How to knit the popcorn or bobbles stitch (video tutorial & written pattern)

The popcorn stitch, also known as a bobble, looks exactly as it sounds. It makes an adorable little puff, usually showcased on a background of stockinette or reverse stockinette to make the popcorn really, well, pop. This stitch is especially fun for children’s knits but is great for grown-ups, too.
Created by increasing multiple stitches inside a single stitch and then immediately decreasing to pull in the ends, the popcorn stitch is enjoyable to knit and gives a pattern visual interest while keeping the knitter engaged. At the same time, the stitch is very easy to memorize, so knitting a whole hat or sweater in popcorn stitch is easy enough to do while dividing your attention. In other words, this is a perfect “Netflix and knit” stitch pattern.
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The more stitches you increase, the puffier your popcorn will be. The following pattern is for a six stitch popcorn. You can make popcorn stitches with as few as three increases if you want a smaller popcorn, though the concept is the same.
Watch Alexis Winslow's popcorn stitch video tutorial:
AbbreviationsCO - Cast on
K - Knit
Written pattern
CO 13 stitches
Row 1 (in 10 steps):
Step 1: K6
Step 2: Knit into the next stitch, but do not slip it off the needle
Step 3: Move your working yarn to the front and purl one into the same stitch
Step 4: Move your working yarn to the back again and knit one into the same stitch
Step 5: Move your working yarn to the front again and purl one into the same stitch
Step 6: Move your working yarn to the back again and knit one into the same stitch
Step 7: Move your working yarn to the front and purl one into the same stitch
Step 8: Move your working yarn to the back again and knit one into the back of the same stitch, slipping it off the needle.
Step 9: Move the second stitch on the right needle over the first and drop it off (as if binding off). Continue decreasing your increased stitches this way until you only have one stitch left on the needle
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Step 10: K to end of row
Row 2: Purl all stitches
There you have it! A bubbly little popcorn stitch! When knitting this stitch in a larger, all-over pattern, you’ll want to stagger your popcorns by a few stitches in each row so as not to create holes in your knitting.