A bobble is a little ball of knitting that sits on top of your fabric. You make it by working five new stitches into one stitch, knitting back and forth on those five for a few rows, then closing them back down to one. Kristin Lehrer of Voolenvine shows the classic method, plus one extra move that keeps the bobble from sinking back into the fabric. She calls it choking the bobble. It works.
How to knit a bobble: the short version
- Knit to the bobble stitch.
- Knit, purl, knit, purl, knit into that one stitch (5 stitches).
- Turn, slip 1, purl 4.
- Turn, slip 1, knit 4.
- Turn, slip 1, purl 2 together twice (3 stitches).
- Turn, slip 1, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over (1 stitch).
- Yarn forward, slip the bobble stitch back, yarn back, slip it again, then knit on.
What MB means in a pattern
Patterns usually write a bobble as MB, for make bobble, and spell out the exact recipe in the stitch key. Bobbles vary. Some use three stitches, some five, some work two rows and some four. Always follow the pattern's own version so your bobbles match the designer's gauge. The method here is a solid default when a pattern leaves it up to you.
Why bobbles go flat, and the fix
A bobble is only attached at its base, so it tends to lean or sink back into the stockinette around it. The choke wrap fixes that. After closing the bobble you bring the yarn to the front, move the bobble stitch to the left needle, take the yarn to the back and move the stitch back. The yarn now hugs the bobble's neck. Hold it snug and knit the next stitch. The bobble stands up on its own, no extra sewing needed.
Yarn and needles
Kristin uses a DK weight yarn on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles. Smooth, light-colored yarn shows bobbles best. Fuzzy mohair or very dark yarn hides them. Wool has a bit of spring that helps bobbles keep their shape. Cotton makes crisp but heavier bobbles that pull down on a garment, so keep them small and far apart.
Where to use bobbles
Bobbles look great scattered across a hat brim or a baby blanket border, lined up between cables on a sweater or as the center of a knitted flower. A single row of them makes a fun edging on a cowl. On anything a baby might chew, use the choke wrap and a firm tension so nothing loosens.
Common problems
- Holes beside the bobble. Pull the first stitch after the bobble snug. The choke wrap helps here too.
- Lost count on the five stitches. Say it out loud: knit, purl, knit, purl, knit. You always start and end on a knit.
- Bobble on the wrong side. Bobbles are made on a right side row. If they pop out the back, you started on a wrong side row.
- Fiddly decreases. Five stitches on a short needle end feel tight. Push them close to the tip and go slowly. It gets faster by the third one.
Skills that help
Bobbles are increases and decreases packed into one spot, so it helps to know how to increase and how to decrease first. The slipped stitches are covered in how to slip a stitch. Bobbles pair well with cables.
