How to Crochet Puff Stitch (Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial)

The puff stitch is a soft textured crochet stitch created by partially completing several stitches together into one puffed stitch. This thick squishy stitch adds texture and dimension to blankets, cushions, scarves, flowers, and cozy crochet projects. Although puff stitch looks decorative, it is made using simple repeating steps suitable for adventurous beginners. This tutorial will show you how to crochet puff stitch in rows, in the round, and for crochet flowers.

What is Puff Stitch?

Puff stitch creates soft raised textured crochet fabric with rounded puffy stitches standing out from the surface. The stitch creates thick squishy fabric ideal for blankets, cushions, scarves, and decorative crochet projects.

Explore more textured crochet patterns in the complete crochet stitches guide.

In order to make a puff stitch crochet, you need to half close a few stitches worked in the same stitch, usually half double crochet or double crochet, and then join them all together to finish the puff stitch. This joining together makes each stitch all fat and puffy. My favorite is to use double crochet stitches, but this can vary according to the height of the stitches you want to create. Puff stitch can be abbreviated to ps or puff on crochet patterns.

How To Crochet Puff Stitch (Step by Step)

I used a DK (8ply) yarn with a 4mm hook for my samples. Bear in mind that puff stitches are ‘yarn eaters’! Because of all the wrapping of loops around the hook for each stitch, you will use much more yarn than with conventional crochet stitches!

All instructions are written in US terms. Read more about crochet terms.

1. First Puff Stitch

• Start with a slip knot and even number of foundation chain stitches.
• Make 2 chains.
• Then double crochet into the second chain to keep your edge even.

• * Yarn over,
• Insert hook into the next chain,
• Yarn over and draw the yarn through 2 loops on the hook.
• You have now made an incomplete double crochet. You should have 2 loops on your hook.

• Now into the same stitch, repeat from * (3 loops on hook)

• Repeat from * into the same stitch. (You should have 4 loops on your hook.)

• Yarn over and draw the hook through all the loops on the hook.

Tip: You will need to work loosely when doing puff stitch, as when you are drawing your hook through so many loops at once, they can be tight and difficult to get through. If you find that you are struggling, wiggle the hook a little as you pull to ease it through.

• After the yarn is pulled through all the loops, make a chain stitch. This keeps all those loops together and secures the puff stitch crochet. You will also need these spaces to work into for the next row.

2. Continue Row 1

Now you know how to do a puff stitch, you can make a swatch that you can use for a washcloth or dishcloth.

ROW 1 CONTINUED: You have already completed the first puff stich above. Skip a chain before making the next puff stitch. Work 1 puff stitch, chain1, skip1 all the way across the row. Work 1 double crochet as your final stitch, to keep the edges straight. Turn your work and make a turning chain of 3 stitches.

3. Row 2 of Puffs

Work 1 puff stitch into each chain space from the previous row, with 1 chain in between each puff stitch.

4. Row 3 and Beyond

Continue by turning and working 1 puff stitch, 1 chain across each row. Finish with a double crochet in the first 3 chain spaces.

Puff Stitch Variations

Here are some of the abbreviations used in the variations of puff stitch below.

• sc = single crochet stitch
• dc= double crochet
• ch= chain stitch
• sk=skip
• sl st= slip stitch

Larger Puff Stitches

If you want a fatter, even puffier stitch, you can repeat the process of inserting incomplete double crochets up to 5 times (or even more!) and will end up with 6 loops on the hook. You will then yarn over and pull the yarn through all these loops at once. It does, however, get a bit difficult to work into the same chain stitch so many times!

One-Sided Puff Stitch

Because you are working in opposite directions for each row, your puff stitches will lean in opposite directions and appear slightly different, creating a staggered effect. Alternating rows of single crochet create more uniform puff stitches facing the same direction.

This alternating row of single crochet gives a smoother, flatter effect, and because all your puff stitches are worked going in the same direction, they will all lean the same way. You can see that the puffs look more uniform because they are all facing the ‘right’ way. However, it will not look quite as puffy and squishy!

Half Double Crochet Puffs

It is also possible to make puff stitch with half double crochet, instead of double crochet. This will make shorter stitches. Alternatively, you can use treble crochet as your base, which will give you taller stitches. It does mean that you will have more stitches through which to draw your hook, though!

Puff Stitch In The Round

Puff stitch makes excellent crochet face scrubbies and pretty cushion covers. You can work in the round for either of these.

• Start with a magic circle or foundation chain ring of 4 ch.
• Round 1: Work 6 sc into the circle. Join with a sl st.
• Round 2: Into first sc, work 1 dc, 1 puff st. dc and puff st into next sc. Continue doing this into each sc st. You will have 6 puffs, each separated by a dc. Sl st into first sc of round.
• Round 3: Sc twice into each st. This round is only sc. You need to increase because the diameter of the circle is increasing. Sl st into first st.
• Round 4: Second round of puffs. 2 ch, work puff into next st. * Sk 1, 1 puff into next st. Repeat from* all the way around, sl st into first st.
• Round 5: *Sc into first st. 2 sc into next st. Continue from * all the way around. This is another increase round. Sl st to join round.
• Round 6: ch2, 1 puff into next st.  *Sk1, 1 puff into next st, 1 ch. Repeat from * all the way round.
• Continue in this way, 1 round sc, 1 round puff sts for as many rounds as you need to make your circle the desired size. Each sc round must be an increase round to keep the circle flat.
• Finish off with a sc round as this gives a nice neat edge.

How to Crochet Puff Stitch Flowers

These little flowers use the puff stitch crochet in the round technique, adding a few extra chain stitches to make the petals more defined.

You can use them to make pretty garlands, sew onto clothing items or hats as decoration, attach a safety pin to the back of one to make a brooch, use them as decorations on a cushion cover, or even join a whole lot together to make the entire cushion cover!

• Work a magic circle or foundation ring in the color of your choice for the center. 6 sc into ring. sl st.
• Ch 3 in new color , (petal color) Make a puff st into first sc by drawing up the loop 5 times. Draw the loops up loosely so that it is easy to close off the puff. You should have 6 loops on your hook.
• Draw hook through all loops, then ch 1 to close the puff.
• Ch 2 more and sl st into same sc to finish 1 petal.
• Ch3 to start new petal. Make next puff st into next sc. Finish with ch3 and sl st into the center again.
• Continue around the circle, making 6 petals in all.
• Sl st into first st, end off by tying off the yarn. If you used a magic circle, pull it tight.
• Weave in the center yarn as well as the end of the petal yarn.

Puff Stitch vs Popcorn Stitch

Puff stitch is softer and less textured than popcorn stitch because the stitches are only partially completed before being joined together. Popcorn stitch creates firmer raised bumps and generally uses more yarn.

Puff Stitch Crochet FAQs

In Conclusion

The puff stitch creates soft, textured crochet fabric using grouped loops worked together into raised stitches. Its thick, squishy texture makes it ideal for blankets, cushions, flowers, scarves, and cozy crochet projects. Once you become comfortable pulling through multiple loops, puff stitch becomes an easy, relaxing crochet technique with beautiful textured results.

More Crochet Stitches

• Popcorn Stitch
• Herringbone Crochet Stitch
• Spike Stitch
• Crocodile Stitch
• Lemon Peel Stitch (Seed)
• Crochet Moss Stitch
• Crochet V Stitch
• Shell Stitch Crochet
• Puff Stitch
• Corner to Corner Crochet
• Bobble Stitch
• Crochet Cables
• Crochet Tapestry
• Crochet Basket Weave
• Chevron Crochet Stitch
• Crochet Waffle Stitch