https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/crochet-puffs • Posted by Storey Publishing
Puffs look very cute, but they can be tricky to make well. In order for the puff to be neat and pleasingly plump, you need good control of tension. Puffs can be made with 2, 3, 4, or more loops. Naturally, the more loops, the more puff. Here are typical instructions for a 4-stitch puff, which will give you 8 loops on the hook. (Yo, insert hook in designated st, draw up a loop) four times, yo, draw through 8 loops on hook. Let’s break it down so you understand how each move contributes to the look of the puff.
Puffs look very cute, but they can be tricky to make well. In order for the puff to be neat and pleasingly plump, you need good control of tension. Puffs can be made with 2, 3, 4, or more loops. Naturally, the more loops, the more puff. Here are typical instructions for a 4-stitch puff, which will give you 8 loops on the hook. (Yo, insert hook in designated st, draw up a loop) four times, yo, draw through 8 loops on hook. Let’s break it down so you understand how each move contributes to the look of the puff.
Yarnover, insert hook in designated stitch and draw up a loop. Bring up the loop to a good height — over 1". This is a crucial step in allowing enough “slack” yarn to work the puff loosely.
Repeat step 1 three times more. These loops are less stretchy than the first, and that’s okay; pull them up as best you can. You should have 8 loops on the hook. Before completing the last yarnover that is pulled through all the loops, slide the loops down a bit on the shaft of the hook and pull up on all the loops again. This move helps make all the loops match in size.
Now yarnover and draw through all 8 loops. If you pull too tightly, your nice long loops will get squished. If you have trouble maneuvering your hook through all the loops, try swiveling the hook so that it faces down and doesn’t catch the yarn. This may take a few trials to fully master, so don’t give up too soon.
Chain 1 to tighten the top of the puff. Just 1 stitch. No matter how many stitches you put into your bobble or puff, it still counts as 1 stitch.
Puff Flower Here’s a superfun little motif to practice your puffs. You will find that puffs look a little different on the front and back of the work, usually neater on the front. Following the instructions above and the tips below should help the appearance on both sides. To “fatten up” the petals of this flower, the puffs are worked with 6 stitches, and there will be 12 loops on the hook before finishing the puff. Use this motif to create a necklace, or apply it to a hat or purse for decoration.
Puff (Yo, insert hook in designated st, draw up a loop to 1⁄2") six times, yo, draw through 13 loops on hook. FIRST FLOWER Ch 6, sl st to first ch to close ring. Rnd 1 Ch 1, work 12 sc in ring, sl st to top of first sc. (12 sc) Rnd 2 Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 3, sk next sc, sc in next sc, rep from * around, sl st to top of first sc. (6 ch-3 sps) Rnd 3 Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 3, puff in ch-3 sp, ch 1 to close puff, ch 3, sc in next sc, rep from * around, sl st to top of first sc, fasten off. (6 puffs) SECOND FLOWER Rnds 1 and 2 Rep rnds 1 and 2 of First Flower. Rnd 3 Ch 1, sc in first sc, *ch 3, puff in ch-3 sp, ch 1 to close puff, ch 3, sc in next sc, rep from * three more times, ch 3, puff in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, sl st to top of puff on first flower, ch 3, sc in next sc, ch 3, puff in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, sl st to top of next puff on first flower, ch 3, sl st to first sc, fasten off. (6 puffs)