The Puff Stitch is a specific form of the Cluster Stitch – and can be referred to by both names. It’s a simple stitch to make, though it can take a bit of practice to keep all the tension even. It creates a ton of texture and is similar in effect to the bobble. Here’s how it’s done!
Puff Stitch Video Tutorial
Puff Stitch Photo Tutorial
The Puff Stitch shown here is essentially a hdc4tog all in the same stitch. In other words, you’re going to start 4 hdc stitches in the same stitch, but not finish any of them until the end. There are two ways to finish it off – the “standard way” and the “moogly way.” It’s easier to see in the pictures below. However, note that not all puff stitch are made with the same number of loops! Always check the pattern for instructions on the specific version of the puff stitch used.
This tutorial features Lion Brand LB Collection Cotton Bamboo and a US – H, 5mm hook.
Step 1: Yarn over and insert your hook into the next st. Yarn over and pull up a loop, pulling all the loops to the height of an hdc stitch. 3 loops are now on the hook.
Step 2: Yarn over and insert your hook into the same stitch, yarn over and pull up another loop, pulling the height of these loops up to meet the others. 5 loops now on the hook.
Step 3 & 4: Repeat Step 2 twice more, so that at the end of step 4 you have 9 loops on the hook.
Finishing the Puff Stitch the Standard Way: With all 9 loops pulled up tall on your hook, yarn over and pull through all 9 loops. Work a ch st to close up the stitch. Note that this swatch started with 5 sts, but it would seem you have 6 sts after this – so be aware that you’ll have to avoid working into one of these loops or skip the next stitch to keep your stitch count even.
Finishing the Puff Stitch the Moogly Way: With all 9 loops pulled up tall on your hook, yarn over and pull through just the first 8 loops. 2 loops now on the hook. Yarn over and pull through the last two loops. Note that this swatch also started with 5 sts, and the final swatch also has 5 sts – this method makes it easier to keep your stitch count correct.
I prefer to finish the Puff Stitch my way, because the last yo and pull through sits on top of the loop you pulled through the first 8 loops, whereas with the standard version you’ve got the first pull through followed by a chain right next to it. This might seem trivial, but when working the next row with the standard version you have to be careful not to put an extra stitch in there. However, I strongly encourage you to experiment with both methods to see which one you prefer – and which one you prefer in any particular project!
And that’s all there is to the Puff Stitch! I’ve used this stitch in the Pampering Massage Soap Saver as well as the Pampering Massage Back Scrubber and Washcloth. I hope you’ll give it a try!
And if you enjoyed this tutorial, please vote for Moogly in the Craftsy Blogger Awards for Best Tutorials in Knitting and Crochet!
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Brenda jane says
Thank you Thank you Thank you. I am still working on the Pampering Crochet Set and this is going to help bunches. Donkie dumb here [thats me] wore out the yarn and started again. ;]. You are so kind.
Tamara Kelly says
I’ve definitely worn out a few yarns. My dirty little designing secret, coming up with one skein patterns often takes two skeins – one to design with, and another to make the item that’s photo-worthy! So much frogging while figuring it out, heh. I’m glad this helped!!
Karen hamilton says
great tutorial, very clear, Thank you
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you! 🙂
Sarah Soden says
I just found your website and I love it! I sell handmade soaps and am always on the hunt for cool things I can sell in that go with them. I really like your idea for the Pampering Massage Soap Saver, which uses this puff stitch. However, it seems like my puffs are not as pronounced as yours are. I have watched your video several times and am pretty sure I am doing it right. My puffs just seem like they sink back into my soap saver:( Am I doing something wrong, or is it the yarn I am using? I only made one, and made it with Peaches & Cream from Walmart. Thanks!
Tamara Kelly says
I find there’s a dramatic difference depending on yarn. The ones in the video are in a super drapey cotton bamboo, and they do tend to fall back into the fabric. The ones in the soap saver were made with Peaches & Cream and that did “puff up” more for me. I think what might help is to make sure you’re pulling the puff st loops up nice and high, and then working the stitches before and after the puff very tightly. Additionally, you can try adding another yo and pull through, for 11 loops on the hook- that might give you the volume you’re looking for!
Sarah Soden says
Thank you so much for your help! I was not pulling the stiches high enough. I have made two more and the puff stiches were much more prominent. I love these!!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Glad it worked!
Meme says
Thank you so much for this. Yes I think I have wrecked a few items pulling them out to try and work out where I went wrong and added a few too many stitches. This explains it probably. It also makes the work neater as the old way of doing them made the top of the puff sit a little higher than the rest of the row and it wasn’t meant to be that way.
Tamara Kelly says
😀 You’re very welcome! I agree completely!
Carmen G.Rodríguez says
Hermoso punto y fácil para aprender y con fotografías mucho mejor
Tamara Kelly says
😀
Jean furse says
Love the Moogly way to finish the HDC cluster. I’ve crocheted for 50 years and always did it the standard way. This solves a lot of problems and is so much neater.
Thanks so much
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much Jean!
Jan says
I love this soap saver and the pattern is super easy to follow. Your thoughtful videos are very explanatory”. Thanks
Tamara Kelly says
🙂 Thank you so much Jan!
Andrea says
This is not the first time I’ve needed to look up instructions on a stitch and struggled. I google, I read descriptions and watch videos.
They’re all useless to me. They’re not bad, per se, but they don’t always make sense to me.
But you? Your tutorials ALWAYS explain stitches to me in a simple and clear way. It makes sense right off the bat and I can carry on.
Why did I waste my time googling this when I knew I could just come to Moogly and find exactly what I needed??
Well no more! It’s Moogly first from now on! Thank you so much for your videos! You have helped me become a pretty darn good hooker (if I say so myself)!
Tamara Kelly says
Wow, thank you so much Andrea!! ♥
Kimberly says
I don’t know why I was intimidated by the Puff stitch but you made learning it so easy. Thank you Ms. Tamara! PS. I like your method much better. 🙂 Now I’m off to make some Pampering Massage Soap Saver for my kids’ teachers. Thanks again!!
Tamara Kelly says
😀 Thank you so much Kimberly!
andee says
I sent a question, but now I don’t see any later posts than 2015 and I posted mine yesterday, I believe.
Want to know how to begin and end rows for puff stitches.
Tamara Kelly says
I didn’t see it Andee, I’m sorry! It depends on the stitch pattern, but you can see how I did it here: https://www.mooglyblog.com/madly-love/
andee says
Thank you so much. I had to rip out half a baby afghan I made because it got narrower as I went. I lost 33 stitches over the time and didn’t realize it because I didn’t pick it up to look as I crocheted. I just made something up. Two rows of puffs and 8 rows of dc. Learned too late that there should have been a row of sc between the puffs so they would be facing the same way. Now I have to poke the one row out to the other side.
Have a new great grand baby born March 14. My first and she’s the first girl in a long while.
Tamara Kelly says
Ah, well I bet she’ll love it anyway – great texture on both sides! 🙂 Congratulations!!
Tami says
Once again you have saved my bacon! The pattern I am working on has extremely poor notes on how to work this stitch, (and the Star stitch), and once again you have provided excellent instructions for working them. I thank you so much for your time and diligence. Without you I would be really lost!
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Tami, I’m so glad it helped!!
Sue says
I really want to let you know how much I LOVE your site!! I have not found another that, for me, has explained so well how to do different stitches. I found your site last spring when I was searching for baby sweaters. Your Eloise Baby Sweater was a hit with my daughter! Stitches I had never done were in your pattern and, by watching your video tutorials, I was able to learn and work them very easily. Since then, I have gone to your site several times to learn how to do new stitches for other projects I have done that have not had good instructions (i.e. Puff Stitch). I am SO grateful for how easy-to-understand you make your videos and for your quick responses when I have questions!! Thank you, Tamara!!
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much Sue! That made my Monday morning! 😀 ♥