Can we talk about the bobble stitch for a minute? Because I think it’s one of crochet’s most beautiful and underappreciated stitches, and it deserves its moment in the spotlight! The bobble stitch is the kind of stitch that makes people stop and say – wait, how did you make this?”
One thing to note – the bobble stitch is a yarn eater! (Meaning you go through a lot of yarn).
It’s not the quickest stitch to work up. This is a put-on-a-good-show, settle-in-with-your-favorite-drink kind of stitch – the kind where you find a rhythm, lose track of time, and look up wondering where the last hour went.
This meditative, satisfying quality? It’s one of the things that makes crocheters fall in love with this stitch 🙂
Skill Level
Easy
If you don’t know how to crochet, or maybe just want to brush up on the basics, we have a great resource for you!
Hop over to the Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Crochet. This breaks down the basics of what you need to learn, in what order, and link you directly to some great resources! And best of all, it’s free! Enjoy 🙂
Yarn & Materials
To learn the bobble stitch, I’d recommend using a worsted-weight yarn and a corresponding crochet hook (usually 5mm). Otherwise, if you don’t have this yarn weight around, you can use any yarn and crochet hook you’re comfortable with.
- Red Heart Super Saver yarn, or another worsted-weight yarn
- 5mm crochet hook (US H-8), or corresponding hook size if you are using a different yarn. I highly recommend Clover hooks or Furls hooks.
- Craft scissors and a Tapestry needle (a blunt needle) to sew in the ends when you’re done.
Pattern Notes and Abbreviations
- y/o = yarn over. When you wrap the yarn over your hook, from back to front.
- insert hook = when you push your hook through the stitch indicated in the pattern. With the bobble stitch, you will be inserting your hook into the same stitch multiple times.
- Pull through = the action of pulling your hook – with the yarn wrapped around it – toward you, working under a certain number of loops.
- loops = refers to the number of yarn strands sitting on your hook. When the pattern says “you should have X loops on your hook,” just count the strands sitting on the hook.
Crochet Bobble stitch: Photo Tutorial
Crochet Bobble stitch: Written tutorial
When you’re learning a new stitch, it helps to understand the overall flow of stitch first:
Overall, you will repeat the following sequence 5 times: < Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through 1 loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops >, then yarn over and pull through all loops on your hook.
Here is the bobble stitch, fully written out,
- Y/o
- Insert hook
- Y/o, pull through 1 loop
- Y/o, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook)
- Y/o
- Insert hook
- Y/o, pull through 1 loop
- Y/o, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook)
- Y/o
- Insert hook
- Y/o, pull through 1 loop
- Y/o, pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook)
- Y/o
- Insert hook
- Y/o, pull through 1 loop
- Y/o, pull through 2 loops (5 loops on hook)
- Y/o
- Insert hook
- Y/o, pull through 1 loop
- Y/o, pull through 2 loops (6 loops on hook)
- Y/o, pull through all loops
After you work your Bobble stitch, you will typically either chain to close it off, or single crochet into the next stitch. See below for notes on when you should use a chain or sc to close the bobble.
What makes the bobble stitch so special?
The bobble stitch is made by working several incomplete double crochets into the same stitch and closing them all together at once. What you get is a gently raised cluster – not a sharp or heavy bump, but a soft shape that sits nicely on the surface without weighing it down.
One cool part of this stitch: As mentioned above, the way you close your bobble stitch changes the finished look. It sounds like a small detail, but it really does change how your bobble ‘sits’ in the project. So let’s talk through the 2 options:
Close with a chain (ch)
Closing with a chain stitch lets the bobble lay flatter against your project. It still adds a nice texture, but the clusters blend in a bit more, giving the whole piece a smoother finish.
This is a perfect choice for shawls, scarves, and anything where drape matters. It also looks great on a small piece like a cup cozy (ah-hem, stay tuned for a pattern with this exact detail!)
Close with a single crochet (sc)
Closing with a single crochet adds more structure and makes the bobble really ‘pop out’ from the surface. It’s a great choice for bags, pillow covers, and home décor items where you want the clusters to feel more defined.
Which closing method should I use?
Both closures can work, it just really comes down to what exactly you’re making and the look & vibe you’re going for.
If your pattern specifies this detail explicitly, then follow the instructions.
If you have creative freedom, swatch both options and hold them up. (The chain closure will feel softer and flow more; the single crochet closure will feel a little more structured.) You will likely gravitate towards one swatch more than the other, so go with that!
What can I make with the bobble stitch?
Here are some types of crochet projects where the bobble stitch works really well:
Dishcloths and washcloths: Cotton bobble dishcloths are both beautiful and functional. They look almost too pretty to use, but…please do! Design idea: Add bobbles only around the border and keep the main part of the dishcloth/washcloth simple with sc or a fun stitch repeat.
Cup cozies: Ok, this might be my favorite, adding the bobble stitch as part of the Tulip stitch makes for a perfect cup cozy! (Tulip cup cozy pattern coming soon!)
Wall hanging: You can arrange the clusters into geometric shapes, spell out words, or create a fun design for a unique piece of art! It’s a great way to get creative and make something totally one of a kind. 🙂
Hats and beanies: I’m sure you’ve seen the crochet bobble beanies / winter hats that are so beautiful, especially when paired with self-striping yarn.
Bags and totes: The single crochet closure works beautifully here, giving the bag a little more body and structure. The bobble texture adds a gorgeous visual interest that makes even a simple tote feel like something special.
Pillow covers: An all-over bobble pillow cover makes for a pretty cool and funky home decor piece. The clusters create a rich, dimensional surface that looks like something from your local boutique. Watch out…your guests will absolutely want to know where you got it from. 😉
Blankets and throws: Yes, it might take a while, but working bobbles into a blanket really makes it special, potentially an heirloom piece that will be passed down for years! The texture is beautiful and rewarding in a way that makes every hour of work feel completely worth it when you’re snuggling under the finished blanket.
Tips on the crochet bobble stitch
You’ll get this stitch down in no time, and here are some tips to make it even easier:
Bobble Stitch Tip #1 – Keep your tension and loops even
Watch your tension on each incomplete double crochet. If you pull too tight, the cluster can look lop-sided; too loose and it loses that neat, rounded shape. Aim for consistent loops every time. But please don’t stress, it doesn’t have to be perfect!
Bobble Stitch Tip #2 – Yarn that lets you see your stitches
When first learning this stitch, start with smooth yarn. It’s much easier to see exactly what your hook is doing when the yarn isn’t too fuzzy or textured. An acrylic or smooth cotton is ideal while you’re starting out.
Bobble Stitch Tip #3 – Play around with different yarn colors
This comes as no surprise that I’m suggest self-striping yarn 🙂 But try it – working your bobbles in yarn that’s changing colors as you work the stitch over and over – it will give you such an unexpected yet delightful result! It will definitely add some color and dimension into your project.
Bobble Stitch Tip #4 – Try different types of yarn fiber
The bobble stitch looks different in every fiber. Cotton gives crisp definition, wool gives softness and squish, and bamboo blends will add drape with a little bit of sheen. If you have yarn scraps sitting around, this is a great stitch to swatch up, and see which you like best.
Boom – another crochet milestone unlocked
Learning the bobble stitch unlocks a lot of doors in the crochet world. You’ve opened yourself up to a whole range of patterns that might have felt out of reach before. But now you’re ready to tackle them!
You likely have found that the bobble stitch has surprised you. You probably sat down to learn the stitch expecting something a bit complicated, and instead you’ll find a rhythm that’s almost meditative.
Cluster after cluster, row after row…you get in a groove until you stop and hold up your work – and realize woah, you’ve made something pretty freaking awesome!
What’s next?
I’d recommend starting with a small project to get a feel for it.
Try the Tulip crochet cup cozy, or head to Pinterest or Ravelry and search for bobble stitch patterns you’d like to try.
Or, create your own pattern!
I’d love to see what you make with the Bobble stitch. Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram so we can cheer you on.
Useful crochet references
Have a browse through these resources to answer some questions you may have:
Looking for crochet hooks, yarn, etc? Have a look below:
Happy crocheting,
Jennifer
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