitch.
Between Stitches: Underneath all horizontal threads of the stitch and between the posts of the crochet stitches is an empty space, often referred to as the space between stitches. This empty space is where you will insert your hook if directed to work between crochet stitches, like with the fpdc stitch.

How to Crochet FPDC Stitch

Video: Front Post Double Crochet

Here is a video that shows how to crochet the Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc) stitch. For written instructions, keep on reading.

For the purpose of this tutorial, I’m going to assume you’ve already crocheted your foundation chain and a row of double crochet stitches. At the end of the row, ch 3 (counts as first dc).

Step One: Yarn Over

Yarn over (yo) – which simply means wrap the yarn over your crochet hook.

Step Two: Insert Hook

Insert your hook front-to-back through your work, so that the post you want to crochet around is in front of your hook. So, yo and insert your hook in the empty space beside the post, wrap hook around the post and through the empty space on the other side of the post.

Right-Handed

Insert hook from the front of your work to the back. You will be working right to left across the row. Insert your hook into the right side of the post that you want to work around and then back up on the left side of the post.

Left-Handed

Insert hook from the front of your work to the back. You will be working left to right across the row. Insert your hook into the left side of the post that you want to work around and then back up on the right side of the post.

Step Three: Yarn Over

Yarn over again and pull through. (You’ll pull the yarn back around the post where you just inserted your hook.) You should now have three loops on your hook, just like there would for a regular double crochet.

Step Four: Yarn Over

You will proceed just like you would with a regular crochet stitch. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops on the crochet hook. You should now have two loops on your hook.

Step Five: Yarn Over

Yarn over again and pull through the two loops on your crochet hook. Front post double crochet stitch made! You should now have one loop on your crochet hook and ready to crochet your next stitch.

You can work a fpdc in each stitch across or alternate as your heart desires!

Now that you’ve mastered the fpdc stitch, what are you going to make? I’ve got a crocheted child’s poncho pattern that I can’t wait to share with you!