Although this stitch might look complicated at first, it’s similar to making a shell stitch with double crochets. Learn popcorn stitch and start popping it into your crochet!
Project Metrics
These project metrics depend on the gauge you use and your skill level. But do keep these in mind while learning the popcorn stitch:
Total Time: 4-5 minutes per rowSkill Level: Intermediate
Make the Foundation Chain
Getting Started
Work popcorn stitch with your favorite yarn, matching the hook size to the yarn weight. Begin with a starting chain with an odd number of stitches. The example started with 19 chain stitches.
Row One
Chain 1. Starting in the second chain from the hook, work 1 single crochet into every stitch.
Start the First Popcorn Stitch
Row Two
Chain 1. *Work 1 single crochet, then 1 popcorn stitch. Repeat from * across the row. End with 1 single crochet. To form a popcorn stitch, work 5 double crochets into the same stitch. It should look like a fan or a shell.
Remove and Insert the Hook
Pull up the active loop on your hook so it is large and you don’t have to worry about losing it. Then, remove your hook from the loop. Count back five double crochet stitches and insert your hook into the first double crochet you made.
Hook the Active Loop
With your hook still in the first double crochet, go through the loose active loop. Once the loop is around your hook you can tighten the loop again.
Close Up the Popcorn Stitch
Draw the active loop through the loops of the first double crochet to close up and complete the popcorn stitch. A finished popcorn stitch should look like a tiny cup made of double crochets.
Work a Full Row of Popcorn Stitch
Finish row two of popcorn stitch, alternating between single crochets and popcorn stitches. You should end with a single crochet.
Crochet the Next Single Crochet Row
Popcorn stitch repeats rows one and two, so after you work a row of popcorns, it’s time to add another row one. Chain 1. Work one single crochet into each stitch. It’s easy to spot the where to insert your hook on the single crochets from the first row, but you might need to look for the correct spot on the popcorn stitches. The top of the popcorn stitches don’t look like little Vs, but they are the straighter stitches between the Vs.
Tips for Popcorn Stitch
The more you work the popcorn stitch, the faster it goes. Of course, even though this isn’t difficult to work, it does take longer than basic stitches. It also uses a lot of yarn, so make sure you have enough skeins when making a large project. Popcorn stitch looks similar to bobble stitch, but the process is a little different. Be sure to pay attention to which stitch you need for a project and don’t assume they are interchangeable. Have fun as you pop this stitch on your hook!
