How to Crochet a Puff Stitch Blanket Border

Adding a border to a crochet blanket is like giving it a stylish makeover! It's the easiest way to take your project from looking a bit plain and unfinished to totally pro and absolutely gorgeous. One of my absolute favorite ways to finish off a crochet blanket is with a puff stitch border, especially for those sweet little baby blankets. The delicate bobbles add a cute, boho vibe that's just irresistible! And guess what? Despite looking a bit fancy, it's actually very easy, even if you're just starting out.

There are a few different variations of puff stitch blanket borders that exist, but I've developed a version that prioritizes safety for baby items. My design ensures that the 'bobbles' formed by the puff stitch snugly hug the blanket edge, minimizing any potential hazards. I initially designed the puff stitch border specifically with the Heirloom Baby Blanket in mind.

Make sure to PIN this tutorial if you want to save it for later:

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The Crochet Puff Stitch

I want to start by explaining what exactly a crochet puff stitch is. A crochet puff stitch is a textured stitch that creates raised bumps or "puffs" on your crochet fabric. This is achieved by working several incomplete stitches into the same stitch or space and then completing the stitch at the end. For this blanket border, the directions for a puff stitch are as follows:

1. Yarn over hook, insert hook in next chain or stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)

2. Repeat step 1 three more times (9 loops on hook)

3. Yarn over, pull through all 9 loops on hook

Puff stitches can vary in size depending on the number of loops pulled up before finishing off the stitch. You can adjust this pattern by repeating step 2 above fewer or more times than specified. Repeating step 2 fewer times will result in a smaller “bobble,” while repeating it more times will result in a larger “bobble.”

You can further customize this stitch pattern by varying the number of single crochet stitches between each bobble. This stitch pattern is written with five single crochet stitches in between each bobble.

Establishing a Foundation

Now that we understand what a puff stitch is, we need a foundation on which to work our puff stitch pattern. Once you've finished crocheting a blanket, you will notice there are rough or "raw" edges on two of the sides. These edges don't consist of actual stitches but rather represent the sides of each row that was worked. To transform these raw edges into usable stitches, begin by working single crochet stitches around the entire perimeter of the blanket. As a general rule, I prefer to work one single crochet stitch into the side of each row along the raw edges. When you reach a corner, crochet three single crochet stitches into each corner. This ensures there are enough stitches to smoothly turn the corner.

This stitch pattern is worked in multiples of 5, so make sure each side of the blanket has a multiple of 5 stitches (including the corner stitches - each side of the blanket will include 2 corner stitches in its stitch count, meaning that each corner stitch will be counted twice since it borders two sides).

Is There a Right and Wrong Side to this Stitch Pattern?

In short, yes. When it comes to the puff stitch, there's a preferred side for that pop-out effect. Typically, you'll work the puff stitch from behind, so it "pops" out on the opposite side of your work. As you create the bobbles around the blanket, you'll notice one side looks more polished than the other - that's the opposite side of where you're working the bobbles. While the puff stitch blanket border looks fantastic from both sides, working the border from the back allows the puff stitches to really stand out and look better on the front of the blanket. If your blanket is reversible, feel free to work the border from any side.

Puff Stitch Tips

Working puff stitches might seem tricky initially, but here are some helpful tips I've discovered along the way.

1. Maintain Consistent Loose Tension: Consistency in tension is key to achieving uniform puff stitches throughout your project. Be mindful of how tightly or loosely you're pulling the yarn as you work each stitch. Experiment with different tension levels until you find what works best for you.

2. Count Your Loops: When working the puff stitch, keep track of the number of loops on your hook. Each puff stitch involves pulling up multiple loops before completing the stitch. Counting these loops ensures that you're executing the stitch correctly and achieving the desired puffiness.

3. Choose the Right Yarn: Opt for yarn that is less prone to fraying or splitting when working puff stitches. Using a smooth, non-fraying yarn will make it easier to pull up multiple loops and complete the stitch without snagging or splitting the yarn fibers. (For this blanket and tutorial I used Lion Brand Baby Soft yarn, a 60% acrylic and 40% nylon blend, light weight (3) yarn.)

Crochet Puff Stitch Blanket Border Video Tutorial

For those who prefer visual demonstrations, I've created a video tutorial on YouTube before we dive into the written instructions.

A video tutorial for the crochet puff stitch blanket border.

Crochet Puff Stitch Blanket Border Written Pattern

Beginning in any corner:

1. Single crochet 2 times in the corner stitch.

2. Chain 3, puff stitch in 2nd chain from hook (see instructions above under “The Crochet Puff Stitch”), slip stitch into 1st chain, single crochet in the corner stitch 1 more time, single crochet in the next 4 stitches.

3. Chain 3, puff stitch in 2nd chain from hook, slip stitch into 1st chain.

4. Single crochet in next 5 stitches.

5. Repeat steps 3 - 4 across the side of the blanket.

6. When you reach the next corner, repeat steps 1 - 2 in the corner stitch, then repeat steps 3 - 4 across the next side of the blanket.

7. Repeat around the entire blanket, then slip stitch into the first single crochet stitch made.

Conclusion

Congratulations on mastering the art of crocheting a puff stitch border! With your newfound skills, you can transform any blanket into a stunning work of art. Don't forget to share your creations with us on social media using #sarahktdesigns! I can't wait to see how you incorporate the puff stitch border into your blankets and other projects.