How to Crochet Bobble Stitch (Easy Beginner Tutorial)

The crochet bobble stitch creates raised textured crochet fabric using groups of unfinished stitches worked together into the same stitch. These rounded crochet “bobbles” pop out from the surface of the fabric to create playful texture that looks similar to bubbles or tiny puffs. Bobble stitch is popular for blankets, hats, scarves, sweaters, baby items, and decorative crochet patterns because it adds warmth, texture, and dimension. This tutorial will show you how to crochet bobble stitch step-by-step for beginners.

Step 1 – First Incomplete Dc

Work to where you want to place the bobble stitch.

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

Step 2 – Second Incomplete Dc

• Yarn over
• Insert hook into same stitch.
• Yarn over, draw through 2 loops. (3 loops on hook)

Step 3 – Third Incomplete Dc

• Yarn over.
• Insert hook into same stitch.
• Yarn over, draw through 2 loops. (4 loops on hook)

Step 4 – Fourth Incomplete Dc

• Yarn over.
• Insert hook into same stitch.
• Yarn over, draw through 2 loops. (5 loops on hook)

Step 5 – Fifth Incomplete Dc

• Yarn over
• Insert hook into the same stitch
• Yarn over, draw through 2 loops. (6 loops on hook)

Step 6 – Pull Through

• Yarn over
• Draw yarn through all 6 loops on the 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.

BEGINNER TIP: The back is actually the right side. Here is how it looks with a complete row on the back. See how the bobble pops out in the middle.

Create Rows Of Bobble Stitch

To make rows of crochet bobbles, you need to start and end with a sc in each row to create a straight edge on the sides of your fabric.

1. Start with a foundation chain.
2. Work a row of sc into your foundation ch. Turn.
3. Ch1. (counts as sc.)
4. * Work bobble stitch. Work 1 sc.
5. 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.

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

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

Bobble Stitch Variations

Bobble Stitch Border

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 half double crochet. Separate bobbles with 3 slip stitches.

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. 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.

Bobble Stitch Pattern

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!

To create the heart shape:

• Crochet a plain double crochet background
• Add rows of single crochet between the bobble rows
• Strategically place bobble stitches closer together to form the outline of the heart

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.

Bobble Stitch Projects

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 thanks to its raised surface! It is also often used in amigurumi to make cuddly animals.

Common Bobble Stitch Problems

Problem	Cause	Solution
Flat bobbles	Tight tension	Relax yarn tension
Crowded texture	Bobbles too close together	Add stitches between bobbles
Uneven bobbles	Inconsistent loop height	Pull loops evenly
Difficulty pulling through loops	Tight stitches	Use a slightly larger hook
Curling fabric	Too many bobbles	Space bobbles farther apart

Bobble Stitch vs 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. This 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 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.

Bobble stitch, puff stitch, and popcorn stitch all create raised texture, but they are worked differently.

Bobble Stitch	Puff Stitch	Popcorn Stitch
Uses incomplete dc stitches	Uses elongated loops	Uses completed dc stitches
Pulled together at the end	Pulled through many loops	Joined after completed stitches
Rounded textured bump	Softer puff texture	Firmer raised texture
Dense and warm	Flatter texture	Most pronounced texture

These textured stitches are often confused, but create slightly different effects.

FAQs About Bobble Stitch

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Crochet Bobble Stitch – In Conclusion

The crochet bobble stitch creates raised crochet texture using groups of unfinished stitches worked together into one stitch. Although the stitch may look complicated at first, the repeating sequence quickly becomes easy with a little practice. Because bobble stitch creates dimensional texture and extra warmth, it is especially suitable for blankets, hats, scarves, sweaters, baby items, and decorative crochet projects.