In the previous chapter of this inventory of decorative stitches for crochet bags, we entered the kingdom of bulky stitches by getting to know the imposing balloon stitch. If you missed this post you can click on the following link and find out all about it.
In this post, you are about to find out about one more enormous crochet stitch, ideal for bags that intend to stand out! The zig zag puff stitch. Some of you may know it as Braided Puff stitch, or V Puff Stitch or slanted puff, or god knows what else. The name of this stitch is of no importance. What is important about it, is the rich voluminous effect it results in, especially when worked with a bulky type of yarn.
The Zig Zag Puff Stitch is a combination of the double crochet and the simple puff stitch. It is a non- increasable/decreasable one-row repeat pattern that creates a braid effect every two rows.
The zig zag Puff Stitch can be worked in rows and in joined rounds. The disadvantage of working this particular stitch in joined rounds is that you have to work back and forth but other than that it can produce as beautiful fabric as when worked in rows.
The Zig Zag Puff stitch worked in rows
- Foundation:
Chain a multiple of 3 plus 2.
- Row 1:
Skip 5 chains and place a Double Crochet into the sixth chain. Chain one. Go back and insert your hook into the third chain of the 5 chains you skipped in the beginning. Yarn over and pull a loop. Repeat 3 more times, until you have 8 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops. Chain one to complete your puff.
*Skip two chains and place the next double Crochet. Chain one. Then insert your hook into the stitch where you placed the previous double crochet. Yarn over and pull a loop 4 times. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook. Chain one to seal your puff.* Repeat**until the end of the row.
- Row 2:
Turn your work and chain 3. Place your first Double crochet into the chain that completed the second Puff, and chain one. Go back and Insert your hook into the chain that completed the first Puff. Yarn over and pull a loop 4 times. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook. Chain one to seal your puff.
*Insert your hook into the chain that completed the second following puff. Place a double crochet and chain one. Go back and insert your hook into the chain that completed the previous puff. Yarn over and pull a loop 4 times. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook. Chain one to seal your puff.* Repeat** until the end of the row and for all following rows. Place the last double crochet of each row into the second of the 3 turning chains from the previous row.
- Row 3 and on:
Repeat rows 1 and 2
You can watch how you can work the Zig Zag Puff Stitch in Rows in the following video!
The Zig Zag Puff stitch worked in joined rounds
- Foundation:
Chain a multiple of 3. Insert into the first chain and slip stitch to join into a ring.
- Round 1:
Chain and place a single crochet into the same stitch you slip-stitched. Place one single crochet into each chain until the end of the round. Insert into the first stitch of the round and slip stitch to join.
- Round 2:
Chain 3. Skip two chains and place a double Crochet into the third. Chain one. Go back and insert your hook into the first of the 3 chains of the beginning. Yarn over and pull a loop 4 times. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook. Chain one to seal your puff.
*Skip two chains and place the next double Crochet into the third. Chain one. Then insert your hook into the stitch where you placed the previous double crochet. Yarn over and pull a loop 4 times. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook. Chain one to seal your puff.* Repeat**until left with two stitches.
Skip two stitches and insert under the three chains of the beginning of the round and place a double crochet. Chain one, insert your hook into the stitch where you placed the previous double crochet. Yarn over and pull a loop 4 times. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook. Chain one to seal your puff. Insert into the chain that completed the first puff of the 1st round and slip stitch to join.
- Round 3:
Chain 3 and turn your work inside out. Skip the first puff and insert into the chain that completed the second puff of the 1st round. Place a double crochet and then chain one. Go back and insert your hook into the chain that completed the previous puff. Yarn over and pull a loop 4 times. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook. Chain one to seal your puff.
*Skip the next puff and insert into the chain that completed the next puff of the 1st round. Place a double crochet and then chain one. Go back and insert your hook into the chain that completed the previous puff. Yarn over and pull a loop 4 times. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook. Chain one to seal your puff.* Repeat**until left with one puff from the previous round.
Skip the last puff and insert under the three chains of the beginning of the round and place a double crochet. Chain one, insert your hook into the chain that completed the last puff. Yarn over and pull a loop 4 times. Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops on your hook. Chain one to seal your puff. Insert into the chain that completed the first puff of the 1st round and slip stitch to join.
- Round 4 and on:
Repeat round 3
Tips
- Try to work your foundation chain pretty loose, and then tighten your work from the second row and on, by pulling your yarn tight when placing your Double Crochet Stitches
- Make sure to work the puffs of your first row really long and loose.
- When working this stitch in the round I begin with a first row of single crochet assuming that there is going to be some sort of a bag base that this 1st round will be incorporated to. When working in rows I prefer to work directly into the foundation chain in the sense that there is usually going to be an extra peripheral round of single crochet in order to smoothly join the sides and flap of the bag, to the body of the bag. If you believe it will be easier when working in rows for you place a first row of single crochet and take it from the first round and on.
Dos
- This massive stitch is perfect for medium size clutches and evening purses.
- This is a stitch that requires a bulky yarn. A nice sleek T-shirt yarn is what I would recommend but also a thinner ribbon could work wonders if used with this stitch.
Don’ts
- This stitch is also a yarn eater. It is not a good idea to use it for a low budget project or if you yarn supplies are borderline.
- This stitch does not look its best if used with thin yarns. Feel free to experiment but if you ask me It would be a pity to deprive this stitch from revealing its grandness by using a thin cord.
- Do not use this stitch to create large bags especially if you are using a recommended bulky T-shirt yarn. This extremely reach stitch eats up a lot of yarn and with T-shirt yarn being particularly heavy your bag will end up weighing tones!
