Crochet Bobble and Puff Stitches
Several of my teething rings and lovey patterns include the bobble or puff stitch, so I've decided to explain it as best as I can for everyone! Please feel free to use these stitches anyway you wish, I do not own these stitches but wanted to share a detailed explanation.
Notes-
• This pattern is in US terminology.
• This is not a complete pattern, just an explanation of stitches.
Abbreviations-
• Ch = Chain
• St(s) = Stitch(es)
• Sc = Single Crochet (UK = Double Crochet)
• Dc = Double Crochet (UK = Treble Crochet)
• Bob = Bobble Stitch
• Puff = Puff Stitch
Materials-
• I used Aran yarn and a 4mm crochet hook.
Please feel free to change the weight of the yarn and the hook size. I highly recommend a hook with a long neck, this will be easier to hold the stitches on.
So, lets start with the bobble (bob) stitch, one of my personal favourites!
Bobble stitch-
Row 1: Ch an even number of stitches. For this example I used 16 chs. Sc into 2nd ch from hook and sc along the ch. (15 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc into 1 st. Start a dc into the next st. *Yarn over, insert hook into st, yarn over and pull up loop. You will now have 3 loops on your hook.*
Yarn over and pull through the first two loops. You should now have two loops on your hook.
Repeat this process 4 more times, into the same st, you should have 6 loops on your hook.
Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops.
Yay! You've just made your first bob st!
Now, sc into the next stitch. (Some people like to ch 1 after finishing a bob st, if you do this, please remember to not crochet into that ch 1, as it will not count as a st).
The wrong side of your work should now look like the picture above.
The right side of your work should now look like the picture above.
Continue to bob st and then sc. Repeat until the end of the row. You should finish with a sc.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc into every st. (15 sts)
Row 4: Repeat row 2.
Continue rows 3 and 2 for several rows to complete your swatch. I did 7 rows.
Tip- If you are starting a row with a bobble st, ch 3 and then complete the bobble st as normal. Bobble stitches are always worked on the wrong side.
Now let's move on to the puff stitch.
Puff Stitch-
Row 1: Ch an even number of stitches. For this example I used 16 chs. Sc into 2nd ch from hook and sc along the ch. (15 sts)
Row 2: Ch 1. Sc into first st. Start a dc into the next st. *Yarn over, insert hook into st, yarn over and pull up loop [This loop should be pulled up to make a slightly longer st]. You will now have 3 loops on your hook.*
Yarn over, insert into same st, yarn over and pull up loop. Repeat this 4 times. You should have 11 loops on your hook.
Yarn over and pull through all 11 loops.
Sc into the next st.
The wrong side of your work should now look like the picture above.
The right side of your work should now look like the picture above.
Continue to puff st and then sc. Repeat until the end of the row. You should finish with a sc.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc into each st. (15 sts)
Row 4: Repeat row 2.
Continue repeating row 3 and 2 for several rows to complete your swatch.
Tip- If you are starting a row with a puff st, ch 3 and then complete the puff st as normal. You will be working puff stitches on the wrong side of your work.
I hope this detailed photo tutorial helped you understand the bobble and puff stitch. Please do not hesitate to message if you need any further assistance.