Beautiful texture in crochet is easier to achieve than it looks. By working around the post of stitches or in front of / behind previously made stitches, you can create striking dimensional effects. Below are a few of my favorite techniques featured in The Texture Mountain Hat pattern.

Crochet Ribbing

Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc):
Yo, insert the hook from front to back to front around the post of the stitch, yo and pull up a loop; [yo, pull through 2 loops] twice.

Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc):
Yo, insert the hook from back to front to back around the post of the stitch, yo and pull up a loop; [yo, pull through 2 loops] twice.

Alternating fpdc and bpdc creates classic crochet ribbing... perfect for hats, socks, and garments. In the video, I demonstrate 1×1 ribbing, but you can easily adapt the technique to 2×2, 1×2, 2×1, and more.

Left‑handed crocheters: scroll to the middle of the video.

Decreasing in Textured Crochet

Traditional dc2tog gathers two posts under one stitch, which can make it harder to identify the correct post in the next round, especially when working fpdc or bpdc. That’s why I prefer the Invisible Double Crochet Decrease for textured projects.

Decreasing

When you decrease using the regular dc2tog method, there are 2 posts gathered under the top of the finished stitch…which sometimes can be difficult to identify while working the next row of front/back post stitches. That’s why I like using the Invisible Decrease method for textured crochet.

Invisible dc decrease:
Yo, insert the hook from front to back through the front loop of the next stitch twice; yo, pull through both front loops; yo, complete the dc as usual.

This creates a clean, nearly invisible decrease that blends seamlessly into textured fabric.

Video: Invisible Dc Decrease (right‑ and left‑handed)

Working in Front of Completed Stitches

To place a stitch in front of the stitches you just made:

• Insert the hook from back to front into the indicated stitch
• Keep the previously made stitches behind the hook

This technique creates crisp separation between front and back layers.

The video demonstrates a treble crochet worked into a skipped stitch from back to front.

Working Behind Completed Stitches

To place a stitch behind the stitches you just made:

• Insert the hook from front to back into the indicated stitch
• Keep the previously made stitch in front of the hook

This method is shown in the video using double crochet worked into three skipped stitches from front to back.

The Textured Mountain Hat

My Textured Mountain Hat pattern is available in six sizes (from Baby to Large Adult), and you only need one hank of Berroco Vintage Yarn for any size.

I prefer using pom‑poms with elastic loops rather than magnetic or snap‑on styles. The loop secures tightly inside the hat so it won’t fall off, and you can easily change or remove the pom‑pom whenever you like.

TIP: Use a hair dryer on hot air to fluff your pom‑pom. It becomes full and fluffy in seconds.

Note: The sample hat shown in the video is the Modern Heirloom Cable Knit Hat.