You've been hearing about those post stitches, seems like all the hoodyhoo elite hookers are post stitching this and basketweave stitching that. Maybe you think it's complicated.

Maybe you're thinking is all messed up.

I can show you the secrets of the stars! I'll be getting a little help from some sock monkeys and my dog Maddie!

Make a row of about 12 dc. Look at your double crochets, stretch it out a bit. See how a row of double crochets is really nothing more than a series of posts connected at the top and bottom? A series of posts!

That's 50% of the secret right there.

Turn, ch2 (this is your first dc). make a couple dc

Let's make a front post double crochet (fpdc)
Yarn over, instead of going through the top of the stitch like a boring person, you are going to take your hook and slide it under the post.

Yarn over, pull it back out and finish the double stitch like it was regular. You'll notice that your new stitch is kind of sitting in front of the top of the dc below.

The next step is the back post double crochet (bpdc)
Yarn over. This time we are going to take the hook and put it to the back side before sliding over the post.

Yarn over, pull through and finish your double crochet. Finish out the row alternating between fpdc and bpdc.

Maddie is thrilled to model this swatch for you.

Ch2 and turn. If you take a few moments to investigate you can see that the backside of a fpdc is a bpdc and vice versa.

To make ribbing, make fpdc on the fpdc and bpdc on the bpdc. Get to the end of the row, ch2, turn and make the matching stitches again.

Do it over and over and make a doubly warm scarf for that friend in Alaska.

Now we move on to the next trick in the post stitch bag, the basketweave. Make another 12 double crochets (or more in multiples of 3). Taking what you learned from above, make 3 fpdc, then 3 bpdc. Repeat to the end.

Ch2 and turn, the ch2 counts as a stitch. When you start a row it is the first stitch in the first set of three. It is neither front post or back post. It will mostly just blend.

The basketweave pattern needs rows repeated in series of 2. In this row, match fpdc to fpdc and bpdc to bpdc.

Finish the row, lay it on your dog's head and admire your handiwork.

Ch2, turn.
Now you make the opposite stitches on this row. 3 by 3 put bpdc on fpdc and fpdc on bpdc.

This gives you the start of the next set of basketweave.

Ch2, turn and...match your posts!

You continue this pattern back and forth, matching your posts and then stitching the opposite. Use this for scarves, warm blankets, and showing knitters how awesomely easy crochet can be (but do it in a nice way!)

This is my first written tutorial. If it is oblique or confusing or poorly written in any way, please let me know. I would like to write more and feedback would be greatly appreciated.

And let's hear it for Maddie, the world's most patient dog.