The Braided Puff stitch is a beautifully textured crochet stitch for beginners. Scroll down for ideas on how to use this stitch, along with the step-by-step pattern.
No time right now? Pin this Braided Puff crochet stitch tutorial for later!
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What to make with the Braided Puff Crochet Stitch
This elegant stitch is versatile enough to be featured in garments, accessories, and more. With a design that’s reversible and free of large holes, it’s the perfect stitch for blankets as well. It’s easier than it looks to add this elegant stitch to a pattern of your own.
Crochet Stitch Bundle
This easy crochet stitch is part of the Spring Stitch CAL (crochet along). Join the fun and discover all-new crochet stitches here.
All stitch tutorials are available on our blogs but if you want a printable PDF version for easy recording and to take notes etc. You can grab the bundle with all 30 stitches here.
Sometimes it’s just easier to have a stitch dictionary on hand when you’re deciding on your next project rather than having to search online and remember where you saved that stitch you want to use.
Before You Start
Materials
- 5.5 mm / US I– 9 hook.
- Worsted weight yarn. I used WeCrochet Swish, it has an amazing stitch definition which really helps when learning new stitches.
- Tapestry needle to weave in the ends. I love this set as it has different eye sizes for different yarn thicknesses and it comes in a small tube which is very convenient so I don’t lose them.
Size
The pattern is written for a 15cm by 15cm / 6” by 6” square.
Stitch Multiple
The pattern needs a multiple of 2 number of stitches; your starting chain will be a multiple of 2 + 1 for an extra turning chain.
Gauge
The gauge for this pattern is 12 st by 11 rows in stitch pattern for a 10 cm by 10 cm square (4” by 4”). Confused on how to make or measure gauge? Check out my detailed post all about crochet gauge.
Abbreviations
This pattern uses US notations.
- st = stitch
- ch = chain
- sc = single crochet
- hdc = half double crochet
- dc = double crochet
- yo = yarn over
- skip = miss
Special Stitches
Puff stitch = yo, pull up a loop in the indicated st, [yo, pull up a loop in the same st] 4 times, yo, pull through all 11 loops.
Notes
Work instructions between [ ] the indicated number of times or until the end of the row.
The final number of stitches is indicated at the end of the row between < >.
The turning ch 1, ch 2, ch 3 don’t count as a stitch throughout the pattern except if mentioned otherwise.
Stitches above a ch-1 space are worked in the ch-1 space.
The pattern is written in crochet shorthand. For example:
- “sc 1” means to single crochet in the next stitch,
- “sc 2” means to single crochet in each of the next 2 stitches,
- and “2 sc” means to single crochet twice in the next st.
All pictures show lefthanded crochet. All stitches are symmetrical and can be worked by both right- and left-handed crocheters.
The Braided Puff Stitch Crochet Pattern
With your 5.5mm / US I- 9 hook ch 18 + 1.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from the hook, sc across, turn.Row 2: Ch 3 (2 st of the turning chain (doesn’t count as a st) + 1 ch over st skipped), [skip 1, dc, make a puff stitch in the skipped stitch (working around the dc post you just made), ch 1 to close,] until last 2 st, skip 1, hdc, turn. <8 puffs>
Row 3: Ch 2, [dc in the puff closing chain of the previous row, make a puff st in the space right before that, ch 1 to close] repeat across, hdc in the 2nd ch of the turning ch below, turn. <8 puffs>
Row 4: Ch 2, dc in the 1st st, skip puff closing chain below, [dc 2, skip puff closing chain below] repeat across, dc in the 2nd ch below, turn. <18 st>
Row 5: Ch 1, sc across, turn.
Repeat Rows 2 to 5 until you reach 15 cm / 6″.
Blocking
When you’re done with the crocheting part, make sure to weave in all the ends.
To make your stitch pattern even prettier and help straighten your edges block your project lightly.
Don’t skip this step as it can make a huge difference. Read my detailed tutorial on why block, how-to, and all my tips and tricks if you need help.
