The popcorn crochet stitch is a group of 3 to 5 double crochet stitches clustered together into a stitch from the previous row or round.
That group of stitches, that looks like a fan or shell, is tied on top with a slip stitch to clump them all together, hence the name “popcorn” stitch.
Even though the popcorn stitch may seem intimidating at first, you will be surprised how easy it is to do it. In fact, it’s a great idea to add this stitch to many crochet projects to give them texture and dimension.
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Notes about the popcorn crochet stitch
- The abbreviation for the popcorn stitch is “pc” (popcorn stitch).
- Before you learn the popcorn stitch, you need to know these basic stitches: chain, single crochet, double crochet and slip stitch.
- Don’t get the popcorn stitch mixed up with the bobble stitch and the puff stitch. They may look similar, but they are made in different ways.
- You can do the popcorn stitch with any type of yarn, but worsted weight, or lighter yarns, work better with it. Heavier yarns will make it too bulky.
- The popcorn stitch, although is beautiful, it is a “yarn eater”. So before starting a larger project make sure you plan accordingly.
- The crochet popcorn stitch usually counts as one stitch only in crochet. The reason is because you are “clumping” 3 to 5 stitches by tying them all together, with a slip stitch, to make one.
- You can do the popcorn stitch in rows or rounds.
How to crochet the popcorn stitch
The popcorn stitch is versatile in terms of structure and the kind of yarn you used to make it. Here is how you crochet the popcorn stitch.
- First, you will insert the hook in the stitch where you want the popcorn stitch to be placed.
- Secondly, you will crochet as many double crochet stitches as you want your popcorn stitch to have. For this tutorial, we are having 5 double crochet stitches.
- Next, you will release the hook from the last stitch and count 5 stitches back and insert the hook in the first double crochet stitch of that group of 5.
- Then, you will grab the current loop, the one you released, and pull it through the other two loops.
Although we are doing 5 double crochet stitches in this popcorn stitch, you can do it 3 or 4 double crochet stitches as well.
Remember that the more stitches you add to it, the puffier it will be. Therefore, it will be great to create textures.
The difference between a popcorn stitch and a puff stitch
The popcorn stitch is created with clusters of complete double crochet stitches and then “tied up” at the back with a slip stitch. As for the puff stitch you will yarn over only once before inserting the hook again to pick another loop.
Another difference is in the way they look. The popcorn stitch looks chunkier, therefore it takes more yarn. As for the puff stitch, it looks fluffy, and softer than the popcorn stitch, but not as chunky.
Here is an image to show the difference between them:
Supplies you will need
- Yarn (worsted weight works better for practice if you are a beginner).
- A crochet hook. Check the yarn label for the recommended hook size.
- Scissors to cut the yarn
The popcorn crochet stitch in two ways
First, I will show you how to do the popcorn crochet stitch in the round. I added it to a daisy granny square because I wanted the petals of my daisy to pop and have plenty of texture.
Next, I will show you how to do the popcorn stitch in rows.
Let’s get started!
The popcorn crochet stitch in the round
You can make the popcorn stitch in the round on top of any kind of stitch you have in the foundation round.
You can either add the hook between two stitches in the previous round or on the top two loops of the stitch, to make one popcorn stitch.
The foundation round could be double crochet, half double crochet or single crochet, it doesn’t matter.
Note: I used a different color of yarn to crochet the popcorn stitch round. For practice purposes you don’t have to use two different colors of yarn.
If you are using this example for practice, cut the previous yarn, fasten off, and add the new one to the space between the two first double crochet stiches in the foundation round. If not, just chain 3 with the same yarn and move on.
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Make the foundation round
First, make a magic circle to start this tutorial and then follow the steps below to add the popcorn stitch to the second round.
Chain 3 and add 11 more double crochet stitches to it. Chain 3 counts as a double crochet. Slip stitch to initial chain 3 to join.
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Start the first popcorn stitch
Chain 3 to make the first double crochet for the first cluster.
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Add 4 more dc stitches
To make a double crochet: yarn over, insert the hook in the space between the next two stitches (not the top 2 loops), yarn over, pull up a loop, (yarn over, pull through two) two times.
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Remove the hook from the active loop
Then, go back 5 stiches, insert the hook in the first double crochet stitch, on top of it.
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Grab the active loop with the hook
To grab it, keep your hook inserted in the first double crochet stitch. At this point you have two loops in your hook.
Then, go ahead and grab the active loop and pull it through those two loops.
As a result, once you grab and pull that loop, a “bump” looking like stitch will form on the right side of the project (the side facing you).
And that’s the final touch that makes the popcorn crochet stitch happen.
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Chain 1 to transition to next popcorn st
Once you pull up the active loop in previous step, the popcorn stitch is usually finished.
However, one thing to note is that most patterns in the round will ask for a chain, or more, to add a space between the popcorn stitches. Go ahead and chain 1.
Estimated Cost: 3.00 USD
Supply:
- Yarn
Tools:
- Crochet hook
Materials: Scissors to cut ends
The popcorn crochet stitch in rows
The concept to make the popcorn stitch in rows is very similar to doing it in rounds. The difference here is that you are doing back and forth rows, turning at the end of every row.
Whereas when doing it in the round you join the round with a slip stitch and don’t turn.
As I mentioned before, if you want a thick and bulky project, alternating the popcorn crochet stitch rows with single crochet rows would be the ideal technique.
For this tutorial, I am alternating the single crochet row with the popcorn stitch row. Let’s get started.
Step 1: Make a foundation row
Chain any even number of stitches. For this tutorial, I chained 24. Single crochet stitch in second chain from hook and across. Ate the end you will have 23 stitches.
Step 2: Chain 3 to start the popcorn stitch row
Chain 3 will count as first double crochet stitch of this row. Turn.
Step 3: Crochet a popcorn crochet stitch
Double crochet 5 in next stitch of the previous row.
Step 4: Remove the hook from the active loop
Then, go back 5 stiches, insert the hook in the first double crochet stitch, in the top two loops of that stitch.
Step 5: Grab the active loop with your hook
Before you grab that active loop, you will have two other loops on your hook. Next, grab the active loop and pull it through those two loops.
Step 6: Pull the resulting loop in your hook to tighten it
Do not chain. As you can see in the pictures, once you grab and pull that last loop tight, a “bump” looking stitch will form on the right side of the project.
And, as in the round tutorial you saw above, that’s the final magic that makes the popcorn crochet stitch happen.
Step 7: Double crochet stitch in next stitch
At this point, you have one double crochet, one popcorn stitch and one double crochet.
The reason why you alternate one double crochet stitch with one popcorn stitch is because doing a popcorn stitch in every stitch would make it too clumpy and curly.
Step 8: Finish row 2
Repeat step 3 to 6 through the end of row 2. The last stitch in this row will be a double crochet stitch. Chain one (doesn’t count as a stitch). Turn.
Step 9: Crochet row 3 with single crochet stitches
Repeat steps 2-8 to keep alternating rows of single crochet stiches with rows of popcorn crochet stitches.
With the swatch I am presenting here, you will have 23 stitches at the end of every row.
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Final thoughts
There you have the tutorial for the popcorn crochet stitch. I hope you create beautiful crochet projects using this stitch tutorial.
Drop a comment below if you have any questions or if you just would like to say “hi”. Another way to reach out to me is by joining my community group on Facebook.
If you use any of my patterns or tutorials for a project, please tag me @zamiguz or use the hashtag #zamiguzmakers. I would love to see what you make.
