Puffs and Bobbles

As mentioned recently, I have been making prayer cloths. I had seen a pattern using popcorn stitch and I liked how that looked. However, though I can do the popcorn stitch, I don't really care for it. I decided to use my own pattern and make them with the puff stitch.

As I was looking at one of the cloths the other day, I said to myself, "Self, these puff stitches don't puff out very much, especially when variegated yarn is used." I listened to myself and pondered this problem. I decided to do some experimentation and try a Bobble Stitch instead. I also tried a larger Puff Stitch, which is what I eventually settled on.

Crocheters sometimes use different terms for stitches so just to make sure we are on the same page, this is what I am calling a Bobble.

Instructions:1) Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook (2 loops remain on hook)2) Yarn over, insert hook in the same st, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook (3 loops remain on hook)3) Yarn over, insert hook in same st, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook (4 loops remain on hook)4) Yarn over and draw through all 5 loops on hook. 

Some choose to ch 1 to close but I do not.

The Puff Stitch I had been using is as follows:

Instructions:1) Yarn over. 2) Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over.3) Pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (3 loops on hook).4) Yarn over.5) Insert hook in SAME stitch, yarn over.6) Pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (5 loops on hook).7) Yarn over.8) Insert hook once again into the SAME stitch, yarn over.9) Pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (7 loops on hook). 

10) Yarn over, pull yarn  through ALL loops on hook. Puff stitch complete.

A different finishing method: Yarn over, draw through 6 loops, yo, draw through remaining 2 loops. Puff Stitch complete. (I used the first method as in step 10) 

A Bobble and a Puff can be made smaller or larger by the number of times you do the repeat. For the purposes of this test I chose to go to 5 loops for the Bobble and 9 for the Puff.

You can also use the ch-1 to close the puff if you want to, but I do not.

I don't know if you can tell in these pics, but the one on the left is the smaller Puff Stitch and the one on the right is the larger stitch, Bobble or Puff.

In this picture the top blue cloth is the smaller puff stitch and the bottom variegated is a larger puff stitch. 

The reason I decided to go with a larger Puff is the back view. I tried to take a photo but was unsuccessful in getting one where you could actually see what I'm talking about. With the Puff Stitch the opposite side has a flatter version of the puff. With the Bobble Stitch, there is more of an indentation. I thought the smoother version looked better.

The cross is not as evident using variegated yarn but it is prettier than it shows up in the pictures. With the larger puff the cross is higher and shows up better. With solid colored yarn, it's not as important to use the larger puff, but it doesn't hurt either.

I'm really happy with the new look!

Happy crocheting!
Sandie