Puff Stitch - Photo Tutorial

Puff stitches are amazing for adding texture and extra detail to your crochet project. They do use extra yarn, but the effect is worth it. They are really just clusters of 3, 4 or 5 Half Treble Crochets (Half Double Crochets in US), so easy to crochet if you know the secret sauce…

Let me show you how to make neat and even puff stitches that don’t create that pesky extra chain and makes counting stitches easier!

how to Make Puff Stitches:

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 1 with a teal hexagon motif.

Step 1 – Yarn around hook.

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 2 with a teal hexagon motif.

Step 2 – Place hook through stitch from front to back (under front and back loops) then yarn around hook. I am actually working into a chain space to make my puff stitch, but the same instruction applies.

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 3 with a teal hexagon motif.

Step 3 – Pull up a loop by bringing the hook back to the front of your work, scooping the yarn through the stitch at the same time. There will be 3 loops on the hook, then yarn around hook. Pull the hook up a little to loosen the tension on the two loops closest to hook. This will help with the final stages of the stitch and help to create a neat puff stitch.

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 4 with a teal hexagon motif.

Step 4 – Place hook through same stitch, then yarn around hook.

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 5 with a teal hexagon motif.

Step 5 – Pull up a loop. You will have 5 loops on your hook. Pull the hook up a little to loosen the tension on the two loops closest to hook. Try to match the tension of the previous loops.

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 6 with a teal hexagon motif.

If the pattern calls for a 3 half treble crochet (half double crochet in US) puff stitch, then complete one more yarn around hook, hook through stitch yarn around hook, pull up a loop and pull up for even tension. At the end, you will have 7 loops on your hook.

If the pattern calls for a 4 half treble crochet (half double crochet in US) puff stitch, then complete two more yarn around hook, hook through stitch yarn around hook, pull up a loop and pull up for even tension. At the end, you will have 9 loops on your hook.

Each repeat adds two more loops to the hook.

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 7 with a teal hexagon motif.

If the pattern calls for a 5 half treble crochet (half double crochet in US) puff stitch, then complete three more yarn around hook, hook through stitch yarn around hook, pull up a loop and pull up for even tension. At the end, you will have 11 loops on your hook.

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 8 with a teal hexagon motif.

Step 6 – Whether you did a 3, 4 or 5 htr (hdc in US) puff stitch, the next step is the same, just the number of loops differs. For this 5 htr puff stitch, there are 11 loops on the hook. Yarn around hook and only pull through 10 of them. If you didn’t loosen the tension on the loops on the hook enough during each htr pass, it will be difficult to pull the yarn through the stitches. Getting the tension right with each pass, is the secret to an even and beautiful looking puff stitch that is easy to crochet.

For a 3 htr puff stitch, there will be 7 loops on the hook. Yarn around hook and only pull through 6 of them. Move on to Steps 7 & 8.

For a 4 htr puff stitch, there will be 9 loops on the hook. Yarn around hook and only pull through 8 of them. Move on to Steps 7 & 8.

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 9 with a teal hexagon motif.

This is how it will look with two loops remaining. The loop closest to the hook was the last yarn around hook made. The one furthest from the hook was the very first yarn around hook made at the beginning of the stitch.

Step 7 – Yarn around hook.

Puff Stitch crochet tutorial step 11 with a teal hexagon motif.

Step 8 – Pull through two remaining loops to complete the puff stitch. There is no need for the extra 1ch that other puff stitch tutorials call for because the puff stitch has already been closed up.