Crochet Pickleball Paddle Cover with a Ball Pocket
A snug sleeve that protects the face of a pickleball paddle, with a drawstring at the handle and a pocket on the side for a ball. Worked in the round in cotton; sized from your paddle's measurements.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Easy
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) cotton, about 180 yd
- Hook
- 4.5 mm (7)
- Time
- About 5 hours
- Finished size
- Fits standard paddles about 8 in wide × 8½ in face
You'll need
- Worsted (#4) cotton — about 180 yd
- 4.5 mm (7) hook
- Stitch marker
- Cord lock (optional)
- Tapestry needle
In this post
A crochet pickleball paddle cover is a sleeve that fits over the paddle face and closes around the handle. Size it from the paddle: measure around the face (twice the width plus twice the thickness), multiply by your gauge and take off 5% so it grips. Start with an oval base the width of the paddle, work rounds up the face, add an eyelet round at the throat and a drawstring. A small side pocket holds a ball.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the US, and a handmade cover is a gift players actually use.
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
Find your count
- Measure the paddle: a standard paddle is about 8 in wide and ½ in thick, so 2 × 8.5 = 17 in around.
- Worsted cotton on 4.5 mm is about 4½ sc per inch: 17 × 4.5 = 76.
- Take off 5%: 72 stitches. Chain half: 36.
The cover (72 stitches)
- Rnd 1: Ch 36. Sc in the 2nd ch, sc in the next 33, 3 sc in the last ch. Along the other side, sc in the next 33, 2 sc in the first ch. (72)
- Rnds 2–38: Sc in each st in a spiral. Try it on the paddle; stop when it reaches the throat (where the face meets the handle). (72)
- Rnd 39: (4 sc, dec) × 12 — the cover narrows toward the handle. (60)
- Rnd 40 (eyelets): *Dc in the next, ch 1, skip 1* around. (30 eyelets)
- Rnd 41: Sc in each st and space. Fasten off. (60)
- Drawstring: Ch 100, sl st back along it. Thread through the eyelets and add a cord lock.
Ball pocket
- Rnds 1–7: 6 sc in a magic ring; increase 6 per round to 42. (42)
- Rnds 8–13: Sc in each st — a little cup about 3 in across. (42)
- Rnd 14: Sl st around. Sew the cup to the side of the cover, open end up. A 2.9-inch pickleball pops in snugly.
Personalise it
| Idea | How |
|---|---|
| Initials | Chain-stitch them on the face |
| Stripes | Change colour every 6 rounds |
| Carry loop | Ch 30 at the throat for a wrist loop |
| Tennis racket | Same method, measured around the racket head |
For the water bottle, see the bottle holder; for the gym bag, a drawstring bag. More sporty gifts: golf club covers.
Common questions
How do I size a crochet paddle cover?
Measure around the paddle face (2 × width + 2 × thickness), multiply by your stitches per inch and take off about 5% so it fits snugly.
Does a crochet cover protect a pickleball paddle?
It protects the face and edge guard from scratches in a bag. It won't protect against heavy impacts.
What yarn is best?
Cotton: it's firm, doesn't fuzz onto the paddle surface and is washable.
Dink or drive? 🏓
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