Learn how to crochet puff stitches crochet in this detailed photo and video tutorial. We cover how to make a puff stitch and several ways to use them.
You’ll walk away knowing how to work puff stitches in rows for blankets and other rectangular designs, plus how these puffy stitches differ when crocheted in the round to make circles or hexagons.
This crochet puff stitch circle tutorial is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarns. This post contains affiliate links.
Jump to:
- What is a Crochet Puff Stitch?
- Crochet Puff Stitch Video Tutorial
- How to Crochet Puff Stitches
- Step-By-Step Puff Stitch Instructions
- Making a Fuller or Flatter Puff Stitch
- To Crochet Puff Stitches in Rounds
- Projects That Use Puff Stitches In the Round
- Differences Between Popcorn Stitches, Bobble Stitches, and Puff Stitches
- FAQs
- Free Crochet Patterns That Use Puffy Stitches
- That was so fun! Now what?
- Invitation to our Facebook group
- How to Crochet Puff Stitches
What is a Crochet Puff Stitch?
The puff stitch is a fun, squishy variation on half-double crochet stitches. By adjusting the number of yarn overs (loops) in the stitch, you can add create flatter or thicker crochet puff stitches.
Crochet puff stitches are often used to add texture and interest to crochet sweaters, afghans, scarves, and even granny squares.
Complete beginner? Check out our guide on How to Crochet for Beginners
Crochet Puff Stitch Video Tutorial
These cute little puff crochet stitch circles are perfect for using up scraps of yarn and can be crocheted in about 15 minutes. Watch the video tutorial below to learn how to make a puff stitch crochet circle step by step.
Links mentioned in the video:
• Dahlia Scrapgan free crochet blanket pattern
• Lion Brand Color Made Easy yarn
Related: Design Your Own Project with These Easy Blanket Stitches
How to Crochet Puff Stitches
Ready to learn how to crochet a puff stitch? Follow along with the written instructions and detailed photo tutorial below.
Materials:
- Yarn – I suggest a worsted weight yarn to practice
- Crochet hook in size that matches your yarn weight
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
Pro Tip: I find inline crochet hooks, like the purple hook below, much easier to use when crocheting puff stitches. Why? They have more space to grab the multiple strands of yarn and pull them through the final loop at once.
Step-By-Step Puff Stitch Instructions
Let’s walk through how to crochet a puff stitch step-by-step. Then we’ll learn how to use puff stitches in straight rows and in the round.
Here are the steps of crocheting a puff stitch.
Step 1: Yarn over
Step 2: Insert hook in next stitch
Step 3: Pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)
Step 4: Yarn over again
Step 5: Insert hook in same stitch and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook)
Step 6: Repeat step 5 twice more (9 loops on hook)
Step 7: Yarn over and pull through all nine loops on hook
Step 8: Chain one to close the puff stitch
Step 9: Here’s what you’ll do next if you’re working the puff stitch in rows:
- Chain once more
- Skip the next stitch
- Work a puff stitch in the next stitch
- Repeat steps 1-3 across the row
Pro Tip: Puff stitches alternating with chain stitches can make a pretty finishing border around a blanket.
Making a Fuller or Flatter Puff Stitch
The number of times you yarn over (aka the number of times you repeat step 7) is what affects how “puffy” your puff stitch looks.
- For a very full and round puff stitch, you may yarn over five times and have 11 loops on your hook before the final yarn over.
- For a flatter puff stitch cluster, you may only yarn over 3 times and have 7 loops on your hook before the final yarn over.
If you’re following a crochet pattern, specific instructions should be provided.
To Crochet Puff Stitches in Rows
When crocheting puff stitches in rows, you’ll alternate with a row of single crochet (sc) stitches.
Foundation: Begin with any even multiple of chain stitches. To crochet this swatch, I’m using 18 chains.
Row 1: Skip first chain, single crochet in each chain; turn. (17 sc)
Row 2: Chain 3 tightly (counts as 1 double crochet), skip first stitch. *Puff in next stitch. Chain 1. Skip next stitch. Repeat from * until 2 stitches remain. Puff in next stitch. Double crochet in last stitch; turn. (8 puffs and 2 dc)
Said another way, you are crocheting a puff stitch + 1 chain to close the puff + 1 additional chain. You are skipping one stitch between each puff stitch you crochet.
Row 3: Chain 1, single crochet in each stitch across. (17 sc)
(This means you single crochet in the double crochet, in the top of each puff stitch, in each chain-1-space, and in the top of the turning chain that began the last row.)
To continue: Repeat Rows 2 and 3 for as long as you’d like, ending with a row 3. Fasten off and weave in your ends.
To Crochet Puff Stitches in Rounds
Puff stitch circles differ from rows because they do not include single crochet stitches. Instead, each round increases by eight puff stitches to accommodate the growing circumference.
The first puff stitch of each round uses one less yarn over because it has a turning chain that adds to the thickness of the puff. In this tutorial, we call that first puff a “partial puff.”
No matter how many yarn overs your puff stitches include, just eliminate one yarn over from the partial puff.
Pro Tip: Puff circles are made with the right side (RS) of your fabric facing you throughout. Do not turn your project at the end of round.
Round 1: Foundation (8 Puffs)
Make a magic ring. (Alternatively, start with a slip knot on the hook, ch 5, slst to first ch to join into a ring.)
Ch 2, partial puff in ring (counts as first puff), 7 puffs in circle; slst to top of first puff to join. (8 puffs)
Round 2: Increase to 16 Puffs
Slst into first chsp between puffs, ch 2, partial puff in same sp (counts as first puff), 1 puff in same space, [2 puffs in next chsp] 7 times; slst to top of first puff to join. (16 puffs)
Round 3: Increase to 24 Puffs
Slst into first chsp between puffs, ch 2, partial puff in same sp (counts as first puff), 1 puff in same space, 1 puff in next chsp, [2 puffs in next chsp, 1 puff in next chsp] 7 times; slst to top of first puff to join. (24 puffs)
To Make Larger Circles
To make larger puff stitch circles, continue increasing by eight puffs per round until your desired size is reached. Fasten off and weave in ends.
How to Make a Puff Stitch Hexagon
To make a puff stitch hexagon, add a chain stitch between each puff of the increase. So in each increase, you’ll work a puff + a chain + a second puff. This chain space creates a distinct corner, which is where you’ll place the increase stitches in the next round.
Hexagons made of puff stitches can make lovely hot pads on their own and combine well into pieced blankets.
Projects That Use Puff Stitches In the Round
Puff stitch circles are the focal point of the Dahlia Scrapgan pattern. They’re also perfect for whipping up as quick crochet coasters or a larger trivet. Try some squishy puff circles as a flower accent on a larger project or use them to make sunburst granny squares.
You can also experiment with different weights of yarn and types of fiber. Wouldn’t it be cool to make some puff stitch crochet coasters out of jute or cotton twine? Or some delicate flowers out of a crisp, mercerized yarn like Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton?
click to pin this tutorial for later ⇨
Differences Between Popcorn Stitches, Bobble Stitches, and Puff Stitches
While puff stitches, bobble stitches, and popcorn stitches all create a bumpy texture in your crochet fabric, they’re each slightly different.
The bobble stitch is made of ±5 completed double crochets worked into the same stitch. Its bobble design appears on the wrong side of your work.
The popcorn stitch is made of ±5 finished double crochet stitches, with the first and last stitches fastened together with a slip stitch. The popcorn cluster appears on the right side of your work.
As discussed above, the puff stitch is several partially-finished half double crochets joined together into a single cluster stitch. It uses less yarn than the other two stitches, allowing for more drape in the final fabric.
Try out popcorn, bobbles and puff stitches in the Sampler Crochet Pouf pattern.
FAQs
No, the bobble crochet stitch and the puff stitch are not the same. The difference is that the bobble stitch uses double crochets to form a cluster, while the puff stitch is made of multiple loops.
Most crochet puff stitches are made with four or five loops. The number of loops you need to make a puff stitch depends on your yarn weight and how “fat” you want the puffs to be.
Use a single chain stitch to close your puff stitch. This chain stitch creates the top of the puff stitch, which you can work another puff stitch into in the second row or round.
Free Crochet Patterns That Use Puffy Stitches
Ready to put your puff stitch skills to work? Let’s do this!
- Drapey Crochet Cardigan Made From Hexagons
- Oversized Crochet Cardigan With Fur Collar – Free Pattern
- Simple Puff + Lace Crochet Triangle Scarf – Free Pattern
- Muted, Modern Rainbow C2C Crochet Blanket Pattern
- Modern Crochet Granny Square Cardigan – Free Pattern + Videos
- Crochet Alpaca (or Llama!) Toy – Free Pattern
- Crochet Sunburst (Sunflower) Granny Square Pattern + Tutorial
- Modern, Rustic C2C Crochet Bear Blanket – Free Pattern by E’Claire Makery
- Asymmetrical Crochet Triangle Shawl – Free Pattern
- “Tree Lined” Long Crochet Vest – Free Pattern
More Crochet Stitch Tutorials
Would you like to learn more unique crochet stitches that are far simpler than they look? You’ll love these!
You must use the category name, not a URL, in the category field.See more crochet stitch tutorials →
That was so fun! Now what?
Invitation to our Facebook group
Come discuss puffy crochet stitches and lots of other projects and squishy stitches in our Make & Do Crew Facebook group. Here, thousands of helpful crocheters answer each other’s questions and share their stitches. Come join us here.
How to Crochet Puff Stitches
Materials
- Worsted weight yarn
- Crochet hook size to match yarn
Abbreviations and Glossary (US Terms):
Want some company while you crochet?
Get support (and camaraderie!) in the Make & Do Crochet Crew Facebook Group. Search “Make and Do Crochet Crew” on Facebook.com.
Permissions + Copyright
Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, please link back to this page. Do NOT use my photos as your own sales photos.
Overall Pattern Notes
Instructions
How to Crochet Puff Stitches
- Step 1: Yarn over
- Step 2: Insert hook in next stitch
- Step 3: Pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)
- Step 4: Yarn over again
- Step 5: Insert hook in same stitch and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook)
- Step 6: Repeat step 5 twice more (9 loops on hook)
- Step 7: Yarn over and pull through all nine loops on hook
- Step 8: Chain one to close the puff stitch
- Step 9: Here's what you'll do next if you're working the puff stitch in rows:1. Chain once more2. Skip the next stitch3. Work a puff stitch in the next stitch4. Repeat steps 1-3 across the rowPro Tip: Puff stitches alternating with chain stitches can make a pretty finishing border around a blanket.
Jenn says
I am so excited to start my blanket but it says video tutorial and all I can see are photos and written directions. Where do I find the videos?
kim says
I’m struggling w/ the puff stitch into a magic ring. As I pull up the stitches of the puff, my magic circle keeps getting bigger. HELP!!
holly says
Hi,
I see it mentioned that there is a video tutorial but where is the link? I try tapping on the area which says Video Tutorial without luck
Kasia says
Goodness I love how this looks. I have issues with mine. Once is start adding the square border it curls up. The circle is flat. It has 24 puffs, the first row has 24, so I don’t know what is wrong. Would you know why it’s doing that? TIA
Janet says
Hi .. would you be able to show your abbreviated stitches in the English (Australian) version please?
I know some are different .AUS-USA
Many thanks
Janet
Vicki Anderson says
When making a Puff stitch round and your pattern calls for a chain 2 between two puff stitches do you count the chain that closes the puff plus 1 or do I close the puff plus 2 chain
Kathie says
how do you do a magic ring to go along with this pattern?
Gary Boston says
Hi there- Just starting my scrapghan and I’m a relatively new crocheter, so wanted to watch video. I don’t see them here. Am I missing something? Thanks. Can’t wait to get going.
Vanessa says
Thank you for this CAL, pattern and videos. I didn’t see listed the amount of yarn overs for making the puffs if the person decides to use a Category 3 weight yarn. Do you know if it would be 2 or 3 times and if it would be similar to the category 4 weight yarn. Thanks. I love the color combinations you used.
Pauline says
Hey Jess,
Love the look of this afghan, but I can’t seem to find the video!
Pauline x