Puff Stitch Tutorial {free crochet tutorial}

I love the puff stitch – I've used it on several different projects including a little girls' purse and a yoga mat bag. It's such an easy stitch to work in when you want to add a lot of texture and interest to an otherwise straightforward piece.

So, here's how ya do it!
There are many different ways to work in a puff stitch, so I'm going to demonstrate just one.

For the purposes of learning, you can start from scratch by making a chain of an even number, then add three at the end for the first double crochet. In the third chain from the hook, you can start the puff stitch.

If you would like to add the stitch to a current project, it doesn't matter if you have an even or odd amount of spaces in which to work it – if there are an odd amount, I would work a puff stitch, CH 1, in every stitch. If even, then work one puff stitch, chain 1, slip stitch in the next space, and work another puff stitch in the next space (like the example in the photo tutorial below).

Puff Stitch Tutorial (in a project with Half Double Crochet for my Yoga Mat Bag Pattern)
HDC = half double crochet
YO = Yarn over
SL ST = slip stitch

Work 1 HDC (if your project is using single, double or treble crochet, then work one of those)

YO again, and pull up a loop.
You now have 3 loops on the hook.

YO,  insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop
You now have 5 loops on the hook.

YO, insert hook into stitch and pull up a loop.
You now have 7 loops on the hook.

It's okay to stop here, but sometimes I like to do it one more time to really make it poof!

YO and pull through all 7 loops on the hook. The puff is shown on the opposite side.

Chain 1 (this is so you can work above it).

Depending on your pattern, you might work another puff stitch in the next space, or work a single, half double, double or treble crochet in the next space. My yoga bag pattern calls for a puff stitch, then a half double crochet in the next space, so that is the example shown here.
This photo also shows how the puff is shown on the right side of your work, but not the wrong side where you are actually working.

Merry Crocheting! Drop me a comment if you have any questions or get stuck!

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