Cluster and Bobble Stitches

Clusters are joined at the top but not the bottom. They are worked over several stitches.

Abbreviated instructions: *yo, insert hook in next st, yo, pull through, yo, pull though two loops, repeat from * twice, yo, and pull through all loops on hook

1) I am skipping a stitch only so you will be able to see the cluster clearly. When it's bunched in with other stitches, it's not as easy to see the stitch. I will place the first step of my cluster in the stitch where the arrow is pointing.

1a) yo, insert hook in stitch, yo, and pull through (3 loops on hook)

1b) yo and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook)

arrow points to where you will place hook in the next step

2) yo insert hk in next stitch (one arrow pointed at in last picture)

2a) yo, pull through (4 loops on hk)

2b) yo, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hk), arrow points where you place hook in the next step

3) yo, insert hk in next stitch (see arrow in previous photo), yo and pull through (5 loops on hk)

3a) yo, pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook)

4) yo, pull through all four loops on hook, cluster completed

Here is the completed cluster. I skipped a stitch and chained two before and after the cluster to make it visible.

Bobbles are joined at the top and the bottom. They are worked in the same stitch and on the wrong side of the work. (In other words, the bobble puffs out on the side opposite to which you are working) If you want your bobbles on the same side of your work, you need a row of stitches between bobble rows.

The Bobble can be worked with any other stitch. It will puff to the back and will show up clearly if surrounded by single crochets.

1) yo, insert hook in stitch, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook (2 loops remain on hook)

2) yo, insert hook in the same st, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook (3 loops remain on hook)

3) yo, insert hook in same st, yo and pull through, yo and pull through 2 loops on hook (4 loops remain on hook)

4) yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook. Some choose to ch 1 to close.

You can make the bobble larger by repeating steps 1 to 3 as many times as desired, then to complete stitch yo, pull through all loops (including the one on hook), work a chain to close it up at the top if desired

Abbreviated instructions: yo, insert hook in specified st, yo, pull through, yo, pull through two loops, (yo, insert hook in same st, yo, pull through, YO, pull through two loops) twice, yo, and pull through all loops on hook, ch 1 to close.

The arrow is pointing to where the stitch will be placed. As with the cluster, I am leaving space before and after so you can see it clearly.

I am using dc stitches before and after because I used the same piece as above for the cluster. However, you can place the bobble amongst other stitches and it will show up quite well.

1) yo, insert hook in stitch, yo, and pull through (3 loops on hook)

1a) yo and pull through 2 loops on hook (2 loops on hook)

Arrows points to where your hook will be inserted for the next step and every other step. All stitches for the bobble are made into the same stitch.

2) yo, insert hook in the same st, yo and pull through (4 loops on hk)

2a) yo and pull through 2 loops on hook (3 loops on hook)

3) yo, insert hook in same st, yo and pull through (5 loops on hk)

3a) yo and pull through 2 loops on hook (4 loops on hook)

pic shows back side

To finish here...
4) yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook. Ch 1 to close.

I redid the stitch here with dcs surrounding it so you could have a better idea of the difference in how the bobble looks among different stitches.

The bobble among dc doesn't poke out much.

To make a larger bobble, continue ...

(yo, insert hook in same st, yo, pull through, YO, pull through two loops) until you get to the size you want, then pull through all loops on hook to complete the stitch. Remember to put a row between your bobbles so they will all be on the same side

Here is a Bobble (at step 4) surrounded by single crochets -
This is the back side of the bobble surrounded by scs. See how it pokes out quite nicely.

this is the front or working side

Here is a bobble (back side) surrounded by hdcs. It still pokes out, more than with the dcs, but not as much as among the scs.

Just for completeness, here are the instructions for the Puff Stitch which is similar to the stitches above. It has its own page with photos.

The difference between this stitch and the Bobble is that you don't pull through two loops after the pull through.

Instructions:
YO, insert hook in next stitch, yo, pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (3 loops on hook), YO, insert hook in SAME stitch, yo, pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (5 loops on hook), YO, insert hook once again into the SAME stitch, yo, pull through and bring yarn up to height of rest of stitches (7 loops on hook)