I’m so excited to share with you this free crochet tutorial for working the popcorn stitch! I’m not embarrassed to admit that I’ve become a little obsessed with the popcorn stitch! It gives such amazing texture and has inspired at least 5 patterns. I’m sure there are more patterns to come! The popcorn stitch is a wonderfully simple stitch that creates the most amazing texture!
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Tutorial Details
For this tutorial I’m using Brava Worsted Weight yarn in the colorway Silver. This is a great yarn for practicing stitches. It is sturdy enough to show great stitch definition, but soft and flexible enough to glide easily through the hook. I’ve saved this skein just for practicing stitches and it has held up super well to lots of frogging!
Whenever I’m practicing a new stitch, I like to use a hook that’s super comfortable in my hand. No sense fighting the hook while you’re perfecting your stitches. I love wooden hooks and the Furls Streamline hooks are my favorite. For this tutorial, I used a US H-8 (5.0mm) hook.
Please keep in mind that this tutorial is meant to help you practice this stitch pattern. Working popcorn stitches, while done using the same technique, can be made slightly differently. Read all pattern directions carefully when you’re working this stitch as part of a pattern.
Working the Popcorn Stitch
While practicing the popcorn stitch I have found a couple tips to make them really pop! First, pull the loops of each single crochet up a little higher than you would normally. This gives extra puffiness to each popcorn stitch. Second, work the stitch after your popcorn stitch snugly. This helps push the popcorn stitch forward and gives it good contrast against the main fabric of your project.
If you’re playing around with popcorn stitch placement, I have found that giving a little space between each popcorn stitch is helpful. While popcorn stitches can be grouped in lots of different ways, placing them too closely together can distort the fabric since they have such a broad texture. I have found that placing at least one stitch in between each popcorn gives them the room to really show off their full texture.
Photo Tutorial
For this tutorial I recommend working one single crochet in between each popcorn stitch. After completing a row of popcorn stitches, work a row of single crochet in between. Then working another row of popcorn stitches on the same side of the fabric as your first row of popcorn stitches. Please check your pattern carefully for the specific placement of each popcorn stitch as they will be placed differently in each pattern.
Working the popcorn stitch is technically a repeat of one stitch. However, I recommend placing a single crochet in between each popcorn stitch. To do this chain a multiple of 2 and single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook. Then alternate a popcorn stitch and a single crochet.
Popcorn Stitch – pc
Video Tutorial
When working into the top of the popcorn stitch, the texture of the popcorn stitch and tighten and turn the top of the stitch a bit. If you find that the number of stitches you have is getting smaller, you’re might be missing the stitch at the top of the popcorn stitch. Working popcorn stitches is a simple way to add dramatic texture! Check out my many patterns featuring this stitch to use this stitch again and again!
Patterns
Popcorn Stitch Cozy – Tier 1
This pattern is a quick and fun way to practice working in the 3rd loop. Make them in lots of colors. They’re perfect for selling at craft markets or giving as gifts!
Ellery Hat – Tier 3
This fun, highly textured hat mixes popcorn stitches with other intermediate stitches for a beautiful texture! This pattern is many patterns in one, with options for adult and child sizes in brimmed, brimless, fitted or slouchy. There’s even a tutorial and yardage estimates for making your own scrappy version, like the one above! Designed for the Hat Not Hate campaign, the hat is worked in continuous rounds making is a quick, relaxing project!
Tamzin Hat – Tier 3
Take popcorn stitches to the next level with this classic hat! The inspiration for the Popcorn Stitch Cozy, you can make the Tamzin Hat, Tamzin Cowl and Popcorn Stitch Cozy and be super coordinating! Coming October 25th, this hat was designed for the Crochet Cancer Challenge and is another great hat for donating, The pattern includes adult and child sizes.
Tamzin Cowl – Tier 2
This fun cowl really shows off your popcorn stitch skills. The repeating diamond pattern gives this cowl a classic, unisex look. It is a coordinating pattern with the Tamzin Hat! Buy 2 skeins of Brava Worsted and you can make both the Tamzin Hat and Cowl! While not an exact match for the Ellery Hat, the repeating popcorn stitches compliment it perfectly! Coming October 28th.
All of the links above will take you to my Ravelry shop. If you’d like to shop my patterns on Etsy, shop here!
Read more about my tiered pattern system here!
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