Bobble Border – How to Crochet Tutorial

Learn how to add a fun, zig zag bobble border to blankets, baskets, and clothing with this free crochet stitch tutorial. Includes photo & video tutorials.

Recently, I crocheted a baby blanket for my cousin and couldn’t decide what border to add. I polled my Instagram followers, and the winner was this fun, zig zag bobble border! Cute, right? I made a photo & video tutorial so you can add your own bobble edging to your crochet projects.

vertical image of a crocheted blanket with a blue/purple border and the words "free crochet tutorial - bobble border - you should craft"

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The border is crocheted using a base row of single crochets, then a combination of bobble stitches and chains that create open triangles with bobbles on top. If you can crochet the bobble stitch, you’ll find this edging simple, but time consuming. Each bobble is actually two bobble stitches combined like a clam shell, so there are a lot of stitches in each one.

Regardless of the time (and yarn) commitment, I love this edging! My favorite thing is that it can be added to LITERALLY anything. I added mine to a baby blanket, but how cute would bobbles be along the bottom of a festival crop top? Or at the top of a storage basket or bag? So many possibilities! Where will you put a bobble border?

chris traeger from parks and recreation with the words "you are literally reading this in my voice"
Image credit: NBC / Parks and Recreation; Meme credit WhatCulture.com

Supplies / Materials

  • *Almost* finished project
  • Yarn & matching hook
  • Tapestry needle for weaving ends
  • Scissors for trimming yarn

Note: For this tutorial, I crocheted my bobble border using Caron One Pound yarn in “Ultramarine” and an I-9 5.5 mm Cookies n Cream Streamline Swirl hook from Furls Fiberarts.

Abbreviations / Techniques

  • ch – chain
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • single crochet – sc
  • dc4tog, dc5tog – double crochet 4 or 5 together
  • sk – skip
  • st – stitch
  • bobble stitch – for this project, a bobble stitch is a dc5tog in the same chain, but the ch 2 counts as the first stitch

Bobble Border Video Tutorial

Bobble Border Photo Tutorial

Round 1: Crochet one round of sc border and join to first sc with sl st.

Position your project so the *wrong* side is facing you. Depending on the direction of your sc border, you may or may not need to turn your work.

Round 2: *ch 7, dc5tog in third ch from hook (ch 2 counts as first dc), ch 3

Like my crochet hook? It’s a Cookies n Cream Streamline Swirl from Furls FiberArts

dc5tog in third ch from hook (ch 2 counts as first dc), ch 4, sk 3 st, join to fourth st with sl st*

If adding edging to a round project, repeat * section until you reach the first stitch, or have less than 4 stitches left. sl st to the end. Trim yarn and weave in ends.

If adding edging to a square or rectangular project, repeat * section until you reach the end of a side, or have less than 4 stitches left on a side.

sl st to the corner and continue to repeat the * section until you reach another corner or the end of your project. Trim yarn and weave in ends.

image of a crochet blanket with on a blue background with the text "how to crochet a bobble border - free crochet tutorial from you should craft"