Crochet for beginners 

Crochet Basic Gathered Stitches

Summary

1. Introduction
2. Materials and video resources
3. Cluster stitch
4. Bobble stitch
5. Puff stitch
6. Popcorn stitch 

When you want some “pop-up” texture and to finish faster a piece, you return to the basics.

Take your time to experiment each stitch and play with the alternation.

1. Introduction

Most of the crochet pieces have a flat, straight and vertical look, even those stitches who are worked extra tall or around the post and, sometimes, you need some texture in your life. 

I do tell you, the best thing to do when you don’t know what stitch to use, is to return to the basics.

So, to create pieces with more texture, you can use one (or all 4!) gathered stitches. They are: Clusters, Bobbles, Puff and Popcorn. They are formed when the crocheter first creates a group of stitches and then gathers them together at the top. This causes a bunching in the fabric that looks raised, with a just slightly or highly textural effect.

2. Materials & Resources

To practice these stitches, you will need:

• Materials: Yarn, hook, scissors 
• Video Resource:
  https://youtu.be/pWhI1mV9kDk

3. Cluster stitch 

A cluster is created by partially completing a series of stitches in a succeeding stitches and then drawing them all together with a final yarn over hook. 

This stitch creates a decrease so you have to make sure that you will add the decreased number of stitches between the clusters.

https://youtu.be/pWhI1mV9kDk minute 4:16

4. Bobble stitch 

When we create a bobble we also create partial stitches, but we will create all of them them in the same stitch. In this way, the stitch will not create a decrease.

https://youtu.be/pWhI1mV9kDk minute 13:12

5. Puff stitch

I believe that the puff stitch is the most sweet stitch from these 4 and also creates a dense fabric. It’s very appropriate for hats (with a cashmere yarn looks wow), for slippers, for blankets and, why not, for sweaters!

A puff is created when a series of yarn overs are anchored to a stitch and then drawn together with a final yarn over. The series of yarn overs are created in one stitch.

https://youtu.be/pWhI1mV9kDk minute 20:10

6. Popcorn stitch

Like a bobble, the popcorn stitch is worked in one stitch but, the stitches are worked completely and then you remove the hook, you insert it in the first stitch in the group and then draw the yarn through this first stitch. This will create a puffed-out texture.

https://youtu.be/pWhI1mV9kDk minute 29:45

I hope that you have enjoyed it and that you have tried each one of them.

Take care of you,

Ditza