Crochet Ball Pattern: A Perfect Sphere in Any Size

Medium ball — 3 in (7.5 cm)

Worsted yarn, 3.5 mm hook, worked in a continuous spiral. Mark the first stitch of each round.

1. Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
2. Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12)
3. Rnd 3: (Sc 1, inc) 6 times. (18)
4. Rnd 4: (Sc 2, inc) 6 times. (24)
5. Rnd 5: (Sc 3, inc) 6 times. (30)
6. Rnd 6: (Sc 4, inc) 6 times. (36)
7. Rnds 7–12: Sc in each st around. (36)
8. Rnd 13: (Sc 4, dec) 6 times. (30)
9. Rnd 14: (Sc 3, dec) 6 times. (24)
10. Rnd 15: (Sc 2, dec) 6 times. (18)

Stuff firmly now — a ball needs more stuffing than feels reasonable, and it must be added before the hole gets small.

10. Rnd 16: (Sc 1, dec) 6 times. (12)
11. Rnd 17: Top up the stuffing, then dec 6 times. (6)

Fasten off with a 6 in tail, thread it through the front loop of each of the last 6 stitches, pull tight and bury the end inside.

The other three sizes

Small — 2 in (5 cm)

Increase to 24 (Rnds 1–4), work Rnds 5–8 straight, then decrease: (sc 2, dec) ×6 → 18, (sc 1, dec) ×6 → 12, dec ×6 → 6.

Large — 4 in (10 cm)

Add one more increase round after Rnd 6: (Sc 5, inc) 6 times (42). Work 7 straight rounds, then mirror the decreases: (sc 5, dec) ×6 → 36, and carry on as the medium ball from Rnd 13.

Extra large — 5½ in (14 cm)

Two extra increase rounds: (Sc 5, inc) ×6 → 42, (Sc 6, inc) ×6 → 48. Nine straight rounds, then mirror all the way back down.

The formula for any size

To make a sphere of any diameter:

1. Step 1: Keep adding increase rounds — each adds 6 stitches — until the flat circle measures about one third of the diameter you want.
2. Step 2: Work straight rounds equal to the number of increase rounds you made.
3. Step 3: Decrease in exact mirror image of the increases.

Round n of increases always follows the pattern "(sc n−2, inc) 6 times" and ends on 6 × n stitches. That single line is the whole system.

Make it your own

• Baby rattle: put a rattle insert or a sealed plastic capsule with a few beads inside the stuffing. Sew every end down securely.
• Juggling balls: see our weighted juggling ball version.
• Striped bauble: change colour every two rounds and add a hanging loop at the top.
• Soccer ball: our soccer ball pattern starts from this exact sphere.

Common questions

Why is my ball pointy instead of round?

Too few straight rounds in the middle, or the decreases don't mirror the increases. Count: if you made 6 increase rounds you need 6 decrease rounds in reverse order.

Why can I see the stuffing through my stitches?

The hook is too big. Drop to 3.5 mm with worsted yarn — see our hook size chart. You can also line the inside with a scrap of felt.

How much yarn does a crochet ball use?

Roughly 15 yd for a 2 in ball, 30 yd for 3 in, 50 yd for 4 in, and 85 yd for 5½ in, in worsted weight.

How do I make the ball firmer?

More stuffing, added in small wisps and pressed into the sides as well as the middle. For a really firm ball, add a few grams at a time and squeeze after each one.

Is a crochet ball safe for a baby?

Yes, if it has no safety eyes, no buttons and no loose ends, and the yarn is washable. Check the seams regularly as it gets chewed.

Make one, then make one at a size nobody wrote a pattern for. ⚽