Crochet Bobble Stitch Tutorial
Lately I’ve been getting a lot of questions on how to crochet the bobble stitch for the 3in1 Cuddly Sheep Baby Blanket so instead of answering to everyone, I thought it will be a better idea to make a tutorial and video on it explaining how it’s done and what are some variations on the stitch.
In this tutorial I will show you step by step how to create the bobble stitch with detailed photos and explanation and a video at the end for those who find it easier to learn by watching how is it done.
If you can make a double and single crochet stitch, then you can make a bobble stitch.
It gives lots of texture to your project and it’s flat on the wrong side, making it an ideal stitch for blankets, hats, shawls, jumpers and toys.
The classic bobble stitch consists of a group of double crochet stitches, usually 5, worked in the same stitch and joined at the top, followed by a single crochet in the following stitch to make it pop out.
It’s worked on the wrong side, meaning that the bobble will pop out on the other side, but the stitch is reversible and you can push it out on either side of the project to suit your needs.
It can be a bit of a yarn eater, but there are ways you can crochet it to still get the texture with less yarn.
1. Instead of the 5 loops used in the classic bobble stitch, you can do 3 or 4.
In my 3in1 Cuddly Sheep Baby Blanket I used the bobble stitch made with 3 loops not only to use less yarn, but also to make the blanket softer as I needed it to fold it multiple times and not become too bulky.
As you can see in the picture, the bobbles are slightly smaller, but the overall look of the project is the same.
2. You can use it as an accent stitch.
If you want the texture, but don’t want use a lot of yarn, this is the route to go.
Instead of crocheting a bobble stitch every other stitch (separated by single crochet stitches), you can make one separated by a few stitches.
You can create simple patterns like I did on my Hooded Sheep Lamb Blanket and Hooded Woodland Deer Blanket, or go all out and create intricate designs such as words and shapes of all kinds.
Looking for similar textured stitches?
Crochet Tutorial: Learn How To Crochet The Bead Stitch Pattern Photo & Video Tutorial
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Video Resources
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Learn How To Crochet The Bobble Stitch
Supplies I Used
- DK (light worsted yarn) in purple
- 4mm crochet hook
Get Your Supplies
Crochet Terms
Pattern written in US terms using Craft Yarn Council abbreviations.
- sc (single crochet)
- dc (double crochet)
- yo (yarn over)
- bo (bobble stitch)
Crocheting The Bobble Stitch
First, I will show you how to crochet the classic bobble stitch with 5 loops.
Repeat the ** section 5 times *Yo (2 loops on your hook), insert your hook from front to back in the stitch and draw up a loop (3 loops on your hook), yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on your hook)*
You now have 6 loops on your hook (5 from the 5 incomplete dc stitches you just crated and 1 from the single crochet made in the previous stitch).
Yo and pull through all 6 loops. And that’s the bobble stitch complete.
To make the first bobble in the row, ch3 and then continue to make the rest of the 4 incomplete dc too for the bobble.
To crochet the pattern, you will make alternating rows of single crochet stitches and rows of bobble stitches and requires an even number of chains to begin with.
There are two ways you can crochet the bobble stitch:
1. in parallel columns where the bobble stitches are created one on top of each other
2. offset to each other where the bobbles from one row are placed in between the bobbles from 2 rows below
Below I will show you how to make both including a basic diagram for each pattern.
The Parallel Bobble Pattern
Tip: to create the parallel bobbles, single crochet above the single crochet stitches 2 rows below and create the bobble right above the bobbles from 2 stitches below.
Row 1: ch20
Row 2: sc in 3rd chain and across, turn
Row 3: bo (see above how to construct the first bobble in the row), *sc, bo*, repeat until the end of the row, ending it with a bo, turn
Row 4: sc in the first stitch and across, turn
Repeat Rows 3 & 4 until you have the required length, finishing your project with a single crochet row.
The Offset Bobbles
Tip: to create the offset bobbles, single crochet above the bobble stitches 2 rows below and make the bobble stitch above the single crochet stitches 2 rows below.
Row 1: ch20
Row 2: sc in 3rd chain and across, turn
Row 3: bo (see above how to construct the first bobble in the row), *sc, bo*, repeat until the end of the row, ending it with a bo, turn
Row 4: sc in the first stitch and across, turn
Row 5: sc in the first stitch, *bo, sc*, repeat until the end of the rown, ending with a single crochet, turn
Row 6: sc in the first stitch and across
Repeat rows 3 – 6 until you have the required length, finishing with a single crochet row.
Video Tutorial
For those who learn better from watching videos, I’ve made a video tutorial to show you how to crochet the bobble stitch.
Follow my Youtube Channel for more tutorials like this one.
Looking for other crochet stitches?
Browse the entire stitch library HERE.
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Happy Crocheting!
January 10, 2020 @ 6:26 pm
Wow this was an amazingly helpful post. Everything makes so much sense. Thank you for writing it and posting it.
January 10, 2020 @ 6:32 pm
You’re welcome 🤗