Front Post Treble Crochet (fptc) The Easy Way

Learn how to do front post treble crochet (fptc). If you have never worked “post stitches” in crochet, now is the time to learn, and you will open up a whole new variety of stitches you can work with this technique. Once you have learned the placement of your crochet hook for front post tc stitches, you will find any type of post stitch really easy to work.

What is Front Post Treble Crochet?

Front post treble crochet (FPTR) is a textured crochet stitch worked around the post of a stitch instead of into the top loops. The hook is inserted from front to back and around the front of the stitch, which pushes the stitch forward and creates a raised ribbed texture. Front post treble crochet is commonly used for:

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

Because treble crochet is taller than double crochet, front post treble stitches create deep dramatic texture with pronounced raised ridges.

Read about more types of crochet stitches for beginners.

When working front post treble crochet (fptc), instead of working into those top loops, you will be working around the vertical post of that stitch. The great advantage of fptc is that those posts are really easy to find, as the stitches are so tall! My picture below shows my needle inserted into the post of a treble stitch. The post is in front of the needle; hence the name “front post treble crochet”.

Because treble crochet (US terminology) is called double crochet in the UK, this stitch would be called front post double crochet, or a raised double crochet if you are using a UK pattern.

How to Do Front Post Treble Crochet (Step by Step)

Here are the written instructions and step by step photo tutorial for fptc:

1. Crochet a Row of Regular Treble

• Start with a foundation chain the length you desire.
• Work a row of treble stitches,
• Turn and chain 4.

2. First Front Post Treble Stitch

• Work 1 treble into the first stitch.
• Wrap your yarn around your crochet hook twice.
• Put your hook between the current stitch and the next stitch, below the current stitch. Here you are inserting the hook into the post, from front to back, then out the front again.

• Yarn over again.
• Pull the yarn back through the spaces between the stitches. (Now your hook has 4 loops.)

• Yarn over.
• Use your hook to pull the yarn through two loops. (Your hook will now have 3 loops.)

• Yarn over. And pull the yarn through the next two loops.

• Yarn over, and pull yarn through the final 2 loops. That’s it. Your front post treble crochet is now done.

3. Finish the FPTR Row

• Work fptc into each treble stitch from the previous row.

4. Crochet a Regular Treble Row

• Row 2: Turn, chain 4,  and work a row of ordinary treble.

5. Repeat

• Alternate front post treble rows with regular treble rows. This makes it possible to insert through the post again in the next row.

Once you have worked your test swatch, and are familiar with the way it works, here is the short version of how to crochet a fptc:

Front Post Treble Crochet Techniques

Front Post Treble Crochet Increase

Regular increases vs. front-post increases: Traditional increases are made by working two stitches together in the same stitch. To make a front post increase crochet one stitch into the top of a stitch and one stitch around the post of the same stitch.

So working along your row of treble, where you need to increase:

1. Insert your hook into the top of the treble in the previous row, just as you would work a normal treble stitch.
2. Now insert your hook around the post of that same stitch, and work your fptc.
3. You have worked 2 stitches into one, so have increased one stitch.
4. When you are working on the next row, be sure to work into both of these stitches.

How to Decrease FPTC

To decrease, you will be working 2  together. Working along your row of treble, where you need to decrease:

1. Yarn over twice,  insert hook under post. Yarn over, bring the loop back through. (4 loops on hook)
2. Yarn over, pull through first 2 loops. (3 loops)
3. Yarn over, pull through next 2 loops. (2 loops) Do not complete the stitch!
4. Move to next stitch. Yarn over, insert hook under next post. Yarn over, bring loop through. (5 loops)
5. YO, draw it through the first 2 loops. (4 loops)
6. YO draw through next 2 loops. (3 loops)
7. YO, pull it through all 3 loops left on the hook.

What Can I Make With FPTC?

A good example of a textured fabric made from fptcstitch is the Waffle Stitch. Fptc is also a great starting point for learning to crochet cables. You need the extra length of the fptc to be able to cross over other stitches.

Difference Between Front Post Treble and Front Post Double Crochet

Although both stitches are worked around the post of a stitch, front post treble crochet is taller and creates deeper texture than front post double crochet.

Front Post Double Crochet	Front Post Treble Crochet
Shorter stitch	Taller stitch
Softer texture	More dramatic texture
Common for ribbing	Common for deep texture and cables
Yarn over once	Yarn over twice

Pin for Later

Front Post Treble Crochet Stitch – In Conclusion

Working the front post treble crochet is really easy if you understand the placement of the hook for any front post stitches. Because it is such a tall stitch, it allows you to work all sorts of crossing-over options. Once you have tried the ideas I have mentioned, have fun playing around with this stitch, and see how you can use it with your own basic crochet patterns!

More Post Stitches

• Front Post Single Crochet (fpsc)
• Front Post Half Double Crochet (fphdc)
• Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc)
• Back Post Single Crochet (bpsc)
• Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc)