If you are looking for an impressive decorative stitch suitable for a crochet bag, worked in the round look no further. Cause you are about to fall in love with a rich, voluminous, breathtaking stitch. The Balloon Stitch.
This second part of my crochet stitches for bags Guide specified to decorative stitches is all about the balloon stitch. For those of you who missed the first chapter of decorative stitches click on the following to discover another stunning crochet stitch, the Slanting Bead Stitch.
But let’s go back to star of this article. The Balloon stitch strongly resembles the bobble stitch but in a much bigger proportion and with a very different structure that takes 7 rounds to complete. So it is a 7 round repeat pattern that is only worked in joined rounds, in a multiple of 8 plus 3.
The beautiful effect this stitch results in is formed by the combination of simple double crochet, front post double crochet, and back post double crochet. So if you are a beginner I would recommend that you practice and make sure to master the above-mentioned basic stitches before attempting to work the balloon stitch.
The Balloon Stitch in Joined rounds
Abbreviations
ch – chain
slst – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
fpdc – front post double crochet
bpdc – back post double crochet
st – stitch
Pattern
Foundation: Chain a multiple of 8 plus 3. Insert into the 4th chain and place a dc. Place 1 dc in each ch until the end of the chains. Join the 1st and the last st. of the round with a slst into the 3d ch.
- 1st round: Ch.3, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 dc into the 8th st. and then 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 dc into the 8th st. until the end of the row. In the end slipstitch into the 3d ch. of the beginning.
- 2nd round: Ch.3 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc and then 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc. until the end of the row. In the end slipstitch into the 3d ch. of the beginning.
- 3d round: Ch.3 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc and then 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc. until the end of the row. In the end slipstitch into the 3d ch. of the beginning
- 4th round:. Ch.3 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 dc into the same st., 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc half worked (pull only 2loops from each, gather 7 loops on your hook, yarn over and pull through all and ch. 1) and then 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 dc into the same st., 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc half worked (pull only 2loops from each, gather 7 loops on your hook, yarn over and pull through all and ch. 1) until the end of the row. In the end slipstitch into the 3d ch. of the beginning.
- 5th round: Ch.3, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1fpdc. and then 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1fpdc. until the end of the row. In the end slipstitch into the 3d ch. of the beginning
- 6th round:. Ch.3, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1fpdc. and then 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 1fpdc. until the end of the row. In the end slipstitch into the 3d ch. of the beginning.
- 7th round: Ch.3, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc half worked (pull only 2loops from each, gather 7 loops on your hook, yarn over and pull through all and ch. 1), 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 dc into the 8th st and then 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 fpdc half worked (pull only 2loops from each, gather 7 loops on your hook, yarn over and pull through all and ch. 1), 1 bpdc, 1 fpdc, 1 bpdc, 6 dc into the 8th st. until the end of the row. In the end slipstitch into the 3d ch. of the beginning.
- 8th round and on: Repeat Rounds 1-7
You can watch how you can work the balloon stitch in the following video!
Tips
To make your balloons pop out using a little bit of extra tension when starting and completing each balloon. In other words when placing the 6dc bundle and when pulling through the seven loops on your hook.
Dos
This stitch is amazing for medium to large size bags suitable for day use.
This is a stitch that requires thinner yarn. A light 2mm macramé cord is what I usually prefer, but even a thinner yarn like a cotton yarn would look stunning used with this stitch.
Don’ts
Do not I say do not use this stitch for low-budget projects. The balloon stitch is the definition of a yarn eater. Make sure that you yarn supply is abundant before even thinking of using it.
I will repeat myself by saying that in theory it’s a matter of taste but if you ask me this stitch is a no do for chunky yarns. The balloon stitch is a really bulky stitch that if combined with an also bulky yarn will produce a monstrous result.
