Crochet Tips: Cluster Stitches, Puffs, Popcorns and Bobbles.

I can never remember the difference between a popcorn and a bobble so here's my cluster guide!

Fans and shells are groups of stitches joined either at the base, or at the top. They can be made of any number of stitches and any size. If you're using a pattern the information you need will be given under 'special stitches'.

This is the simplest type, here I have made three trebles into the same stitch.

To join stitches at the top, in this case also trebles, make the first part of each stitch...

then yarn over and pull through all the loops on the hook.

A Bobble is basically a cluster joined at both the top and the bottom.

Begin by making the first part of each stitch (right up to the last pull through) into the same stitch...

Yarn over and pull through all the loops on the hook...

A Bobble stitch is usually closed with a chain st.

For a Popcorn, begin by making your stitches into the same stitch. 

Remove the hook and reinsert it through the first stitch made...

and back into the loop...and pull the loop through the stitch...

 sometimes the popcorn is closed with a chain stitch.

A Puff stitch is always made of half trebles.

Yarn over the hook, insert the hook into the stitch, yarn over the hook again and pull up a loop...

repeat for each stitch...

Yarn over and pull through all the loops on the hook...

close the puff stitch with a chain stitch.

Those are the basic cluster stitches but there are some interesting variations which I will blog about next time.