How to crochet the arcade stitch with bobbles

Ever wondered how to add beautiful bobbles to your crochet arcade stitches? I have made a detailed free tutorial on how to make the crochet arcade stitch with bobbles.

This is a beautiful stitch that can be used in making a baby blanket, triangular crochet shawl, rectangular crochet shawl, sweaters, crochet tops, and so on.

The crochet arcade stitch can be crocheted either in rows or in rounds, while still achieving the same beautiful look. Do you know that the crochet arcade stitch is classified as an offset stitch pattern? This means that the stitch pattern follows a repeat of basic rows.

You might ask why add the bobble crochet stitch to the arcades? The bobbles add an extra beautiful texture and make the item pop beautifully even more.

The Blooming lavender sweater, Blooming beach bag, and Blooming bobbles sweater are a few examples of projects I have designed with this stitch. Blooming bobbles triangular shawl is another beautiful design that uses the arcade crochet stitch.

Yarn suggestions for this beautiful arcade crochet stitch

Any weight of yarn would make a beautiful arcade stitch, depending on the type of project you are making. I have tried 4 Ply yarn and DK weight yarn and love the outcome.

Few things to keep in mind when selecting yarn for your project made with the arcade crochet stitch with bobbles

First is the type of project you intend on making, keep in mind that the heavier the yarn, the heavier the end project. When adding the bobbles, it might be heavy if using a chunky weight of yarn as the bobbles add some weight.

Secondly, a similar weight of yarn is advised as it would give you a beautiful finished look. If however, you wish to use different brands or different weights of yarn, it is advised that the lighter weight should be used for the bobbles.

Other projects that can be made using the arcade crochet stitch include –

1. Arcade stitch blanket
2. Arch crochet skirts
3. Crochet bracelets made using the arcade stitch
4. Arcade crochet cardigans

Arcade stitch with bobbles written pattern

Supplies needed to make the arcade crochet stitch

 Yarn – as stated above, any weight of yarn can be used. For this tutorial, I have used Lion Brand Superwash Merino, DK, Lightweight, #3 (100% Superwash Merino Wool, 306 yards/280 m per 3.5 oz/100g Ball)

Sample made using 2 colors – 

Brown  (A), Peach (B) 

Estimated Yardage 

Color A – 40 yards

Color B – 20 yards

Hook and other Materials

• US size G (4 mm) Crochet Hook.

• Stitch Markers – 2 pcs

Pattern Notes

1. Please kindly read through the pattern before starting.
2. Similar #3 weight yarn can be substituted, please check the gauge.
3. Ch 2 does not count as a stitch. Ch 4 counts as dc + ch 1.

Difficulty Level – Intermediate

Terms – US Terminology

Arcade crochet stitches abbreviations

ch(s) – Chain(s)

sl st – Slip stitch 

hdc – Half Double Crochet

hdc2tog – Half Double Crochet 2 stitches together

tr – Treble crochet

sk – Skip

rep – Repeat

Special Stitch

Bobbles = 7trtog – *Yarn over hook twice, insert hook into indicated st, yarn over, draw yarn through, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, (yarn over, draw yarn through another 2 loops) repeat from * 6 more times, “you should have 8 loops around your hook”, yarn over, pull through all the loops at once.

With A, Chain in multiples of 9 + 1

Check out the video tutorial for the arcade stitch

Row 1: Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each of the chain across, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1 (do not count as a stitch here and throughout), sc in first st, ch 1, skip next st, *sc in next st, ch 5, skip next 4 sts, sc in next st, ch 3, skip 3 sts, rep from * until the last 6 sts, sc in next st, ch 5, skip next 4 sts, sc in last st, turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, *11 dc in ch 5 sp, skip next st, sc in ch 3 sp, skip next st, rep from * to last ch 5 sp, 11 dc in ch 5 sp, skip next st and ch 1 sp, sc in last st, turn.

Row 4: Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), skip next 3 sts, sc in next st, ch 3, skip next 3 sts, sc in next st, *ch 5, skip next 7 sts, sc in next st, ch 3, skip next 3 sts, sc in next st, rep from * until the last 4 sts, skip the last 3 sts, ch 3, dc in last st, turn.

• Place stitch marker to secure the stitches and drop A
• Next Row is crocheted into Row 3 not Row 4
• Use Color B for the next row.
• Join B with a sl st to the same stitch where you had your last dc from Row 4.
• Make sure to have the stitches from Row 4 pulled backwards, with the bobbles on the right side (towards you) with all Ch 3’s behind the bobbles.
• Bobble refers to 7-tr bobble, refer to the special stitch for explanation.
• Note that the bobble is crocheted into the center st of 11 dc (shell from 2 Rows below). 

Row 5: With B, ch 1, sc in the same stitch (as where you joined your yarn) ch 4, skip next 3 sts, with the ch 3 from a Row below pulled backward, 1 bobble in next st (from 2 rows below), *ch 9, skip next 11 sts, with the ch 3 from a Row below pulled backward, 1 bobble in next st (from 2 rows below), rep from * to the last 6 sts, ch 4, skip next 5 sts, sc in last st.

* Drop color B and secure with a stitch marker.

* Do not turn, with A, you would be crocheting towards the dropped B.

* The next row is worked over both Row 4 and 5.

* Each shell (11 dc) and (5 dc) should be crocheted over the chain spaces from the last 2 rows (ch made in A and B).

* Each sc is crocheted behind the bobble into ch 3 sp. 

* Pick up A.

Row 6: With A, ch 3 (do not count as a stitch, here and throughout), 4 dc over both ch 4 from row 5 and ch 3 from row 4, *sc in ch 3 sp (from Row 4), 11 dc over both (ch 5 from row 4 and ch 9 from row 5), rep from * to last ch 3 sp, sc in ch 3 sp, 7 dc in last ch sps, turn.

Row 7: With A, ch 3, skip first 3 sts, sc in next st, *ch 5, skip next 7 sts, sc in next st, ch 3, skip next 3 sts, sc in next st, rep from * until the last 8 sts, ch 5, skip next 7 sts, sc in next st.

• Secure A with a stitch marker, drop A.
• Do not turn, the next row is crocheted from the wrong side.
• Next Row is crocheted into Row 6 not Row 7.
• You are crocheting from the wrong side, as such all bobbles should be on the right side.
• Use Color B, crocheting towards A

Row 8: With B, ch 4, pull ch 3 from row 7 forward towards you, sc in first st (from Row 6), skip next st, 1 bobble in next st *ch 9, skip next 11 sts, rep from * to end, ch 9, dc in last st (from Row 7), turn.

• Secure B with a stitch marker.
• Pick up A
• Row 9 is worked over both Row 8 and 7.

Row 9: With A, ch 3, *11 dc over ch 9 sp from row 7 and ch 5 sp from row 8, with the bobble pulled towards you, sc in ch 3 sp from row 7, rep from * to end, turn.

Rep Row 4 to 9 until you reach the desired length.

What project would you be making first using the arcade crochet stitch with bobbles? I would love to see your beautiful makes, and your color selections, do tag me with your projects.