How to Crochet the Puff Stitch

By
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson
Mollie Johanson is a professional needlecrafter with over 10 years of hands-on embroidery, sewing, and knitting experience. She is the author of “Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big & Small." Mollie also designs and sells stitching projects, co-hosts a crafting podcast, and has taught online embroidery courses.
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Updated on 09/27/20
Working Staggered Puff Stitch for Crochet

The Spruce / Mollie Johanson

Project Overview
  • Skill Level: Intermediate

The puff crochet stitch forms thick and fluffy double-sided bobbles, which can be used to create smaller motifs, work a row of puff stitches among other stitches, or crochet rows of the stitch to make a puff stitch fabric. Although getting the tension correct can take a little practice, the puff stitch is a variation on half double crochet. Instead of completing the HDC as usual, you add more loops, resulting in the "puff."

There are several variations on puff stitch, often based on the number of loops and the size of the puff stitch. You can also work staggered puff stitch rows, as seen here, as well as stacked, zigzag, braided, and more.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Crochet hook

Materials

  • Yarn

Instructions

  1. Make a Starting Chain

    Make a starting chain in a multiple of two stitches plus four. 

    Tip

    Work with a yarn that isn't prone to splitting and a crochet hook in the size recommended on the label. 

    Start With a Chain
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce

  2. Insert the Hook in the Fourth Chain

    Wrap the yarn over the hook and insert the hook into the fourth chain from the hook. Yarn over again and draw up a loop. You should have three loops on your hook.

    This is the beginning of a half double crochet stitch. Instead of drawing the yarn through these loops, continue to the next step.

    Start a HDC in the 4th Chain From the Hook
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce

  3. Yarn Over and Draw up a Loop

    Yarn over, insert your hook through the same chain stitch, yarn over, and then draw up another loop. You should have five loops on the hook.

    Yarn Over and Draw Up Another Loop
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce

  4. Draw Up More Loops on the Hook

    Repeat the previous step until you have the number of loops on your hook as needed for the puff stitch you're making. Some puff stitches have as few as five loops on the hook, while others may have 11 loops. Be sure to follow the instructions for the pattern you're using.

    Yarn Over and Draw Up More Loops
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce

  5. Draw the Yarn Through All the Loops

    When you have as many loops as you want on the hook, yarn over and draw it through all the loops. Depending on how tight the stitches are, this can be a little tricky at first because every other loop (the yarn overs before you insert the hook) is smaller than the others. Draw the hook through, wiggling it a little as needed, to avoid pulling those loops.

    Yarn Over and Draw Through All the Loops
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce

  6. Secure the Puff Stitch With a Chain

    With the loop pulled through the puff stitch, make a single chain. This secures the puff stitch, keeps the stitch more upright, and creates the space to work into on the next row.

    Tip

    Remember that not all puff stitches are the same. Pay attention to the instructions for whatever pattern you're using to make sure this chain is part of the variation you're working.

    Make a Chain Stitch to Secure the Puff
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce

  7. Work Puff Stitches Across the Row

    When working across a row, skip one chain and work another puff stitch into the next chain. Follow this across the row. Make a puff stitch and skip a chain. You should end with a puff stitch.

    Work a Puff Stitch Into Every Other Chain
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce

  8. Make a Turning Chain

    At the end of your row, flip your work and make a turning chain of three chain stitches.

    Chain 3 as a Turning Chain
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce

  9. Make Puff Stitches in the Spaces From the Previous Row

    Make your next puff stitch in the chain one space from the previous row. Follow the same steps for the stitch across the row, but instead of skipping chains, work a puff stitch into each space along the row. You should end with a puff stitch.

    Make a Puff Stitch in the Space in the Previous Row
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce

  10. Add More Rows to Make Staggered Puff Stitch

    As you add rows, the stitches should look staggered with a slight lean going in opposite directions for each row. If you work this stitch in the round, all the stitches will lean the same way.

    Tip

    Want to make your puff stitches a little taller? Pull your hook away from your work as you draw up all the loops. This makes the stitch looser and gives it more height.

    Working Staggered Puff Stitch for Crochet
    Mollie Johanson / The Spruce