How to Make a Crochet Puff Stitch

A puff stitch, like a popcorn stitch, is a stitch made up of multiple stitches connected at the top and bottom. Unlike the popcorn stitch, though, a puff stitch uses half double crochet stitches (usually between three and five). By having multiple stitches connected at the top and bottom, it creates a denser part of the pattern, or a puff, that sticks out. This gives the pattern texture and depth. Using half double crochet stitches instead of full doubles makes the puff stitch less bulky than a popcorn stitch.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Yarn
• Crochet hook in size to obtain proper gauge

Make a Three Half Double Crochet Puff Stitch

1. Yarn over.
2. Put your hook through the desired base stitch.
3. Yarn over.
4. Pull the hook back through the base stitch. You should now have 3 loops on your hook.
5. Repeat steps one through four twice more. You should end up with 7 loops on your hook.
6. Yarn over.
7. Pull the last yarn over through all 7 loops on your hook. This is technically the end of the puff stitch.
8. Make a single crochet stitch to finish off the puff stitch if you desire. Some patterns call for this added step, some don't.

Alternate Finish For a Puff Stitch

9. Pull the yarn through 5 of the 7 loops on your hook.
10. Yarn over.
11. Pull your hook through the last 2 loops on your hook.

Tips & Warnings

• When making stitches like these, the quality of your yarn can really make a difference. In cheaper yarns, the threads separate easily, making it more difficult to pull your yarn through multiple stitches without catching parts of your loops.
• When you make your half double crochet stitches, make the loops a little bigger than you would for a regular double crochet stitch. You'll need the extra room to pull the yarn through at the end of the stitch.
• If you want bigger "puffs," consider using a popcorn stitch instead.
• Use the alternate finish instructions if you are making a puff stitch with more than three half double crochet stitches, to make sure you've pulled them all tight.
• Don't go overboard with the half double crochet stitches. Remember that the more half double crochet stitches you make per puff stitch, the harder it becomes to pull the yarn back through.
• Don't cut your ends too short. You can cut off any excess after you've finished weaving in the ends.