Popcorn stitch tutorial (with and without colour change)

Crochet popcorn

Popcorns are an excellent way to create big, popping stitches that are raised above your crochet. They are groups of multiple double crochets, held together by a slip stitch. Popcorns are one of three ways to create volume in your crochet projects, the others being bobbles and puff stitches.

Popcorns are one of the greatest crochet stitches, in my opinion. For starters, it's quite a sturdy stitch. They don't sag or lose volume over time. They are also versatile. I use popcorns to create lines, spirals, or any other type of motif in my crochet blankets. Because they're sturdy, there's little risk of baby toes or fingers catching into the popcorn like there could be with other stitches. All in all, it's one of my favourites.

Popcorn stitch multiple

Single popcorns don't have a stitch multiple. While you crochet multiple double crochets in one stitch, you 'loop' them back together and the complete popcorn still counts as one stitch. And a stitch multiple of 1 is no stitch multiple, it's just one stitch!

In the Rainbow Sampler Blankets 1 and 2 I spaced my popcorns out in a row. To create that spaced-out pattern, you do have a stitch multiple. For the Sampler Blanket 1, that's 12 + 1 stitches. In the Rainbow Sampler Blanket 2 it's 8 + 1 stitches. The difference is the distance between popcorns: one blanket has 11 stitches in between popcorns, the other one 7. As you can imagine, it's easy to adjust if you want to.

Basic popcorn

This tutorial shows you how to crochet a popcorn in a blanket. However, the method is the same for other projects of course.

My Rainbow Sampler Blanket starts with a hdc-row in the popcorn colour. Crochet this, make a ch and turn your blanket.

Start your popcorn row by crocheting eight hdc (photo 1). You’re now going to make your first popcorn. Make six dc, all in the same stitch. The stitches will fan out, and that’s okay. Now remove your hook from your loop (photo 2). Insert your hook from the front to the back through the top of the first dc, and pick up your loop again (photo 3). Pull back your loop through the stitch (photo 4). This effectively slip-stitches your popcorn shut.

That’s all there is to a popcorn, really! Because this tutorial shows how to work the Rainbow Sampler 2 blanket I'll show you how to continue this pattern. Make seven hdc, before starting your second poporn. Continue making six dc, and then slip-stitching those all together to the end of the row to form the popcorn.

Finish with a hdc in each of the final eight stitches (photo 5).

Crocheting in the top of popcorns

In the next row, you will work stitches in the top of the popcorns. While they're basically treated as normal stitches, I think it can’t hurt to show you how I do it. When I reach the top of a popcorn, I insert my hook through the slip-stitch you made to make the popcorn pop. If you do this, you can’t really see any difference with a regular hdc from the front of your work (photos 6-9).

Popcorn stitch with colour change

You can also create a popcorn in a different colour from the background. This way, they stand out even more.

Changing colours

Colour changing is done by working the last yarn over in the stitch before the colour change is indicated in the new colour. For the popcorns, this means that in the last hdc before you make your popcorn, you stop at the final yarn over (photos 1-2). Instead, you take your new colour and you pull that through the loops on your hook (photos 3-4). This means that your hdc is still in the old colour, and the loop on your hook is in the new colour.

You can now start your popcorn in the new colour. When you reach the sixth dc in your popcorn, stop at the final yarn over and pick up the ‘old’ colour (photos 5-6). Pull the old colour through the loops on your hook, and make a slip stitch. Your popcorn now has the ‘new’ colour, and you have the old colour on your hook, ready to continue your pattern.

While working the stitches in between the popcorns, you can simply crochet over the thread of the other colour and carry it with you until you need it again (photo 7). It will save you from so many ends to weave in!

How to change the thickness of a popcorn

Popcorns are made by working multiple double crochets in one stitch. They're crocheted together with a slip stitch. Now you can play around with the thickness of a popcorn. You could make them with four double crochets for a more subtle pop, but also with six double crochets for an extra big popcorn. I wouldn't recommend going above six double crochets, as it distorts the shape a bit. With less than four you don't have enough circumference to make a popping popcorn so I wouldn't do that either.

Popcorn crochet patterns

I use popcorns in many of my crochet patterns. Sometimes as a feature accent, and sometimes as the main focus. For example:

• Parallel pillow
• Bobble track play blanket
• Charlie blanket