Bullion Stitch
a rolled coil of many yarn wraps drawn through at once, forming a raised barrel or petal
The bullion stitch makes a distinctive rolled coil by wrapping the yarn around the hook many times, then drawing a loop through all the wraps at once so they spiral into a firm little barrel standing off the fabric. Because the hook must pass cleanly through a dozen or more wraps, it is the trickiest of the common raised stitches, and it rewards a smooth, round yarn, an even wrapping tension, and sometimes a hook with a consistent shaft. Grouped in rings, bullions form crisp flowers and rosettes; worked in rows they give a deeply ridged, textured fabric. It is most loved in decorative motifs, Irish-crochet flowers, cushions, and appliqués where the sculptural coils are the feature. It is firmly an advanced stitch, less because of any single move than because keeping the wraps even and drawing through smoothly takes practice, and it uses a fair amount of yarn per stitch. Wrap a little loosely and hold the wraps down with a thumb as you pull through, and the coils come out even and clean.