Back Post Half Double Crochet (bphdc) Made Easy

Back post half double crochet (BPHDC) is a textured crochet post stitch worked around the back of the stitch, rather than into the top loops. This creates raised ridges and stretchy textured crochet fabric commonly used for ribbing, basketweave stitch, garments, hats, and decorative crochet patterns. This tutorial will show you how to crochet back post half double crochet step-by-step, including where to insert your hook and how to combine post stitches for textured crochet fabric.

What is Back Post Half Double Crochet?

The back post half double crochet stitch is abbreviated as bphdc and involves working around the back of a post from the row before. This gives the crochet fabric an interesting raised ridge. You will work around the stitch’s post rather than into the upper loops of the stitches. Keep in mind that “front” and “back” relate to the beginning placement of your hook while working with post stitches.

BPHDC is commonly used for:

• crochet ribbing
• basketweave stitch
• textured blankets
• hats and garments
• decorative crochet patterns

How to Back Post Half Double Crochet (Step by Step)

This basic crochet stitch is rated for confident beginner. If you already know how to make a half double crochet, this will be easy. It simply involves inserting your hook in a different position, but the basic stitch is the same.

For the back post stitches, we’ll start each hdc with our hook in the back of the next stitch. To make a test swatch:

1. Create Foundation Row

• Start with a foundation chain. (Try 14 stitches for a small trial swatch.)
• Chain 2.
• Work 1 row of half double crochet.

2. Insert Hook Around Back Post

• Turn, chain 2, hdc.
• Yarn over the hook, Insert hook through stitch post, from back to front and out the back again.  The hook must be horizontal to the stitch post in front of it. Your hook will hardly be visible because you are working at the back of the stitch.

3. Compete Half Double Crochet

•  Draw yarn through. (Hook with three loops)

• Yarn over hook.
• Pull the hook through all three loops. (1 loop on hook and your first bphdc is complete.)

4. Continue Across BPHDC Row

• Continue along the row to complete a whole row of bphdc.
• Work a regular hdc into the final stitch of row.

You will see that all your stitches get pulled backward. The ridge formed will be on the wrong side of the fabric.

5. More BPHDC Rows

• Turn, chain 2.
• Work an ordinary hdc along the next row.

Rows 2 and 3 should be repeated until you have a swatch of the desired length. I have changed to a DK weight yarn so you can more clearly see the ribbed crochet look that the bphdc displays.

Back Post Half Double Crochet Techniques

Back Post Half Double Crochet Increase

Conventional crochet increases are created by crocheting two stitches into the same stitch. To produce a back post increase, crochet one stitch into the top of a stitch and one stitch around the post of the same stitch.

1. Work along your row of hdc where you need to increase.
2. Put your hook into the top of the previous row, (just as you would for a regular hdc), and work the hdc.
3. Now insert your hook around the back post of that same stitch, and work your bphdc.

You have worked 2 stitches into one, so have increased one stitch. Repeat as needed for as many stitches as you need to increase.

BPHDC Crochet Decrease

To decrease, you will be working 2 together.

1. Work along your row of hdc, where you need to decrease.
2. YO, Insert hook through post of the next stitch, starting from the back of the stitch. 
3. YO, Pull up a loop (3 stitches on hook). Do not complete the stitch.
4. YO, Insert hook into post of next stitch starting from the back.
5. YO, pull up a loop. (5 stitches on hook.)
6. YO, pull the loop through all stitches on the hook.

BPHDC vs FPHDC

Although front post and back post half double crochet are worked similarly, they create opposite textured effects in the crochet fabric.

Front Post HDC	Back Post HDC
Stitch pushes forward	Stitch pushes backward
Ridge appears at front	Ridge appears at back
Used for raised texture	Used for recessed texture
Common in ribbing	Common in ribbing and basketweave

Back Post Half Double Crochet FAQs

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In Conclusion

Back post half double crochet is a textured crochet stitch that creates raised ridges and stretchy fabric by working around the stitch posts instead of through the top loops. Although it may feel unusual at first, the stitch quickly becomes easier once you learn where to place your hook. Because BPHDC adds texture without excessive height, it works beautifully for ribbing, hats, garments, basketweave stitch, and decorative crochet patterns.

More Crochet Post Stitch Tutorials

• Front Post Single Crochet
• Front Post Double Crochet
• Front Post Treble Crochet
• Back Post Single Crochet
• Back Post Double Crochet
• Back Post Treble Crochet