Bobble Stitch {How to Crochet Bobble Stitch for Beginners}

Bobble stitch is a great way to add texture to your crochet. It is easy to learn and is made up of a cluster of stitches that stands out beautifully to create the ‘bobble’. When covering the entire surface of the crochet fabric, it reminds me a bit of bubble wrap plastic! When creating bobble stitches, the bobbles will pop out on the side of the fabric away from you, or what seems like the wrong side. So the wrong side will become the right side!

Bobble Stitch Crochet Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to crochet bobble stitch as well as how to do bobble stitch crochet edges and in the round.

Patterns vary in their requirements for bobble stitch. They are usually worked in double crochet but may be worked in half double crochet. They are generally worked with a cluster of 5 stitches, but this varies too. I have seen patterns that require 3, 4, or 6 stitches to make the bobble.

It is also a good idea to space your bobbles out, with single crochet in between. Otherwise, they become too cramped and lose their definition. If you are new to doing crochet, read my full article on how to crochet.

What is Bobble Stitch in Crochet

Bobble stitch is a 3-dimensional crochet stitch using a double crochet in clusters that pop out. It is used to create entire fabrics or decorative images such as a heart.

Supplies for Bobble Stitch

• Yarn of your choice. A size 4 or DK yarn will be good to practice with.
• Crochet hook size, which is appropriate for your yarn.
• Scissors.
• Yarn needle or tapestry needle.

Abbreviations Used in Bobble Stitch Crochet

The abbreviation for bobble stitch is BO or bo. This tutorial uses US terms.

• dc = double crochet
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch crochet
• YO = yarn over.
• st(s) = stitch(es)

Skills Needed for Bobble Stitch

Bobble stitches are most commonly worked with double crochet, so here is a quick refresher on how to work the dc stitch:

1. After working your starting chain, wrap the yarn around your hook, from back to front.
2. Insert hook into 4^th chain from hook.
3. YO, and pull wrapped yarn through the stitch (3 loops).
4. YO again, draw yarn through the first 2 loops on the hook (2 loops).
5. YO once more and draw hook through last 2 loops on hook (1 loop).
6. Once you have only 1 loop left, you are ready to work the next stitch.

Bobble Stitch Step by Step Instructions

This stitch is made from a cluster of incomplete dc stitches. Here is how to crochet a bobble stitch:

Step 1 - First Incomplete Dc

Work to where you want to place the bobble stitch.

• YO, insert hook into next stitch, pick up loop, YO, draw through 2 loops. (2 loops on hook)

Step 2 - Second Incomplete Dc

• YO, insert hook into same stitch, YO, draw through 2 loops. (3 loops on hook)

Step 3 - Third Incomplete Dc

• YO, insert hook into same stitch, YO, draw through 2 loops. (4 loops on hook)

Step 4 - Fourth Incomplete Dc

•  YO, insert hook into same stitch, YO, draw through 2 loops. (5 loops on hook)

Step 5 - Fifth Incomplete Dc

• YO, insert hook into same stitch, YO, draw through 2 loops. (6 loops on hook)

Step 6 - Pull Through

• YO, draw yarn through all 6 loops on hook, give it a gentle tug to tighten, and make the loops curl up to form the bobble at the back.

You have now made 1 bobble stitch.

The back is actually the right side.

Rows Of Bobble Stitch

You need to start and end with a sc in each row to create a straight edge on the sides of your fabric.

• Start with a foundation chain.
• Work a row of sc into your foundation ch. Turn.
• Ch1. (counts as sc.)
• * Work bobble stitch.
• Work 1 sc.
• Repeat from * all along the row, until the last st. Sc into last st.

Turn, and you will see a row of bobbles popping out. Here is the wrong side which will become your right side.

• Ch1, work sc into each st across the row. Turn.
• Ch 1 (acts as 1^st sc.)
• Repeat again from * across the next row.

Keep repeating these steps until your BO rows are complete. Your bobbles should be directly on top of one another.

FAQs About Bobble Stitch

What is the difference between bobble stitch, puff stitch, and popcorn stitch?

They do look fairly similar, but each one is made in a different way. Bobble stitch is made of dc stitches which are incomplete, then all drawn together at the end to make the bobble.

When making popcorn stitch, you complete each dc stitch and then pull them all together. Popcorn stitch has a bit more texture than bobble stitch and stands out further.

Puff stitch uses stitches that are even more incomplete, then pulled together to form the puff stitch. So instead of half completing each dc, as in bobble stitch, you only start the double crochet by inserting the hook and pulling up a loop each time until you have 11 loops on the hook,, then pull the final loop through all 11 on your hook. It looks a bit fatter and flatter than bobble stitch.

Is a bobble stitch the same as a cluster?

There is no difference in the formation, but a bobble stitch is usually made up of more dc stitches than a cluster, making it bigger. Bobble stitches are also usually separated by a chain stitch.

What is a small or mini bobble stitch?

This is a bobble made by clustering 3 dc instead of the usual 5. It creates a lighter (as in less heavy) fabric and uses less yarn, but the bobbles are less prominent.

How To Make A Bobble Stitch Edging

This is also sometimes called a dot crochet border and looks lovely around a blanket or as an edging to a scarf or shawl.

• Start by working around the blanket or along the edge with 1 row of hdc.
• Ch3, YO, insert hook into bottom ch.
• Work bobble, as explained above, into this ch.

• Ss onto the next 3 sts.
• Work the next bobble into the next stitch. This gives a nice space in between each bobble.

How To Work Bobble Stitch In The Round

You may want to use the bobble stitch to make amigurumi, to make potholders, or to make a round cushion. The tricky part is getting your crochet circle to lie flat, not curl upwards.

The secret to this is to create your increases in the sc rounds in between the bobble rounds. Like this:

• Ch4, join into circle.
• Round 1: ch1,10 sc into circle. Join with a ss.
• Round 2: ch1. Work 1 bobble into next st, sc into next st. Repeat all around. Join with a sl st.

• Round 3: Ch1, 2 sc into every st. Repeat all the way round. Join. It may look a bit bunched up, but remember you are working on the wrong side of the circle!
• Round 4: Repeat row 2. When working in the round, your bobbles will not form directly on top of one another, because of the increasing sc sts.
• Round 5: Ch1, 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in next st. Repeat all the way round. Join.
• Round 6: repeat row 2.
• Round 7: Ch1, 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each of next 2sts, repeat. Join.

Continue in this way until the circle is the desired size. You will see that you will increase in each sc round just as for normal crochet in the round.

The bobbles are worked exactly the same in each round. There will automatically be more bobbles in each round because you are working into more sc each time. If you find that your circle is still curling up, try a larger crochet hook.

How Do Bobble Stitch to Create a Heart

You may have seen pictures of adorable baby blankets made with bobbles standing up to form a raised picture or letter, or even the whole alphabet! Here is an example of how to make a raised bobble heart.

Free Crochet Bobble Pattern (Heart)

• Make starting ch of 20 ch. Work 3 ch for turning.
• Insert hook into 4th chain and work 1 dc into each ch. Turn.
• 3 ch, Work 9 dc, 1 bobble, 10 dc. Turn.

• ch 1, 1 row sc.
• 3 ch, 7 dc, 1 bobble, 1 sc, 1 dc, 1 sc, 1 bobble, 8 dc. Turn.

• 1 row sc. 3 ch, 5 dc, 1 bobble, 1sc, 5 dc, 1 bobble, 1 sc, 5 dc. Turn.
• 1 row sc. 3 ch, 3 dc, 1 bobble 1sc, 10dc 1 bobble, 1 sc, 4 dc. Turn.
• 1 row sc. 3 ch, 1 dc, 1 bobble, 1sc,  14dc, 1 bobble, 1 sc, 1 dc. Turn.
• 1 row sc. 3 ch, 1 dc, 1 bobble, 1 sc, [6 dc, 1 bobble,1 sc,] Repeat [..] once, 1 dc. Turn.
• 1 row sc. 3 ch, 1 dc, 1 bobble, 1 sc, [3 dc  1 bobble, 1 sc.]Repeat from [..]twice, 1 dc. Turn.
• 1 row sc. 3ch, 3 dc, [1 bobble, 1 sc, 1 bobble], 7 dc, repeat […] again, 4 dc.
• 3 ch, dc to end.

This will make 1 square with a raised heart. You can join many hearts together, or have empty squares in between, or find a pattern for letters to make up the baby’s name or initials.

What Can I Make With Bobble Stitch?

You can use all-over bobbles for a large number of projects. Think how any of these would look in bobble stitch: scarves, headbands, baby blankets, larger throws, rugs, (which would make a lovely absorbent bath mat!), hats, bags, pillows, and even sweaters! 

It would make an excellent hot pad because of the raised surface! It is also often used in amigurumi to make extra puffy and cuddly animals.

Crochet Bobble Stitch - In Conclusion

Now you can see how easy and useful the bobble stitch is; I’m sure you can think of a multitude of uses for it! Be warned, though, it is an extreme yarn gobbler because 1 bobble stitch is really made up of 5 double crochet stitches!

It is worth it, though, because it gives you extravagant texture on any project, and if used for blankets or clothing, it traps air in all those little pockets, so gives lots of extra warmth. Bobble stitch is great fun; give it a try!