PUFFED, BOBBLE, OR POPCORN? HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE UNIQUE CROCHET STITCHES!

Some might entertain a misconception about crochet being a piece of fabric. However, it is a technique that involves interlocking loops of thread, yarns, or strands using a hook. This wonderful practice has become even more fashionable these days.

Many have picked up crocheting as a creative hobby during quarantine. Before we dive into the world of crochet any further, let’s learn a little about its origin. The word 'Crochet' made its first appearance in the Dutch Magazine Penelope in 1823. Despite its English roots, there is clear evidence of a link between French tambour embroidery and crochet.

Crochet was introduced in Ireland in the 19th century as a form of famine relief during the Great Irish Famine (1845-1849). Poverty-stricken Irish citizens made money by making and selling crochet lace.

Now that we are educated about history, we can move ahead and learn about crochet techniques. There is a large variety of crochet stitches to learn. From densely knit fabrics to lush lace, you can achieve anything and everything with this marvelous technique. That being said, there will always be certain stitches that might not be easy to learn. The Crochet Bobble Stitch, the Popcorn Stitch, and Puff Stitch are the three stitches that crochet makes often get confused with. However, with enough patience and focus, you can learn to create beautiful and complex crochet designs!

Telling the Difference

Puff, Bobble & Popcorn Crochet stitches are similar visually. It can be hard to tell the difference between these three gorgeous stitches. It’s very common for beginners to mix these up. Even crochet masters have a hard time remembering which is which. The puff, bobble, and popcorn stitches are three ways to create a puffed texture in your crochet projects.

Although they are different, they often bear similarities. These stitches are constructed by working groups of stitches in a single stitch from the previous one. All three stitches are closed at the top. Lastly, the puff and bobble crochet stitches are wired on the wrong side row. However, one can make popcorn stitches on either side, right or wrong.

Similarities

All of these three stitches tend to consume more than your average double crochet. They are yarn-eaters. Among the three, the puff stitches use the least amount of yarn, and the popcorn uses the most. Therefore, a project made solely out of popcorn stitches will be much heavier than a less textured project.

The weight of a project must be taken into account, especially when creating wearables. That’s why you would see a bobble stitch on a pillowcase rather than on a summer top. In a similar sense, the thickness of a stitch is also an important consideration when designing a pattern. For a few items, such as blankets or pillow covers, the texture is desirable.

For such projects, big clusters such as popcorns and bobbles are suitable. On the other hand, if you want a thinner fabric that drapes effortlessly, use less textured stitches.

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What is Bobble Crochet Stitch?

The Bobble Crochet Stitch, bobble meaning is a small ball of strands of wool, uniquely complex stitch with four double crochet stitches and flur double crochet stitches. In other words, half double crochet stitches in the same stitch.

The Bobbles Crochet Stitch is quite similar to the popcorn stitch where you work all the stitches into the same loop and secure it at the top. However, as you move ahead, the stitches will not be complete, and you will be required to join them at the end without removing the hook from work.

Each double stitch is left incomplete without pulling the last stitch apart. In the end, both are joined. The Bubble stitch is abbreviated as 5DCTOG, and The bobble crochet stitch is a diverse stitch that can be used in various projects. This stitch adds dimension and texture to the crochet pattern. This crochet stitch is perfect for making baby clothes. You can also bobble stitch a blanket with beautiful motifs.

How To Crochet Bobble Stitch

For the Bobble Stitch, Yarn over, inserts the hook inside the stitch or space in the pattern, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, and draw two loops on the hook. Until here, the hook will have two loops. Yarn over, insert the hook in the same space or switch, again yarn over, pull up the loop, yarn over, and draw through the two loops on the hook for 4 more times. After doing so, there will be six loops on the hook. Yarn over and then, finally, draw through all remaining loops on the hook.

Advice: Visualize the bobble stitch as if you are making a group of incomplete double crochet stitches just in one stitch.

Variations of the Bobble Stitch

  1. Small bobble, 3-dc Bobble: Begin by yarning over. Insert the hook into the stitch and yarn over. Pull up a loop, yarn over, and draw through two loops on the hook. At this point, you will have two loops on the hook. Further proceed by yarning over. Draw through two loops on the hook two more times. Now, there will be 4 loops on the hook. Proceed to yarn over. Draw through all the hoops remaining on the hook.
  2. Large bobble, 5-tr Bobble: Begin by yarning over twice. Insert the hook into space or stitch. Yarn over; pull up a loop, yarn over. Now, draw through 2 loops, yarn over. Draw through 2 loops again. You will have 2 loops on the hook. Proceed to yarn over twice, insert the hook in the same stitch, and yarn over. Pull a loop, yarn over, draw through two loops, yarn over, and again draw through two loops, however, 4 times. Now, there will be six loops on the hook. Yarn over and end the stitch by drawing through all the remaining loops on the hook.

What is a Puffed Stitch?

The puff crochet stitch forms thick and double-sided bobbles, which can be used while creating smaller motifs, working a row of stitches among other various stitches, or making crochet rows of the stitch to make a puff fabric. The stitch is aptly named so because it gently puffs up into an oval shape. Puff stitching adds the desired texture to a crocheted fabric. Unlike Popcorn and Bobble, you are not even partially completing the stitches that form the puff stitch. It’s just stockpiling a bunch of yarn overs, then finishing them off with a final yarn-over, and pulling through in the end.

How to Make the Puff Stitch

Process: Begin by yarning over. Insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Again yarn over, insert the hook in the same stitch or space, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Repeat this procedure four times. You will have 11 loops on the hook. Yarn over and draw through all loops on the hook.

Note: Think of the puff stitch like making a group of incomplete half-double crochets stitches into a single one.

Puff Stitch Variations:

Small Puff Stitch( 3-hdc cluster): Begin by yarning over. Insert the hook into the stitch or space, yarn over. Pull up a loop. Now repeat the following process twice: Yarn over, insert hook in the same stitch, yarn over, pull up the loop. Now, you will have seven loops on the hook. Proceed to yarn over, and draw through all loops present on the hook.

What is a Popcorn Stitch?

It is a variation of the bobble and the puff stitches. While they are similar, popcorn stitch requires the most yarn. The popcorn stitch, abbreviated as pop or pc, is around a compact oval stitch that protrudes out from the fabric. This stitch adds dimension to your project. Each popcorn has a puffed texture that makes a fun and quirky border. It also adds warmth and thickness when compiled together to make blankets, sweaters, and hats. Popcorn stitch crochet patterns are also great for creating floral motifs on various projects.

Process: Make 5 double crochet in the stitch or space. For double crochet: Yarn over, insert the hook into the stitch, proceed by yearning through, pull a loop, yarn over again, and finally draw the 2 loops on the hook. Pull the loop on the hook and make the strand a little longer, making it easy to grab. Drop the same loop from the hook. Now, count back to the first double crochet stitch. Insert the hook from the back of the project to the front through the first double crochet stitch. Place the dropped loop back on the hook, and draw the loop through the first stitch.

Popcorn Variations:

To create popcorn stitches from the right of the work, make sure to insert the hook from front to back of the work and crochet back the stitch. To make popcorn stitches from the wrong side of the work, insert the hook from the backside to the front. Popcorn stitches can range between 3-7 dc stitches, depending on how 'puffy' you want the texture to be.

If you have been a little bored with the usual crochet stitches lately, give these three a try. You could use these stitches for a multitude of projects. These stitches will help you achieve the desired texture in your project, from crochet bobble stitch blankets, pillowcases to hats and sweaters.

Don’t be overwhelmed if you aren't able to tell these stitches apart at first. With time and patience, you will get the hang of the subtleties, and you will become a pro in no time! If you are wondering what to do next, add these cool crochet stitches to your plan!