How to Knit the Popcorn Stitch
For adding decoration to just about any pattern, the popcorn stitch will make your fabric pop with life!
When it comes to more complicated knitting techniques, like lace knitting and intricate floral patterns, the charts and patterns can sometimes seem overwhelming. The popcorn stitch is one that comes up often in these types of knitting, and knowing how to work the popcorn stitch on its own can make processing these patterns and knitting charts much easier. This particular video tutorial will show you how to work a 5-stitch popcorn stitch, but the same technique can work for any number of stitches.
Due to its raised bumps, the popcorn stitch is a super fun and unique stitch to add to your knitting repertoire. Mastering this stitch will add beautiful three-dimensional texture to your projects without having to juggle a cable needle or work really intricate stitch patterns. If you're a beginner knitting or trying out the popcorn stitch for the first time, Heidi recommends knitting a swatch first before incorporating the stitch into a full pattern.
Watch and Learn
Materials
- Yarn
- Knitting needles
Instructions
Note: This stitch is worked over two rows.
Step 1
Work in pattern to the point where you'll be adding your popcorn stitch.
Step 2
Begin to work a knit stitch, but stop before sweeping the old stitch off.
Step 3
Bring your working yarn in between your needles to the front of your work.
Step 4
Purl through the front loop of that same stitch without sweeping the old stitch off.
Step 5
Bring your working yarn in between your needles to the back.
Step 6
Knit through the same stitch again without sweeping the old stitch off.
Step 7
Bring the working yarn in between the needles to the front again.
Step 8
Purl through the same stitch again without sweeping off.
Step 9
For the final stitch of your popcorn stitch, bring the yarn to the back and knit, this time sweeping the old stitch off of the needle.
Step 10
Continue the rest of your right side row in pattern.
Step 11 (Beginning of row 2)
Work in pattern until you reach the stitch containing the 5 stitches of your popcorn stitch.
Step 2
Purl all five loops of the popcorn stitch together (p5tog) and sweep all five loops of yarn off of the needle.
Note: Be sure to not split your yarn when you're working your p5tog.