Crocheting a ball is not difficult. You can make balls with one color or try to make balls with colorful stripes. You can also create a row of tiny balls on the piece you're working with with a special crochet technique known as a ball stitch.
Step
Method 1 of 3: One Color Little Ball Doll
Step 1. Make a knot and two chain stitches
Tie a live knot at the end of your crochet hook. From the loop at your knot, make two chain stitches.
Step 2. Make six single stitches
Make six single stitches on the second stitch of the hook, which is the first chain stitch you made.
Once done, you have made your first round. This round has six stitches
Step 3. Make two single stitches on each stitch in the previous round
Complete your second round by making two single stitches on each single crochet from the previous round.
Your second round should have a total of 12 stitches
Step 4. Alternate two and one single crochet
For your third round, make two single crochet in the first crochet of the previous round, then a single crochet in the second crochet of the previous round. Repeat on each stitch.
You have 18 stitches
Step 5. Complete three rounds of single crochet
For rounds four through six, make a single crochet on each stitch from the previous round.
- For the fourth round, stitch the third round; For the fifth round, stitch the fourth round; For the sixth round, stitch the fifth round.
- Each round has 18 stitches.
- After you complete the sixth round, you may have to flip the ball you created to improve its shape.
Step 6. Make a single crochet stitch in the next round
Make a single stitch across the two stitches in the previous round. Then, make a single crochet on the next stitch. Repeat so on.
- You have 12 stitches in this seventh round.
- You're halfway through your ball creation and are about to start shrinking it again with this step. In essence, you'll be creating the same rows as when you started, but in the reverse order.
Step 7. Fill your ball
Fill your balls with dacron, dry beans, or plastic bags.
If you are using something small like dry beans, you will need to wait until the next round to fill it up. If you wait longer than that, it will be difficult to fill it
Step 8. Make a single crochet crochet back
For the eighth round, make a single crochet cut across the two stitches from the previous round. Repeat so on.
You now have six stitches
Step 9. Make a single crochet stitch for the ninth and final round
Make a single stitch across the two stitches in the previous round. Repeat so on.
You should only be making three stitches
Step 10. Tighten the ends
Cut the thread, leaving the thread long enough. Hook the thread and pull it through the loop on the hook, creating a knot that secures your ball.
Weave the remaining thread into the stitch on the ball to hide it
Method 2 of 3: Big Colorful Striped Ball Doll
Step 1. Make a knot and two chain stitches
Tie a live knot at the end of your crochet hook. From the loop at your knot, make two chain stitches.
Join the stitch with the slip stitch to make a basic loop
Step 2. Make six single stitches
Make six single stitches on the second stitch of the hook, which is the first chain stitch you made.
Your first round is complete
Step 3. Make two single stitches on each stitch from the previous round
For the second round, make two single stitches on each stitch from the previous round.
- It is highly recommended to use contrasting colored yarn, paper clips, or plastic stitch markers to mark the end of your loop. This applies to this round and subsequent rounds. By doing this, it will be easier for you to know the starting and ending points of your round.
- You have 12 stitches in this round.
Step 4. Alternate two and one single crochet
For your third round, make two single crochet in the first crochet of the previous round, then a single crochet in the second crochet of the previous round. Repeat on each stitch.
You have 18 stitches in this round
Step 5. Change the yarn color and make a fourth round single crochet
To create a stripe motif, tie the thread of the second color instead of tying the thread of the first color. Make a fourth loop with a single crochet in the next two stitches and twice in the next one. Complete this pattern until the end of the round..
You have 24 stitches in this round
Step 6. Alternate two and one single crochet
For your fifth round, make a single crochet in the next three stitches from the previous round, then two single crochet in the next. Repeat on each stitch until the end of the round.
You have 30 stitches in this round
Step 7. Continue to increase the size of your ball for the sixth round
Continue to increase the size of your ball by making 1 single crochet in each of the four stitches in the previous round. Make two single stitches on the next stitch. Repeat until the end of the round.
This gives you 36 stitches
Step 8. Change the color and continue to increase the size of your ball
Replace the color with the color you first used in the seventh round. Make a single crochet in each of the five stitches from the previous round, followed by two single crochet stitches in the next stitch. Repeat until the end of the round
You have 42 stitches in this round
Step 9. Add the number of single stitches for the next six rounds
You will repeat the same pattern for the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th rounds. Change the color of your yarn back to the second color after you have completed the 9th round, then switch back to the first color after you have completed the round to -12.
- For round 8, make one single crochet in the next six stitches followed by two single crochet in the next stitch, and repeat until the end of the round. This will give you 48 stitches.
- For round 9, make one single crochet in the next seven stitches followed by two single crochet in the next stitch, and repeat until the end of the round. This will give you 54 stitches.
- For round 10, make one single crochet in the next eight stitches followed by two single crochet in the next stitch, and repeat until the end of the round. This will give you 60 stitches.
- For round 11, make one single crochet in the next nine stitches followed by two single crochet in the next stitch, and repeat until the end of the round. This will give you 66 stitches.
- For round 12, make one single crochet in the next ten stitches followed by two single crochet in the next stitch, and repeat until the end of the round. This will give you 72 stitches.
- For round 13, make one single crochet in the next eleven stitches followed by two single crochet in the next stitch, and repeat until the end of the round. This will give you 78 stitches.
Step 10. Make a single crochet in each stitch in rounds 14 to 21
The next eight rounds will have the same pattern. You only need to make a single crochet in each stitch in subsequent rounds.
- Change your yarn to the second color after completing the 15th round. Switch back to the first color after completing the 18th round, and finish the ball with that color.
- Each round will have 78 stitches.
Step 11. Finish
Cut the thread, leaving a fairly long tail. Wrap the tail of the thread on your hook and pull it through the loop on your hook. This will make a strong and tight knot.
Step 12. Repeat to make the other half
The steps you just performed only completed half the ball. To complete the other half, you'll need to follow the same steps, including the steps that require you to change colors.
Step 13. Combine the two
Thread the thread into the 61 cm long embroidery needle of the first color. Sew your two ball halves together by aligning the edges of the ball and threading the thread on both stitches from the edge of the cleavage.
- Arrange the two balls, one on top of the other, with the sides facing in.
- Sew around it leaving 2.5 cm.
Step 14. Fill your ball
Turn the sides of your ball. Fill your ball with dacron or any other material you want through the gap you have left.
To make crunchy balls, you can fill them with a plastic bag. To make nut balls, fill your balls with dry beans
Step 15. Cover your ball
Thread additional thread through the needle, if needed, and sew the gap with a stick stitch. Fasten with a knot.
Weave the end of the thread into the ball stitch to hide it
Method 3 of 3: Stab the Ball
Step 1. Hook the thread and pull it through the stitch next to it
Wrap the yarn around your hook. Insert the hook into the stitch next to it, wrap the thread one more time from the back, and pull it back to the front to make a loop on your hook. This will give you three circles on your hook.
Note that the ball stitch will not form a ball on its own. However, you can use it if you want to add a ball effect to the piece you're working on. You must be working on a piece of work to use this stitch, and you must start this stitch with a loop already hanging on your hook
Step 2. Repeat three times
By the end of this process, you should have nine loops on your hook.
- Hook the thread (4th loop) and thread the hook into the same stitch. Hook the thread back and pull it to the front of your piece (5th circle).
- Tie the thread back in front (6th circle) and thread the hook into the same stitch. Retie the thread at the back before pulling it forward (7th circle).
- Wrap the thread on the hook in front (8th circle) and thread the hook one last time on the same stitch. Hook it again at the back and pull the hook back to the front (9th circle).
Step 3. Tie the thread and pull it through the nine loops
With a hook in front of your piece. wind the thread again. Pull this thread through nine loops at a time. This will complete your ball stitch.
You may have to turn your ball stitch with your finger to make sure they are facing the same direction if you plan to make a row of these stitches
Tips
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Making a single crochet reduction requires you to make a single crochet through two single crochet stitches in your piece.
- Wrap the thread on the hook, thread the hook into the appropriate stitch, and wrap the thread around the hook on the other side.
- Pull this loop through it, loop the thread back in, and thread your hook into the next stitch.
- Wrap the yarn around the hook from the other side and pull another loop forward.
- Pull this last loop through the two loops on your hook to complete the stitch.
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You'll need to make the stem stitch stitch using your embroidery needle.
- Thread your needle through the front and back loops on both sides of the ball, starting at the bottom of the gap. Pull the thread until it stops at the knot at the end of the thread.
- Thread the needle through the next loop on both sides of the ball. Sew in the same direction as before and pull the thread all the way through. This will complete a stem stitch.
- Repeat until it covers the gap.
