FPSC - A TUTORIAL ON FRONT POST SINGLE CROCHET STITCHES

 I've been working on a pattern for my Dahlia-lightful design for quite sometime now.  It uses a type of stitch that I haven't seen explained anywhere. As I mulled it over, I redesigned the flower a bit, and came up with this sweet little headband/lariat and this vintage inspired fascinator.   I am now ready to publish patterns for both designs. Yahoo! (find the pattern here!)

    In both patterns I use a stitch I would call a Front Post Single Crochet (fpsc) stitch.  It is similar to the more commonly used Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc) stitch.  As I explored this stitch, I was amazed by how infrequently it seems to be used. While fpdc was one of the first "different" stitches I learned (I was quite obsessed with giant fpdc afghans about 10 years ago), I'm currently excited about the possibilities of the fpsc.   

    It creates another level of crochetable stitches that are sturdy and lie flush up against the horizontal fabric with out the space created by a fpdc.  So... here's a little tutorial I put together on a stitch I've been using for quite sometime, that I think can open new possibilities for a new direction in crochet. 


    So get out your hook at try adding a fpsc into your day! : )  


Here's my definition of a FPSC - 


Front post single crochet (fpsc) – Keep hook in front of piece, insert hook from right to left around post of indicated stitch (figure 1), YO (figure 2) and draw up a loop(figures 3 and 4), YO (figure 5) and draw through both loops on hook (figure 6).

   

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

TA DA!!!

Here's a few other pictures that might be helpful as you complete a row of fpsc stitches.

Starting the second stitch in the row.

5 completed fpsc stitches

Starting the last stitch in the row.

This is a dc being worked into the previous fpsc.  Because fpsc's are shorter than fpdc it could be tempting to go into the st from 2 rows before (where my thumbnail is).  Make sure you go into the stitch that looks like it is in the back.  

See how the fpsc rows add a flat vertical playing field. You can now start crocheting a whole new piece of fabric right to these fpsc stitches. 

 These stitches were worked into the previous row of dc stitches.

In the middle, I alternated a row of fpsc with a row of dc. 

Again the fpsc rows add a flat vertical playing field. 

 These stitches were worked into the previous row of sc stitches. 

This swatch is made with 3 rows of sc, 6 rows of alternating sc and fpsc followed by 3 rows of sc. 

***This is my first tutorial and it is dedicated to Ash who didn't know how to do a fpsc. I think there are a lot of people out there who don't know how to make a fpsc. I hope this helps.