About this Pattern
My son loves balls (11 months old) and he loves anything that rattles as well, so I got it in my head to create a crocheted ball with a rattle inside for him and he loves it! The first one I made was the small gray one and he drug that thing around the house, in his hands, or in his mouth for the rest of the day, squealing when we would play catch with it. The small one is a perfect size for babies under 1 years old.
This is a super easy and fast crochet project. To give you an idea of how fast, I knit the large blue ball in 45 minutes (1 episode of the x-files and it was a gripping episode so I wasn’t crocheting very fast lol).
In addition, I am very much a beginner crocheter so if I can make this up imagine what you could do!
This pattern is a great starting point for all kinds of toys for the little ones. You could use 1 large ball and 1 small ball, connect them and after adding a tail and 4 nubs for feet you have a turtle. Or combine a bunch of these for a caterpillar. Another idea is to attach some ears and you have endless possibilities: a dog, bear, fox, cat you name it. Have fun and be creative!
Please tag me @andersmillknits (on IG and Ravelry) in your projects I’d love to see what you come up with 😄.
Supplies
Small ball: Sport weight yarn approx 40 yards
For the small gray ball, I used Cotton Fair in the colorway Silver. Yarn is 52% cotton, 48% Acrylic
Large ball: worsted weight approx 40 yards
For the Larger blue ball, I used Knit Picks Brava worsted weight in the Tidepool colorway (this base is 100% acrylic)
I recommend using anything that is either 100% cotton or 100% Acrylic or a blend of that so that your baby can mouth it to their heart's content.
You can easily make this ball bigger or smaller using different weights of yarn. Imagine the size of one made out of bulky weight!
Crochet hook – Sport weight ball: 2.5 or 3 mm
Crochet hook – Worsted weight ball: 4.00 mm
You are looking for a tight weave so look at what your yarn recommends and go down at least 2 needle sizes.
Polyfill
1 rattle ball for the small ball, 2 rattles for the large ball. Here’s a link to what I purchased. https://amzn.to/41WP765
Locking stitch marker
Yarn needle to weave in ends.
Stitch Dictionary
US terms used throughout
Ch - chain stitch
Sc - single crochet
St(s) - stitch(es)
Inv sc dec - Invisible single crochet decrease: Insert your hook into the front loop only of the next 2 stitches (you should have 3 loops on your needle at this point). Yarn over, pull through the first 2 loops on your hook (2 loops left on your hook). Yarn over, pull through the remaining 2 loops on your hook. Stitch complete. (This stitch will look almost indiscernible to the sc stitch so pay attention to your stitch count on the decrease rounds)!
Important Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked in a continuous circle so the interlocking stitch marker is essential to know when you are starting a new round. You will notice that as a result we do not chain up at any point to start a new round. There is no need as this is a seamless construction.
As noted, the locking st marker is extremely important in this construction. As you begin each new round you will remove the marker, work the first stitch of that round, and REPLACE the stitch marker so you always know when you reach the end/beginning of a round.
Pattern
Cast on using a magic circle.
Increase section:
Round 1 Sc 6 sts into the loop. Pull the tail end tight to close the loop [6 sts].
Round 2 2sc in each st in the round, place your interlocking st marker into the first stitch of this round. [12 sts].
Round 3 Remove st marker, sc in next st, place st marker in this st, 2sc in next st, ( sc in next st, 2sc in next st) 6 times times total [18 sts]. Note: I do not remind you to replace the st marker after this round so remember to do that!
Round 4 Remove st marker, (sc in next 2 sts, 2sc in next st) 6 times [24 sts].
Round 5 Remove st marker, (sc in next 3 sts, 2sc in next st) 6 times [30 sts].
Round 6 Remove st marker, (sc in next 4 sts, 2sc in next st) 6 times [36 sts].
Round 7 Remove st marker, (sc in next 5 sts, 2sc in next st) 6 times [42 sts].
Rounds 8 – 14 (7 rounds) sc in each st in the round [42 sts]. Make sure to keep your st marker in the same beginning st for each round.
Decrease section:
Round 15 Remove st marker, (sc in next 5 sts, 1 inv sc dec) 6 times [36 sts].
Round 16 Remove st marker, (sc in next 4 sts, 1 inv sc dec) 6 times [30 sts].
Round 17 Remove st marker, (sc in next 3 sts, 1 inv sc dec) 6 times [24 sts].
At the end of round 17, firmly stuff the ball with polyfill (firmly but don’t overstuff).This is also where you will insert the rattle(s), nestle it/them in the middle of the ball surrounded by the polyfill.
You will continue stuffing the ball throughout the remaining rounds to maintain the firmness of the ball. As the hole gets smaller you can use the none hook end of your crochet hook to insert the polyfill.
Round 18 Remove st marker, (sc in next 2sts, 1 inv sc dec) 6 times [18 sts].
Round 19 Remove st marker, (sc in next st, 1 inv sc dec) 6 times [12 sts].
Round 20 Remove st marker, (1 inv sc dec) 6 times [6 sts].
Cut yarn and weave in the ends making sure to close the cast on and cast off circles.
Now go play ball with your little one!
Yorumlar