The bobble stitch is one of those crochet stitches that looks incredibly impressive but is actually very beginner friendly once you break it down. It creates a beautiful raised, textured bump that adds dimension and visual interest to any project — and once you get the rhythm, it goes quickly.
In this tutorial I’ll walk you through exactly how to work the bobble stitch step by step, with a video walkthrough and written instructions so you can follow along whichever way works best for you.
What is the bobble stitch?
The bobble stitch is a cluster stitch — it’s made by working several incomplete double crochet stitches all into the same stitch, then closing them all together at once. That final pull-through is what creates the raised “bobble” bump on the surface of your work.
It shows up best on the opposite side from where you’re working, so if you’re working on the right side of your piece, the bobble will pop out on the wrong side. This is why most bobble stitch patterns have you work the bobble row on the wrong side — so the texture appears on the right side of the finished piece.
What you’ll need
To practice the bobble stitch you just need:
- Any worsted weight yarn — a smooth, light coloured yarn makes it easiest to see your stitches
- A 5.5mm crochet hook (or whatever size your yarn recommends)
- Basic knowledge of the chain stitch and double crochet — that’s it!
How to crochet the bobble stitch — step by step
The standard bobble stitch is made with 5 incomplete double crochets worked into the same stitch. Here’s how to work it:
Step 1 — Start your bobble
Yarn over and insert your hook into the stitch where you want your bobble. Yarn over and pull up a loop — you now have 3 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops only. You now have 2 loops on your hook and one incomplete double crochet made.
Step 2 — Repeat 4 more times into the same stitch
Without moving to the next stitch, yarn over and insert your hook into the same stitch again. Yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You now have 3 loops on your hook and 2 incomplete double crochets made.
Repeat this process 3 more times into the same stitch. After all 5 repetitions you’ll have 6 loops on your hook.
Step 3 — Close the bobble
Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops at once. This closes your bobble stitch. You’ll feel it pop up on the back of your work — that’s your bobble!
You can secure it with a single chain stitch after closing if your pattern calls for it, though many patterns skip this step.
Bobble stitch tips for beginners
- Don’t pull too tight. Keep your loops loose as you build up the bobble — if you tighten too early it becomes hard to pull through all 6 loops at the end.
- Use a smooth yarn to start. Textured or fluffy yarns make it harder to see where you’re inserting your hook. A smooth worsted weight in a light colour is perfect for practising.
- Count your loops. Before you close the bobble, count that you have exactly 6 loops on your hook. If you have more or fewer, you’ve miscounted your repeats.
- The bobble pops out on the other side. Don’t panic if you don’t see the texture on the side you’re working — flip your work over and you’ll see the bobbles popping out beautifully.
- Practice on a swatch first. Chain 20, work a few rows of single crochet, then try a bobble stitch row. Getting comfortable before starting a full project makes everything easier.
Written pattern summary
For quick reference, here is the bobble stitch written out in standard American crochet terms:
Bobble St: (Yoh, insert hook into st, yoh and pull up a loop, yoh and pull through 2 loops) 5 times into same stitch — 6 loops on hook. Yoh and pull through all 6 loops to close.
Ready to try it in a pattern?
Once you’ve got the bobble stitch down, it opens up so many beautiful projects. Here are some of my favourite bobble stitch patterns to try next — all available right here on the blog:
- Bobble Stitch Christmas Tree Trio — three sizes, perfect as a set for holiday decor or a hostess gift
- Bobble Stitch Pumpkin Pillow — a stunning fall pillow worked in tapestry crochet
- Bobble Stitch Acorn Pillow — the perfect companion to the pumpkin
- Bobble Stitch Maple Leaf Pillow — a free pattern with a beautiful fall colourway
More tutorials on YouTube
If you’re a visual learner, you’ll find step-by-step video tutorials for all of my patterns over on the SeeLoveShare YouTube channel. Hit subscribe so you never miss a new one!
Happy crocheting — I hope this tutorial helps you fall in love with the bobble stitch as much as I have! 🧶