How to Crochet Popcorn Stitch, Easy for Beginners

The crochet popcorn stitch is a textured stitch made by grouping multiple double crochet stitches together to create a raised, puffy bump on the fabric. It adds dimension, texture, and visual interest to crochet projects and is commonly used in blankets, hats, bags, granny squares, and decorative crochet patterns. This beginner tutorial will show you how to crochet a popcorn stitch, when to use it, and how it compares to puff stitch and bobble stitch.

What is Crochet Popcorn Stitch?

The crochet popcorn stitch is a textured stitch made by working multiple double crochet stitches into the same stitch and then joining them together to form a raised, rounded bump. The finished stitch pops out from the surface of the fabric, creating bold texture and three-dimensional detail.

Explore the full crochet stitch guide for my three-dimensional stitches.

Popcorn stitch is commonly used in blankets, granny squares, bags, hats, and decorative crochet projects where extra texture is desired. Because each stitch is made from several double crochet stitches, popcorn stitch creates a thicker fabric and uses more yarn than basic crochet stitches.

Although it is often confused with bobble stitch and puff stitch, popcorn stitch is the most pronounced of the three, creating a firm, highly textured bump that stands out clearly from the surrounding fabric.

Crochet Popcorn Stitch (Step by Step)

This tutorial will show you how to make a 5 dc popcorn stitch pattern. It also makes a nice crochet border stitch to finish off any item. If you already know how to do shell stitch, this will be a piece of cake! Even if you don’t, follow these instructions and give them a try. It really is an easy stitch to master.

POPCORN CROCHET STITCH USES LOTS OF YARN! Bear in mind that popcorn stitches are ‘yarn gobblers’! Because of all the repetition of stitches just to make one popcorn stitch, you will use much more yarn than with conventional crochet stitches!

Here are the step by step instructions for crochet popcorn stitch:

1. Crochet the Foundation Row

1. Begin with a foundation chain stitch, using an odd number of stitches.
2. Starting in the 2^nd chain from hook, work 1 single crochet into each chain.

Your initial foundation chain row and this single crochet row needs to be worked loosely, as you will be squashing a lot of stitches into them!

2. Make the First Popcorn Stitch

1. Turn and chain 1.
2. Work 5 double crochet into the next single crochet. (This is actually a shell stitch!)

3. Now pull the loop on your hook really large and loose, so that it doesn’t come undone.
4. Remove the hook.

5. Insert the hook into the top 2 loops of the first double crochet that you made.
6. Now reinsert the hook into that last, large loop that you made.

7. Pull it tight again.
8. Pull that loop through the first double crochet.
9. There will be 1 loop left on the hook. This will close up the bunch of double crochet stitches and make a gathered ‘bubble’ of a stitch.

10. Chain 1 to close up the stitch. This is a complete popcorn stitch.

11. Single crochet into next single crochet stitch.

3. Work the Single Crochet Row

12. Continue making the popcorn stitch, alternating with a single crochet all along the row.
13. End with a single crochet.

4. Single Crochet Row

1. Chain 1, work 1 single crochet into each stitch.

You may find it a little difficult to find where to insert the hook along this row. It must go into the straight stitches (the sc) and the closing chain stitches in between the v-shaped bunch of stitches along the top of the row.

You must have the same number of single crochet stitches as the number of starting chain you began with. Once again, work this row loosely.

5. Repeat the Popcorn Stitch Pattern

1. Repeat the 1 popcorn stitch, and 1 single crochet again, all along the row.
2. Count your popcorns to make sure you still have the same number as you did in your first row!

As you complete the rows of popcorn stitch, you may think that it looks remarkably like rows of puff stitch. You will see that although it gives the same ‘puffiness’, it is much more textured at the top than the puff stitch. This is because you complete each double crochet stitch before gathering them all together. This is another ‘yarn gobbler’, so be sure you have plenty of yarn to complete your project!

Popcorn Stitch Projects

It is, of course, possible to create an entire item with popcorn stitch, but this stitch is really effective when combined with other stitches. It stands up higher than the conventional stitches, and you can create lovely patterns with this raised effect.

A good example of this is the popcorn flower granny square pattern.

Popcorn Stitch vs Bobble Stitch vs Puff Stitch

Popcorn Stitch	Bobble Stitch	Puff Stitch
Completed stitches joined together	Partial stitches joined together	Multiple yarn-over loops
Most textured	Medium texture	Soft rounded texture
Uses more yarn	Moderate yarn use	Moderate yarn use
Firm raised bump	Rounded bump	Soft puff

Here you can see crochet popcorn stitch in comparison to bobble stitch and puff stitch. You will notice that popcorn stitch is the most textured.

Popcorn Stitch Troubleshooting

Here is a table outlining some common popcorn stitch problems and how to fix them.

Problem	Cause	Solution
Popcorns flatten	Closing loop too loose	Pull loop firmly
Uneven bumps	Inconsistent tension	Keep dc stitches even
Fabric curls	Tension too tight	Relax tension
Difficult hook insertion	Tight stitches	Use slightly larger hook
Popcorns lean sideways	Incorrect closing stitch	Insert hook into first dc correctly

Popcorn Stitch FAQs

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In Conclusion

The crochet popcorn stitch is a fun textured stitch that creates raised, three-dimensional bumps using groups of double crochet stitches. Although it looks intricate, it is surprisingly easy to learn once you understand the closing technique. Because popcorn stitch adds bold texture and visual interest, it is perfect for blankets, bags, hats, granny squares, and decorative crochet projects.