Discover the Art of the Relaxed Bobble Stitch with this Blanket Strip

Are you looking to add some texture and interest to your next crocheting project? Try the relaxed bobble stitch!

Whether you’re new to crafting or a master of the craft, this blanket strip will help you learn how easily and stylishly the relaxed bobble stitch can take center stage in any pattern.

This simple technique creates delightful bumps perfect for adding that extra touch of luxury to blankets, cardigans, scarves, and more. There are no limits to where you can use this stitch. And the stitch does squash so you can also use it in baby blankets etc without worrying that the texture will be uncomfortable for baby.

In this blog post, we’ll be exploring how to make a beautiful blanket strip using the relaxed bobble stitch so that you can give any of your projects an extra special touch. So let’s get started!

Please note, this post may contain affiliate links – should you purchase anything using my affiliate link I may get a small commission at no extra cost to yourself!

Inspiration behind the design

Do you remember my Winterberry Strip from last year? It was part of the Harmony Throw Blanket CAL in 2022.

When Agat and Shannon asked me to join in the sister CAL this year, I knew I had to be part of it. These blankets are just stunning!

So the Relaxed Bobbles Strip was designed specifically to be part go the Serenity Blanket CAL. The idea behind my bobbles was that they resembled raindrops – a soft rain that fills the air with lots of lovely scents from the flowers and bushes around you. You know the rain I am talking about? The sort that you just want to go outside in without a coat, raise your arms and left your head and just dance in it!

Construction of the design

The Relaxed Bobbles Blanket strip is worked in rows and uses a version of the bobble stitch to create this beautiful texture. The bobbles are worked on the right side of the blanket strip. I do have video tutorials for left and right handed crocheters below if you are new to this stitch.

It would actually make a pretty blanket in it’s own right and is great for baby blankets as the bobbles are somewhat collapsable when pressure is applied to them so they do not hurt or feel uncomfortable if you lie on them.

The underside of the strip is flat so if you are under the blanket there will not be any bobbles catching toes or fingers.

The Yarn

You can use any weight yarn and an appropriate sized hook for this strip.

I used a #4 weight yarn and 5mm hook.

For my version, I used Hobby Craft’s Women’s Institute Aran yarn in cream. It comes in 400g skeins so it goes a long way. However, it is only available in the UK.

You can use any size yarn and an appropriate sized hook for this afghan strip. However, if you are doing the Harmony Blanket CAL you will want to use the same weight yarn and hook size so that your blanket looks the best it can be!

Can you get the PDF pattern?

I have decided that this pattern will not be available in any of my shops. However, it will be forever free on this blog post.

Why did I decide not to sell the PDF Pattern? There are a few reasons for this. Not least of which is that I have plans to turn this strip into something else as soon as I have the time. I think it will look stunning and really show you what this strip can do.

SERENITY THROW BLANKET E-BOOK

This gorgeous Serenity Throw is available as an e-book. That means that you will get the whole blanket pattern in one document and can make it at your own pace and in your own time.

Better yet – until the end of the CAL you can get your copy of this e-book for only $10.99!! After the end of the CAL the price will increase to $15.99 so you save almost 1/3 by buying it before 1st December 2023!

The pattern for this strip will always be free on this blog post.

The pattern specifics:

Skill Level – Confident beginner / intermediate

Materials:

Crochet hook: 5.0 mm / G Yarn: Worsted (#4) weight yarn I used Women’s Insitute aran in cream: 157 gr /  235.5m / 256 yds Additional materials – stitch marker if preferred for first and last st.

Gauge:

My gauge was 8 sts and 6 rows per 2”  Height is not important for this pattern. If you would like to work up a swatch,  ch 31, and follow rows 1-12 in the pattern below.

Sizing:

Your strip should be 5″ tall once completed.

Abbreviations used:

Ch(s)–chain(s) ·       St(s)–stitch(es) ·       rep–repeat ·       sk—skip ·       FHDC – foundation half double crochet ·       HDC – half double crochet ·       SC – single crochet ·       BS – bobble stitch ·       BLO – back loop only ·       YO—yarn over ·       FO—fasten off

Other notes:

Written in US terms. ·    Ch1 stitches at the beginning counts as a st unless otherwise stated. ·    The odd numbered rows are the right side. Stitch multiple: this pattern is a stitch multiple of 6.

Special Stitches:

Bobble stitch: *YO and insert hook into indicated stitch, YO and pull through, YO and pull through 2 loops on hook* Rep from * to * four more times. YO and pull through all 6 loops on hook. Bobble stitch worked. Video tutorials for this one are below:

The Pattern:

** This is a free pattern on the SunflowerCottageCrochet.com blog. If you are reading this anywhere else it is stolen content. Please do not copy and paste any part of it or print this pattern out. Please bookmark this page and use the website to work up your pattern. This helps my small business greatly as it provides a little bit of ad revenue which will in turn will allow me to continue to create free content for you!**

*Please note for this CAL the stitch count was 192 and there were 2 transition rows at the beginning and end of this section

Transition row 1: Ch1, HDC in first st and each st scross

Transition row 2: Turn, CH1, SC third loop only in first st and each st across.

Row 1 (RS) –            Turn, CH2, HDC in next st, *BS in next st, hdc in next 5 sts. Rep from * until you have 4 sts remaining, BS in next st, HDC in last 3 sts. (32 BS, 160 HDC)

Row 2 (WS) –          Turn, CH2, HDC in next st and each st across (192)

Row 3 (RS) –          Turn, CH2 , HDC in next 4 sts, *BS in next st, HDC in next 5 sts. Rep from * across until you have 6 sts remaining, HDC in last 6 sts. (31 BS, 161 HDC)

Row 4 (WS) –         Rep row 2

Row 5 (RS) –          Rep row 1

Row 6 (WS) –         Rep row 2

Row 7 (RS) –          Rep row 3

Row 8 (WS)-        Rep row 2

Row 9-12 –           Rep rows 1-4

Row 13 (RS)-         Rep Row 1

NOTE: Your strip should be almost 5” tall by row 15. If it is not you may wish to work rows 2 and 3 once more.

Row 14 (WS) –      Turn, CH1, SC in first st and each st across (192)

This section then ends with a repeat of the transition rows starting with the row of HDC and then the row of SC third loop only.