Bobble Stitch
firm, round knots that stand off a plain ground, placed singly as accents or in an all-over grid
A bobble is a small, firm knot made by exploding one stitch into several, working a few short rows on just those stitches, then gathering them back to one. A common version: into the bobble stitch work (knit one, yarn over, knit one, yarn over, knit one), which makes five stitches from one; turn and purl those five, turn and knit them, turn and purl them again, then with the right side facing pass the second through fifth stitches over the first, or knit them together, to return to a single stitch. The extra rows are what make the bobble stand proud of the fabric; the more rows, the larger the knot. Bobbles usually sit on a stockinette ground so the smooth background throws them into relief, and they can be scattered as accents, lined up in a grid, or grouped into shapes and lettering. Keep the stitches before and after a bobble snug, since the increase and decrease can loosen its neighbours. Bobbles are firm and use extra yarn, so they add weight and texture rather than drape.