6 unmissable steps on How to do a Popcorn Stitch in Crochet
Ever wondered about popcorn stitches, how they are different from puff, bobble and cluster stitches and ever thought of using them in your amigurumis, not just your textured blankets? They are wonderful for making your crochet project more distinctive, likewise I love to use them in my amigurumis! Here I will talk about all the different ways to experiment with your popcorn stitch, ranging from length-wise to width-wise, and also at the end, get some ideas for how to incorporate them into your amigurumis.
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What is a popcorn stitch?
A popcorn stitch is actually a textured special stitch that arises from a group of double crochet stitches that are grouped together in the same stitch, especially on one side. This often gives rise to a conical appearance that makes a flat crochet piece more 3D in nature.
What are the crochet popcorn stitch written instructions?
Let us go through all the various different abbreviations pattern designers may use in their patterns to signify a crocheted popcorn stitch, before we move onto the usual written instructions to describe this stitch.
What does PC mean in crochet?
This is the standard abbreviation that is suggested by Craft Yarn Council, although to be honest, I do not see this being used frequently! It can be written as PC or pc or Pc or any variation of this. It all refers to popcorn stitch.
What does Pop mean in crochet?
This is the preferred abbreviations for my own patterns and for many crocheters actually (and magazines), which incidentally does not appear on Craft Yarn Council but it is fairly easy to read. In the subsequent examples here, I might shorten popcorn stitch crochet to just pop.
Written instructions for popcorn stitch
Here I am writing out the instructions for a 3 double crochet popcorn stitch or 3dc pop. It includes the following:
3dc in indicated, remove hook from loop, insert hook through 1st dc of 3-dc group, replace loop on hook, yo, draw tightly through loop and st on hook
How do you do a popcorn stitch?
To make a 3dc popcorn stitch, the following steps are involved.
1) Make a double crochet stitch - yarn over first, then insert hook, yarn over, draw yarn through, yarn over again and draw through 2 (of 3 loops). Then yarn over final time, draw through last 2 loops on hook.
2) Repeat again another 2 more times into the same st to get 3dc in the same st.
3) Drop the loop from hook. Insert hook into the 1st dc done (both front and back loops).
4) Grab the dropped loop and draw it through the first dc st.
5) The popcorn st looks like it is popping forward in the front.
6) Do a sc in the next st to seal the popcorn st down securely.
There you have, a completed 3 double crochet popcorn stitch. See the breakdown of the steps just below for the hdc popcorn stitch. The next few sections will talk about more variations of this popcorn stitch to experiment with!
Mini to large popcorn stitches
How do you do a single crochet popcorn stitch?
To make a 3sc pop or a 3 single crochet popcorn stitch, the following steps are involved.
1) Make a single crochet stitch - insert hook, yarn over, draw yarn through, yarn over again and draw through 2 loops.
2) Repeat again another 2 more times into the same st to get 3sc in the same st.
3) Drop the loop from hook. Insert hook into the 1st sc done (both front and back loops).
4) Grab the dropped loop and draw it through the first sc st.
5) The popcorn st looks like it is popping forward in the front.
6) Do a sc in the next st to seal the popcorn st down securely.
The completed 3 single crochet popcorn stitch. Next up is the next taller stitch, the hdc.
How to do a half double crochet popcorn stitch?
To make a 3hdc pop or a 3 half double crochet popcorn stitch, the following steps are involved.
1) Make a half double crochet stitch - yarn over first, then insert hook, yarn over, draw yarn through, yarn over again and draw through all 3 loops to form a hdc.
2) Repeat again another 2 more times into the same st to get 3hdc in the same st.
3) Drop the loop from hook. Insert hook into the 1st hdc done (both front and back loops).
4) Grab the dropped loop and draw it through the first hdc st.
5) The popcorn st looks like it is popping forward in the front.
6) Do a sc in the next st to seal the popcorn st down securely.
Now you see the completed 3 half double crochet popcorn stitch.
How to do a double crochet popcorn stitch?
The most standard form of a popcorn stitch is actually the double crochet popcorn stitch, which has been mentioned above in detail already. In short, to make a 4dc popcorn stitch:
3dc in indicated, remove hook from loop, insert hook through 1st dc of 3-dc group, replace loop on hook, yo, draw tightly through loop and st on hook
How many stitches are in a popcorn stitch?
We have discussed how to change the height of the popcorn stitches, and next we will be talking about changing the width of the popcorn stitch. The next examples include changing the number of double crochet stitches within the popcorn stitch to get varying sizes as well.
How do you crochet a 3 double crochet popcorn stitch?
Like what I mentioned above for the written instructions for the 3dc popcorn stitch. They include:
3dc in indicated, remove hook from loop, insert hook through 1st dc of 3-dc group, replace loop on hook, yo, draw tightly through loop and st on hook
How do you make a 5 double crochet popcorn stitch?
The wider example here using double crochet stitches is the 5dc popcorn stitch:
5dc in indicated, remove hook from loop, insert hook through 1st dc of 5-dc group, replace loop on hook, yo, draw tightly through loop and st on hook
Special stitches similar to popcorn stitches
In this section, we will talk about different special stitches that look similar and have steps that are pretty similar as well - they include the puff stitch, the bobble stitch, the popcorn stitch and the cluster stitch.
Is popcorn stitch the same as bobble?
No they are not the same. The steps involved in crocheting a popcorn stitch and bobble stitch are very different and the appearance finally also looks different. Both are bulging outwards and have textured appearance, but the bobble is more spherical in shape while the popcorn more conical.
The steps for crocheting a 4dc bobble stitch are as follows:
1) Yarn over 1st, even before inserting the hook into st.
2) Insert hook into desired st, then yarn over again.
3) Draw yarn through, should have 3 loops on hook.
4) Yarn over again.
5) This time, draw yarn only through 2 (of 3) loops on hook. Should only have 2 loops on hook.
6) Steps 1-5 are similar to 1st step of doing a dc. Then repeat process: yarn over again.
7) Insert hook back into same st (as step 2). Yarn over then draw yarn through, should have 4 loops on hook.
8) Then yarn over and draw yarn only through 2 (of 4) loops on hook. Should have 3 loops left on hook.
9) Repeat process again another 2 more times until there are 5 loops on hook.
10) Finally yarn over for last time.
11) Pull yarn through all 5 loops on hook.
12) Insert hook into next st in the main row to perform a sc.
13) Yarn over and draw through.
14) Yarn over and draw through the 2 loops on hook to form next sc in main row.
15) Invert bobble outwards so that it looks like a bulging lump on the outside.
There you have the completed 4 double crochet bobble stitch! For a comprehensive breakdown of bobble stitches, check out this blog post, '6 important things to know about Bobble Stitch Crochet'.
What is the difference between puff stitch and popcorn stitch?
A puff and popcorn stitch are both very different, I would say a puff still is closer to a bobble stitch. It is technically a half double crochet bobble stitch, but definitely not anything like a popcorn stitch. The steps involved are below:
1) Yarn over first, insert hook into desired st, yarn over again and draw yarn through, should have 3 loops on hook.
2) Yarn over again, insert hook into same st, ,yarn over and draw through a long loop, should have 5 loops on hook now.
3) Repeat step 2 again another 2 more times until there are 9 loops on hook.
4) Yarn over final time and draw through all 9 loops on hook.
The completed the puff stitch, see how different it is from a popcorn stitch.
Is popcorn stitch same as cluster stitch crochet?
No they are definitely not the same. A cluster stitch would technically be more similar to a smaller flatter bobble stitch, but definitely not the same as a popcorn stitch.
Double crochet cluster stitch involves the following steps.
1. Yarn over the hook before inserting the hook.
2. Insert your hook into the desired stitch.
3. Yarn over again, pull yarn through the stitch.
4. Yarn over, draw through 2 (of 3) loops, should have 2 loops on the hook.
5. Yarn over again, insert hook into SAME stitch.
6. Yarn over, pull yarn through the stitch, should have 4 loops on the hook.
7. Yarn over, draw through 2 (of 4) loops, should have 3 loops left on the hook.
8. Yarn over for last time.
9. Draw yarn through all 3 loops on the hook.
The actual steps involved above are similar to that for the start of a bobble stitch. The end result is different from a popcorn stitch.
Working popcorn stitches in rows and rounds
The steps involve in crocheting the popcorn stitch, whether in a row or in a round are the same, except the final appearance might look slightly different.
How to crochet popcorn stitch in a row?
Crochet a popcorn stitch like you would as stated in the steps above. Leave some space in between each popcorn stitch with just regular single crochet stitches, especially if you are looking at wider popcorn stitches.
Also, if you are crocheting back and forth, along the right side and then the wrong side of the rows, then the popcorn stitch on each type of row will look different. The conical protrusion you are supposed to see will be facing opposite sides. To avoid this and still create your desired textured appearance, then only crochet popcorn stitches on the rows that are facing the right sides.
If you do not know how to tell your right sides from your wrong sides, whether for rows or rounds, check out this comprehensive article on '8 effortless ways to tell Which side of yarn is Right side in Crochet'.
How to crochet popcorn stitch in a round?
Generally for crocheting popcorn stitches in a round, it is easier, because you should be crocheting in a continuous anti-clockwise direction and the bulge of the popcorn stitch should always be facing outwards in one direction.
For the purposes of crocheting amigurumi, you probably would not be crocheting consecutive popcorn stitches, unless maybe for a dress or clothing texture. To get ideas on how to use these popcorn stitches in amigurumi, read on below.
How to do a popcorn stitch in amigurumi?
The steps involved are the same but here I will be highlighting some examples of how to incorporate them in your amigurumi when you are designing it. Of course, the steps may look slightly different depending on the height (taller stitches) or width (more stitches) of the popcorn stitch, and also variations with colour changes!
How to use popcorn stitches in amigurumi?
Popcorn stitches can be used in certain situations to give rise to textures in your amigurumi, especially when a protrusion is required, like for a nose or a foot! I go through each example in further detail below.
Using popcorn stitches to make amigurumi nose
I decided to stick a little popcorn stitch in the middle of the face as the nose for the wizard example below. To make variations of the popcorn nose, try out smaller stitches (like sc) to make a snubbier nose or to make it fatter, add more stitches inside the popcorn stitch.
Using popcorn stitches to make amigurumi limbs
I most frequently use popcorn stitches to make mini feet, because it has a nice protruding conical appearance that I put at the base of the amigurumi. Occasionally, you could use it for arms as well. Which means you do not have to sew on a separate piece to the main cylindrical leg! One of the many reasons why I love to use special stitches to replace sewing in my amigurumis.
Conclusion of crocheting popcorn stitches
Try all the different ways to crochet popcorn stitches, to create different appearances, whether it is increasing the height by using taller stitches or increasing the width by adding in more stitches inside the popcorn. Then think about how you can include these inside your amigurumi with the examples above. If you have tried any of the suggestions I made above, remember to tag me @pocketyarnlings on instagram, I would love to see it!
Remember to share this if you found it useful and pin it to Pinterest so that others may learn from it too! There is also another related article on crocheting bobble stitches that you might find useful if you liked this article, '6 important things to know about Bobble Stitch Crochet'.
To check out more of my ideas for using various types of crochet stitch techniques to shape amigurumi, grab my free Amigurumi Shaping Starter Guide below!
