BPDC: Back Post Double Crochet Stitch Guide

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• Encouraging

Informal, Encouraging

Isn’t it amazing the textures you can create with just a hook and some yarn? Crochet, with its endless possibilities, allows you to craft stunning designs, and the back post double crochet stitch is a fantastic technique to add to your repertoire! Think of the cozy blankets by "Two Brothers Blanket Company," often using textured stitches like our focus, the back post double crochet stitch. Many patterns from designers on Ravelry showcase beautiful ribbing achieved with this stitch. The ergonomic crochet hooks from Clover make it even easier to master this technique, and understanding the anatomy of a double crochet, as explained so well by crochet experts like Doris Chan, is the first step to learning the back post double crochet stitch. Are you ready to explore a world of three-dimensional texture using the back post double crochet stitch?

BPDC: Back Post Double Crochet Stitch Guide

So, you’re ready to dive into the wonderful world of the Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC) stitch! That’s fantastic! It’s a stitch that adds amazing texture and dimension to your crochet projects, and trust me, once you get the hang of it, you’ll be hooked (pun intended!). To make sure you learn it right, let’s break down how a good guide on this stitch should be structured.

I. Setting the Stage: Introduction

• What’s the Buzz About?: Start by introducing the BPDC stitch in a way that highlights its usefulness. Briefly explain what it is and why crocheters might want to learn it. Think along the lines of: "Tired of flat crochet? The BPDC stitch is your secret weapon for adding ribs, cables, and interesting textures to your projects!".
• What you should know: The basic prerequisites to this stitch, i.e.
  • How to make a chain
  • How to do a double crochet

II. Step-by-Step Instructions: The Heart of the Guide

This is where you need to really shine. Provide crystal-clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Consider this structure:

1. Visual Aid First: Start with a high-quality photo or, even better, a video demonstrating the entire stitch. People learn in different ways, and visuals are super helpful.
2. Written Instructions (with photos!): Break down the BPDC into numbered steps, each with a clear photo showing exactly what to do. For example:
   • Step 1: "Yarn over. (Photo of yarn over)"
   • Step 2: "Insert your hook from front to back around the post of the double crochet stitch in the row below." (Photo showing hook placement)
   • Step 3: "Yarn over and pull through. You now have three loops on your hook." (Photo showing the three loops)
   • Step 4: "Yarn over and pull through two loops. You now have two loops on your hook." (Photo showing this action)
   • Step 5: "Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops. Voila! You’ve made a BPDC!" (Photo of completed BPDC)
3. Emphasize the "Post": Make very clear that the hook goes around the post of the stitch, not into the top of the stitch like a regular double crochet. This is the most common point of confusion.
4. Repetition is Key: Include a section that explains how to repeat the stitch across a row, and how it looks when worked in subsequent rows.

III. Troubleshooting: Helping Hands

Let’s be honest, things can go wrong! Anticipate common mistakes and address them directly.

• Common Problems, Clear Solutions: Create a section dedicated to troubleshooting. Here are some examples of issues to address:

  • "My fabric is curling!": (Solution: Make sure your tension isn’t too tight. Try using a larger hook.)
  • "My ribs don’t look defined!": (Solution: Ensure you’re working around the correct post, and that your tension is consistent.)
  • "I’m losing stitches!": (Solution: Double-check your stitch count at the end of each row. It’s easy to accidentally skip a stitch when working textured patterns.)

• Illustrative Examples: Show photos of what these mistakes look like and then show the corrected version.

IV. Variations and Applications: Level Up Your Skills

• Exploring Different Styles: Are there variations of the BPDC stitch? Show a few examples with brief description. For Example:

  • Extended BPDC
  • BPDC2tog (Back Post Double Crochet Two Together)

• Project Ideas: Showcase projects or patterns where the BPDC stitch really shines.

• Texture Showcase: Show example images and give a brief description of what type of texture the stitch produces.

V. Comparison Table: BPDC vs FPDC

Sometimes the back post double crochet stitch is confused with the front post double crochet. Showing the similarities and differences can be helpful

Feature	Back Post Double Crochet (BPDC)	Front Post Double Crochet (FPDC)
Hook Placement	Hook inserted around the post from front to back.	Hook inserted around the post from back to front.
Texture Effect	Creates a recessed or "sunken" rib on the front of the fabric.	Creates a raised or protruding rib on the front of the fabric.
Common Use Cases	Ribbing, textured backgrounds, creating "valleys" in patterns.	Cables, textured patterns, creating "ridges" and defined details.
Difficulty Level	Beginner-friendly, once the basic concept is understood.	Beginner-friendly, similar difficulty to BPDC.

So there you have it! Mastering the back post double crochet stitch (BPDC) might take a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be adding amazing texture and dimension to all your crochet projects. Happy hooking!