Nupps and Bobbles: Adding Texture to Your Knits

Do you love textured knits? Projects full of different stitch patterns and and three dimensional textures have always been popular but recently knits with bobbles, those fun little balls integrated into your knitting, are making a comeback. Today we’ll talk about some of the ways to add texture to your knitting, including how to create nupps and bobbles, and the differences between the two techniques. Let’s dive in!

Nupps

Nupps originate from Estonian knitting where the word “nupp” translates to bud. These small buds, or nupps, are created in the space of a single stitch and are generally more delicate than bobbles. They are also worked within the knitting and tend to sit flush with your knitting, rather than on top of your knitting (as bobbles do, which we’ll discuss below).

To create a nupp, work your knitting to the stitch where you want to place it.

 

Work the nupp by creating knit stitches (abbreviated as a k) and yarnovers (abbreviated as yo) into the same stitch. Nupps can come in any size, but common sizes are 5 or 7 “loops.” In the swatch shown below, we have created a 7-stitch nupp by k-yo-k-yo-k-yo-k into the same stitch.

Hint: Take care to leave the loops loose enough that you can work them on the return row.

Next, slip the original stitch off of the needle and continue working to the end of your row.

 

On the following row, resolve the nupp by working all 7 loops as one stitch. In this case, we will purl the 7 stitches together into a single stitch.

Hint: If you find purling the nupp difficult with your knitting needles, many knitters use a crochet hook to help pull the working yarn through all 7 stitches.

Bobbles

Bobbles are similar to nupps in that they add texture to your knitting, but the difference is that they sit more prominently on top of your knitting. Bobbles are created within a single stitch, but they are worked back and forth a few times before resolving (as opposed to resolving these stitches on the next row as described above). Bobbles can be any size, and for comparison we’ll make ours using the same number of stitches as above.

To create a bobble, work to the stitch where you want to place it.

Then, knit into the front (abbreviated as f) and back (abbreviated as b) of the same stitch repeatedly. In this case, that means we will knit f-b-f-b-f-b-f, creating 7 loops on the needle.

 

Rather than continuing to work the current row, you will now turn your work and build up the bobble. Begin by purling all 7 stitches, then turn your work again. Knit the 7 bobble stitches, and turn the work. For the final row, purl all 7 stitches across, and then turn your work so that you are ready to resume work on the right side of your project. Resolve the bobble by knitting these 7 loops together.

Once you have finished knitting the bobble, you can work to the end of the row.

Knitting Patterns with Nupps & Bobbles

Now that you’re armed with two new techniques for adding texture to your knits, there’s a whole world of patterns you might enjoy! For your first bobble project, try the January Hat by Courtney Kelley, which is a free hat pattern that will give you a chance to test your newfound knowledge of bobbles, or try the Leni Hat by Isabell Kraemer. Love to knit shawls? Aeolian by Elizabeth Freeman is a free Knitty pattern that combines nupps with lace for a beautiful effect, or check out the Echo Flower Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen. Go big on yarn and texture with the Bobble Throw by Jen Geigley, or stitch some wearable bobbles with the Faded Neve sweater by Andrea Mowry. 

Note: These patterns links, except Aeolian, go to Ravelry . 

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