How Do You Do a BPDC in Crochet

Crochet stitches usually create a fabric that is smooth and even, but there are times when we want to create some serious texture like braids or ribbing that looks like knitted fabric. BPDC or Back Post Double Crochet stitch is great to create texture in your crochet projects.

BPDC stands for Back Post Double Crochet. It’s called that because it is worked around a DC stitch, using it as a post. This stitch pushes that post to the back of the crochet fabric, so it’s called Back Post DC.

BPDC crochet stitch is a variation on the basic DC stitch and a sister stitch to FPDC. BPDC is a fantastic stitch to add to your know-how collection to create so great texture in your crochet projects. Back Post Double Crochet stitch is used for things like ribbing, braids and edges for mittens, socks and such.

What makes BPDC stitch different

Back Post Double Crochet stitch creates a texture in crochet fabric by raising the stitch on the back of your work. Because of the yarn being wrapped around the post of the next stitch from the back, around the front and back to the back, it causes the stitch to be pulled to the back (wrong side) of the crochet fabric creating a textured look.

Back post double crochet is a variation of double crochet stitch. While in the classic double crochet stitch the hook is inserted under the top loops of the stitch (that V you see when you look at the stitch from the top), or under the front or back loops of that V, in the back post double crochet stitch, the hook goes between the stitches.

The hook is inserted between the posts of the stitches of the row below, on the right side of a post, weaving its way from the back of the fabric, then around the front of that one post, then back between the stitches on the other side of the double crochet post stitches.

BPDC stitch creates a texture, a bump on the back of the fabric. This stitch is often paired up with its sister stitch, front post double crochet stitch (FPDC) where the bump appears on the front of your work. By alternating these two stitches on the wrong vs right side of the crochet project a knit-like texture is created. Depending on the order these stitches are used you can create a braid, crochet cables, ribbing, basket-weave or mini basket-weave effect.

Things to know about BPDC stitch

Since BPDC is weaved around another stitch, taller stitches are preferred. Double crochet (DC) and treble crochet (TR) are often used since there are pretty tall stitches and their posts are 2 chains and 3 chains respectively. Stitches like HDC is used sometimes as well.

Because of the knit-like texture, BPDC crochet stitch is often used where the ribbing is needed like the ends of sleeves, the top of the mittens or socks, the ribbing of the beanies, even edging on a blanket.

Projects can even have many combinations of the post stitches like a beanie that has a ribbing made of BPDC and FPDC (front post stitches) in alternating rows, and a mini basket weave in the body of the had created by both of these stitches taking turns in every row.

Another thing about the BPDC stitch is that even though it is based on a DC stitch, it comes out to be shorter in height because of how it’s created.

Since it’s wrapped around the post of the row below rather than being on the top of the stitch (the way regular DC is), it comes out as an overlap of two stitches. This overlap takes away some of its height and the stitch ends up shorter than the regular DC.

Because of the stitches overlapping, the 2 rows of BPDC will be as tall as 1.5 row of DC. Since the Back Post Double Crochet rows come out shorter, you will only need to chain 2 when turning and starting a new row of BPDC. As a reminder, when you crochet a standard DC row, you chain 3 to turn and start a new row.

To make Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC):

Back Post Double Crochet stitch works in pair with Double Crochet stitches.

Before you begin a row of BPDC, crochet a row of regular DC.

Turn and begin the next row of BPDC with a chain of 2. Crochet a regular DC into the same stitch to create an even border for the project.

For the BPDC stitch, yarn over, insert hook, from the back of the fabric to the front of the work between the posts (right side of the post) of the row below, moving your hook around the post and to the back again. You will have your hook laying horizontally in front of the post of the DC stitch from the row below.

Yarn over and pull the loop around the post and all the way out. It helps to keep the yarn slack. You now have 3 loops on your hook.

From this point you crochet the stitch just like the regular DC.

Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops. You now have 2 loops left on the hook.

Yarn over and pull through the 2 loops.

This is how you crochet BPDC stitch!

As you can see, it combines the technique of the regular double crochet stitch with the specific wrap-around the post of the stitch below technique of BPDC.

Let’s do it again:

Yarn over and insert the hook, back to front, between the stitches below, on the right side of the post, then around the front of it, returning to the back of the work again. Yarn over and pull the loop through.

You have 3 loops on your hook.

Yarn over and pull through 2 first loops on the hook. You now have 2 loops on the hook.

Yarn over and pull through 2 loops.

And done!

Facts about Back Post Double Crochet:

-Your first stitch in the row will be done as a regular DC stitch since it serves as an edging

-The height of the fabric made of BPDC is less than that of DC since BPDC is a stitch then overlaps the stitch below, thus losing some of its height

-Because BPDC wraps around another stitch, it might at first come out pretty tight, so practice to crochet loosely

-Back Post Double Crochet uses more yarn than DC, so plan the projects accordingly

-BPDC stitch creates a column on the wrong side of the project and a horizontal ridge on the front of the fabric

For a step by step helpful video tutorial on how to make BPDC please see video below:

Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC) stitch can take a bit to get used to, but it can take your crochet projects to the next level with all the texture and variety it brings. It can help you make the crochet fabric more 3D, giving it visual interest and a sophisticated look.

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