How to Knit Bobbles Faster - Knitting in the Park

Do you love the look and feel that bobbles create in your knitted projects? They’re great embellishments for just about everything. I use them in hats, scarves, and in the Bramble Berry Baby Blanket. I’m currently reworking this pattern and it’s a lot of bobbles. To speed up this knit, I figured out how to knit bobbles faster. So come along with me in this short post and learn how you can knit them faster too.

The Premise:

Bobbles are great, but all of the turning your work back and forth can get cumbersome. This is especially true when working on a bigger project like a blanket. The weight of the project, even on circular needles can get a bit tiresome. And then as the blanket gets longer it gets twisted and harder to work with. What if there was a way to knit a bobble without having to turn your project around again and again?

There is!

I can almost hear your thoughts through the screen: But how do you purl? What do you mean? By knitting backwards, you can work the purl rows without having to rotate your work. Stick with me. It might be a little awkward or wonky at first, but after a few tries you’ll be flying and knitting bobbles faster than ever.

Learn how to knit bobbles faster and easier with this simple trick from Knitting in the Park

How to Knit Backwards:

Knitting backwards can help you knit bobbles faster, but it can also cut down on a lot of the purl stitches in a project. If you’re flicking stitches like me, purl stitches might not be your favorite. It involves a lot more movement and tires out my arms and wrists faster than knit stitches.

When you get to a section where you need to purl back across your work (IE there is a direction change. You cannot do this with every purl stitch in a project) you are ready to knit backwards. Keep your working yarn behind your project. I put the stitch on my left hand needle. Then insert the right hand needle back to front so that it is in front of your left hand needle. Wrap the yarn around your left hand needle and work your stitch. I’ve got a video below to help demonstrate this.

Instructions for a Bobble: