How to Make a Crochet Popcorn Stitch

Popcorn stitches can give texture and depth to a crocheted piece. A popcorn stitch is similar to a shell stitch because it involves putting multiple stitches in one base stitch. The difference in a popcorn stitch is that the stitches are also pulled together at the top. This makes the stitches puff out to make a three dimensional bubble in your pattern. You can make popcorn stitches with different numbers of double crochet stitches, but most seem to be four or five stitches each.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Yarn
• Crochet hook in size to obtain proper gauge

Make a Four Double Crochet Popcorn Stitch

1. Make a double crochet stitch in your foundation stitch. To do this, yarn over, push your hook through the desired stitch, wrap the yarn around your hook and pull the loop through. You should have three loops on your hook now. Yarn over again and pull through the first two loops that are on your hook. Yarn over again and pull through the two remaining loops.
2. Make three more double crochet stitches in the same foundation stitch. Now you should have four double crochet stitches in your foundation stitch. At this point, it looks very similar to a fan or shell stitch.
3. Drop the stitch on your hook. This means that you pull the loop off the hook. Be careful not to pull the yarn too hard. You don't want to pull out the loop.
4. Push the hook through the beginning of the first of your double crochet stitch. There should be a loop just to the right of that first stitch. That's where you want to place your hook.
5. Push the hook through the dropped loop. Now there should be yarn over two parts of your hook.
6. Wrap the yarn around your hook and pull it through both loops. This pulls your stitches together at the top, making them puff out.
7. Push the puffed out stitches back if you want the popcorn stitches on the wrong side of your project. Leave them puffed out towards you if you want them on the right side of your project.

Tips & Warnings

• Arrange your popcorn stitches in geometrical patterns (like diamonds or triangles) to give a uniform texture to your work.
• Making your popcorn stitches in a color other than your base color can add extra pop!
• Resist the urge to pull your stitches as tight as you can. This will only make it more difficult to work in those stitches when you make the next row. This is particularly important for a pattern that involves putting multiple stitches in one base stitch.