Puff, Bobble and Popcorn Stitches

Are you confused by the Puff, Bobble and Popcorn stitches? Don’t worry, it’s a common frustration. It’s something that I even got wrong when I was first learning. In fact, I thought they were all the same thing! After having a few people contact me about this recently, I thought a tutorial would come in handy to clarify it all for you. You will find the video tutorial at the bottom of this post, but if you prefer to read and look at photos, then I have that covered for you as well!

Unsure of the differences between UK and US terms? Need a refresher on how to do your stitches? In my ‘How to crochet: A handy reference guide’ EBook I help you with all of these terms and you can always have them to hand! You will also get exclusive access to free video instructions. You can find my EBook HERE.

Convert Pattern Terms

Building your foundation

You are viewing this pattern in UK terms.

For each of these techniques I have started with an EVEN number of chains and done a row of Double Crochet starting in the 2nd chain from the hook. I have then chained one, turned the work and done another Double crochet in the base of the chain one. This will help to build a straight edge on the side of your work.

Each of these stitches will be performed from the wrong side of the work. This means that your stitches will be pushed away from you. (please follow this rule unless a pattern advises you differently)

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Puff stitch

For this stitch you will yarn over and insert the hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull through. this process will be repeated 5 times and you will end up with 11 loops on your hook which will be bunched together. Yarn over and pull through all of the loops on the hook.

Double crochet into the next stitch. Repeat your puff stitch and double crochet to the end of the row. You will end on a double crochet.

You must then chain 1 and turn. Double crochet into the base of the chain one and into every stitch of the row. Chain 1 and turn. You will now repeat the puff stitch row.

Bobble stitch

For this stitch you will yarn over and insert the hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull through, yarn over and pull through two stitches. this process will be repeated 5 times and you will end up with 6 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all of the loops on the hook.

Double crochet into the next stitch. Repeat your bobble stitch and double crochet to the end of the row. You will end on a double crochet.

You must then chain 1 and turn. Double crochet into the base of the chain one and into every stitch of the row. Chain 1 and turn. You will now repeat the bobble stitch row.

Popcorn Stitch

For this stitch you will do 5 Treble crochets into the next space. You will pull up on the loop on your hook and carefully remove your hook. Insert your hook into the top of the 1st Treble crochet stitch and back into the last loop (that you have just taken your hook out of) Pull the loop through the treble crochet.

Double crochet into the next stitch. Repeat your popcorn stitch and double crochet to the end of the row. You will end on a double crochet.

You must then chain 1 and turn. Double crochet into the base of the chain one and into every stitch of the row. Chain 1 and turn. You will now repeat the popcorn stitch row.

Now that you have seen them all together, does it make more sense to you? Have you used any of these in a project yet? I included the bobble stitch in my Bobble Stripe Blanket pattern as I just love the texture!

Wondering if they are yarn eaters?

Well, because they are such textured stitches, they do take up more yarn then your standard granny square would. I have weighed each of the swatches that I have done in order to give you an idea of how much yarn they used.

Each swatch measures 11cm x 6cm approx

Puff- 7g

Bobble- 8g

Popcorn- 11g

As expected the Puff requires the least and the popcorn requires the most. Please be aware that I will not be able to help you calculate how much yarn you will need for your projects as this will depend entirely on the yarn you use, the hook size and your personal tension. I suggest you make a swatch of your own and calculate from there.

I have used Caron Simply Soft which although seems deceptively thin, is actually an Aran weight yarn. It’s currently one of my favourite yarns.

Video Tutorials

Right-handed

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Or you can watch on YouTube

Left-handed

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”g29f8hNe” upload-date=”2025-03-26T09:13:47+00:00″ name=”LEFT HANDED CROCHET_ Puff, Bobble & Popcorn Stitch | Bella Coco.mp4″ description=”null” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]

Or you can watch on YouTube