In today’s Crochet Braid Puff Stitch Tutorial, you will learn something new, i.e. to create this gorgeous braided look with crochet!
You could have fooled me: I really thought this was braided with many strands of yarn, into a thick tapestry type of yarn work. Well, as it turns out, it in fact is REALLY EASY to do this with crochet stitches. In fact so easy, that I went … why didn’t I think of that.
Pretty Crochet Braid Puff Stitch Project
Have a look at how pretty this is! And it looks great on both sides!
Here’s the secret: rather than moving the puff stitches right side up throughout your work, move them the other way around. And THAT is what creates this really interesting braided crochet pattern effect.
Crochet Braided Puff Stitch Pattern
ROW 1: Make a loose chain in a multiples of 2 until you reach the desired length for your project.
ROW 2: In this row, you’ll make a combination of dc, ch and puffs, as follows:
*Make a dc into the 5st from the hook, not counting the st on the hook. Ch 1.
Now make the puff st in the st before the one in which you just made a dc, as follows:
insert your hook in that in-between st, pull the yarn through, yarn over (YO). Do this 5x, but at the 5th time, instead of a YO, you pull the yarn through all 5 st on your hook (your puff st), and secure your puff with a ch1.
Repeat from * till the end of your work, ending with that dc and a ch 1. TO work.
(See video 7:30 min mark for the detailed visual tutorial on how to do row 3.)
ROW 3 and all following rows: ch 3, YO, work in the 2nd space in the row (i.e. between the first 2 puffs) make a dc, and ch 1. Now, go back to the 1st space (i.e.between the initial dc and first puff): YO, make your puff st like you did before: yo, pull up the yarn from the other side, 5x, pull your yarn through all 5 st, and ch1.
Now let’s repeat that: skip a space, and make a dc in to the following space, go back to that space before, and make your puff in there, and secure it with a ch1.
Repeat till end of row. To make a nice even edge, go back into that last space one more time and make a dc. TOW.
Row 4: ch3 (counting as a dc)… and repeat as per row 3.
Repeat rows till your work reached the desired length.
Crochet Braid Puff Stitch Video Tutorial
This follow along with this free video tutorial, which makes it really easy:
That Gorgeous Yarn in the Video
If you are too quite enthralled with that color scheme and wonder where you can buy that yarn in that color, I did a little digging around and found it:
King Cole Riot Chunky
It’s a chunky yarn with a blend of 70% Acrylic and 30% Wool. One skein of 100g (3.5oz) holds a yarn length of 147 yrds or 134m. It asks for a needle size 6, so if you work this puff stitch it will create a nice full look.
Where to use the Braided Crochet Pattern: Project Ideas
Puff stitches are great for texture and warmth. So, while you might think of them as an ideal stitch for blankets or similar, I think puff stitches are yarn-eaters! So rather than making the entire blanket with this stitch, I’d use this stitch to a nice edge to my blanket instead.
It also gives a lovely decorative finish to a crochet bag. So use this stitch for the front flap of your bag., for example. This way you get a lot of texture and focus on your yarn and stitch work, without it being a gigantic elaborate piece work that takes ages to produce.
As well, I think you should practice stitches like these on something small and decorative, like an eye glass-case cover or makeup case, so you can see what you’re getting yourself into. Once you are ready consider a pillow cover. I personally think this is just perfect for it.
Enjoy!
P.S. I know! This is warm wool! Where I live, it feels like summer already. However, I know that in Australia Fall is about to begin. So… I thought to be kind and put something up for my peeps all around the world!
