Table of Contents
The Bobble Stitch
There are so many patterns that call for the bobble stitch, and I think it’s one of the most fun crochet stitches to do! If you see a pattern calling for this stitch (sometimes abbreviated “bo”), but you’ve never done it before, don’t worry—this tutorial will teach you how!
The bobble stitch can be worked in rows or rounds, and it adds a puffy texture that can stand on its own or create interesting designs and motifs. One of my favorite uses of the bobble stitch is in a cute lamb hat—you can find that pattern at the end of this tutorial!
How to Crochet the Bobble Stitch (Photo Tutorial)
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- Yarn (I used worsted-weight Soft Classic Solid Yarn by Loops & Threads)
- Corresponding hook (I used a 5mm hook)
- Knowledge of these abbreviations:
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- dc = double crochet
- YO = yarn over
A FEW NOTES BEFORE STARTING
- The bobble stitch is worked during “wrong side” rows, so that the puffy texture points out toward the right side of your project. Sew Homey has some great tips for how you can tell the “right side” vs the “wrong side” of your project.
- Because you can only work bobbles in “wrong side” rows, you’ll need an odd number of separating rows between your bobble rows. In this tutorial, I use one row of single crochet between each row of bobbles, but you can use any type of stitch your pattern calls for—half-double crochet, double crochet, etc.—and any odd number of rows.
- To achieve the full bobble effect, you’ll also need one or more standard stitches (sc, hdc, dc, etc.) between each bobble. I’ve chosen to do one single crochet between each bobble, but you can do whatever your pattern says.
THE BASIC BOBBLE STITCH
Before we dive into making a swatch, let’s go over the steps for the basic 5dc bobble stitch. Sometimes a pattern will call for a smaller (3dc, 4dc) or larger (6dc, etc.) bobble, but 5dc is the most common.
A 5dc bobble stitch means you’ll do 5 incomplete double crochets into the same stitch, so that before you pull through your loops a final time, you’ll have 6 loops on your hook:
If you were to do a 4dc bobble stitch, you would have 5 loops on your hook, and if you were to do a 6dc bobble stitch, you would have 6 loops on your hook. Just remember this rule: for an Xdc bobble, you’ll have X+1 loops on your hook.
5dc BOBBLE STITCH STEPS
1. Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch, yarn over, and draw up a loop. Yarn over again and pull through only the first two loops on your hook. You should now have 2 loops on your hook.
2. YO, insert your hook into the same stitch, YO, and draw up a loop. YO and pull through only the first two loops on your hook. You should now have 3 loops on your hook.
3. YO, insert your hook into the same stitch, YO, and draw up a loop. YO and pull through only the first two loops on your hook. You should now have 4 loops on your hook.
4. YO, insert your hook into the same stitch, YO, and draw up a loop. YO and pull through only the first two loops on your hook. You should now have 5 loops on your hook.
5. YO, insert your hook into the same stitch, YO, and draw up a loop. YO and pull through only the first two loops on your hook. You should now have 6 loops on your hook. You’ll notice we’ve repeated the first step 4 times, for a total of 5 times—this is another way you can remember that you’re doing a 5dc bobble.
6. YO and pull through all 6 loops on your hook.
7. Push the bobble away from you so that it puffs outward toward the right side of your work.
From the right side, it’ll look like this:
BOBBLE SWATCH
Now we can make a bobble stitch swatch! This swatch has 1sc between bobbles in each row, and 1 row of sc between each row of bobbles, so it’ll give you tons of practice with the bobble stitch before you move on to using it in a pattern.
Starting Chain
Step 1: Chain 24.
First Row
Step 2: Starting in the second chain from your hook, single crochet 23.
Second Row
Step 3: Chain 1 and turn your work. The turning chain doesn’t count as a stitch.
Now that we’re at a “wrong side” row, we can make our bobbles.
Step 4: Starting with a single crochet, alternate single crochets and bobble stitches across the row. You’ll end on a single crochet.
The full pattern for this row is: sc, bo, sc, bo, sc, bo, sc, bo, sc, bo, sc, bo, sc, bo, sc, bo, sc, bo, sc, bo, sc, bo, sc
Third Row
Step 5: Ch 1, turn.
Now that we’re at a “right side” row, we need to do a row of single crochet with no bobbles.
Step 6: sc 23
Further Rows
Step 7: Repeat rows 2 and 3 until your swatch is as big as you want and you feel comfortable with the bobble stitch. If you want your swatch to look even, end with a row of single crochet.
For my swatch, I did 13 total rows.
Video Tutorial
Video tutorials can be a super helpful way to learn new stitches, and Ashley of Heart Hook Home has created a very clear explanation of the bobble stitch:
Project Ideas for the Bobble Stitch
Now that you know how to do the bobble stitch, you can make tons of awesome crochet projects! Let’s check out some patterns that use this stitch.
Creighton’s Blanket
This gorgeous crochet stitch sampler blanket uses tons of fun stitches, including the bobble stitch! You can use the exact squares Ashley does, or you can alternate squares of bobble stitches with squares of basic crochet stitches like single crochet and double crochet. Just choose your favorite yarn colors and get started!
Crochet Lamb Hat
I absolutely adore this cute lamb hat! The bobble stitch makes it look just like a fluffy lamb. You can make the hat in any one of 6 sizes (from newborn to teen/adult), and it’s a great chance to practice doing bobble stitches in the round.
Betty’s Beautiful Border
This blanket border uses the bobble stitch and a variety of other stitches. I’m including it here not just because it’s gorgeous, but because it shows how you can use the bobble stitch to create fun motifs—in this case, a series of tulips!
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