Here we are with the second instalment of my A-Z of crochet (and my 100th blog post, how on earth did that happen?) There were a few ‘b’ possibilities but I settled on bobble stitch as I had never tried it before, so it was a good excuse to test it out.
I’ve only made half of the block so far, it’s going to be part of my sampler blanket. (I suspect this blog series may well contribute to quite a few squares to the blanket!) There are loads of online tutorials, I used this one by The Crochet Crowd and found it to be very comprehensive. I’ve written these instructions myself based on the tutorial.
How to make a bobble stitch:
Yo, insert hook, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2 loops, *yo, insert hook into same stitch, yo, pull through, yo, pull through 2*(3 loops left on hook)
Repeat from * to * until you have 6 loops left on the hook. Yo, pull through all 6.
These instructions are for 1 bobble stitch, it sounds a lot but is really quite easy. I had to take lots of care with the last stage as the yarn kept splitting when I tried to pull through all 6. I just experimented a bit with the angle of the hook as I pulled it through which seemed to cure it.
I’ve made a couple of projects using popcorn stitch before and was really disappointed with the outcome as I never felt they were defined enough. I didn’t find this at all with bobble stitch and thought they stood out really well. The yarn I’m using for the blanket is quite loosely spun and doesn’t seem to give good stitch definition so I was pleasantly surprised. It was nice and easy to work, if a little time (and yarn!) consuming because of having 5 stitches worked into one every third stitch.
I feel a bobble stitch heart square coming on after that bit of experimenting and will definitely be using bobbles rather than popcorn stitch to make our initials on squares for the blanket.
Have you ever used bobble stitch? How did you find it? What project were you working on?
He he! I am so crochet-ignorant that, for just a moment, when I read your post I thought your ‘YO’s were some kind of rapping thing! Then my ancient knitting memory kicked in and helped out… Nice bobbles 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Perhaps saying it rap style whilst crocheting might speed it up? I might give it a go when no one else is around! 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There should so be a secret ‘crochet-cam’ for that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your A-Z idea is brilliant!
I started to crochet one of Matt’s Christmas trees: http://www.boysandbunting.de/crochetlibrary/bobblestitch.html#top
But in the end I stopped when it was a little bobbly crochet bowl which I now keep safety pins in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The tree looks sweet! I bet it makes a funky bowl. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this bobble stitch – it’s so…bobbly!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what I thought. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve used bobble stitch to add “dots” to decorative pieces; it works really well, but I’ve not yet used it alone to make a fabric; it looks cool (and warm!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It makes a lovely thick fabric. It’d be a great texture for a baby blanket. 😊
LikeLike
Your crochet always looks so professional. I LOVE the colour of your yarn 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It’s an interesting colour (not my favourite-I only bought it to complete the set of yarn!)
LikeLike
Love, love, love!!! Love the stitch, love the colour and love the fun you appear to be having while creating!! Can’t wait to see what you come up with for C. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha the pressure’s on! Thank you for the lovely comment. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m more than confident you’ll knock it out of the ballpark…you’re making crochet look easy, which for this little black duck is super impressive! 😀
LikeLike
Haha thank you! 😊
LikeLike
The Crochet Crowd tutorials really are very helpful. Mikey explains really well. My only exposure to bobble stitch was when they did a chevron version tutorial. Would’ve watched all the separate tutorials if I was making something in ripples, which I’m not :p They do look really pretty though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d never used them before but I had heard of them so thought I’d try it out. It was lovely and easy to follow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love how bobble stitch looks! I’ve not tried it yet but saw a lovely baby Cardigan where someone used it.
Love the colour of your yarn as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It’s not a colour for the faint hearted! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here is a bobble heart 8 inch square pattern that worked well for me- http://www.knit-a-square.com/node/53 🙂
LikeLike
I certainly am loving the look of the bobble stitch and plan to try it-thank you. Also love your a-z idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It is quite good fun to do, though it took some planning.
LikeLiked by 1 person