Yellou Pink and Sparkly
Patchwork Ball
By Janet McMahon
Sometimes it's nice to just sit and play with some yarn and a crochet hook! On one of my 'playing' sessions I started to make some plain hexagons and then thought about putting them together. By the end of the afternoon I had come up with this -
It's a patchwork ball that's lovely and squashy and interesting to look at. The idea developed as I went along but basically it is 8 hexagons and 6 squares, joined to make a ball and decorated with embroidery and applique. There are limitless possibilities for colour combinations. I chose to use 4 different colours for the hexagons (2 hexagons in each colour) but used the same colour for all the squares. The amount of embroidery and embellishment you want to incorporate in the project is entirely up to you. I decorated all the hexagons but left the squares blank.
I used DK yarn and a 3 mm hook, but any weight of yarn could be used. 1 would recommend using a hook that gives a tight gauge whatever weight of yarn is used. Hexagons (make 8) English crochet terms used tr (English) = dc (US) Using DK yarn and a 3 mm hook make 4 ch, sl st into 1st ch to form a ring. 1st round: 3 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr (US dc) into ring, [1 ch, 2 tr into ring] 5 times, 1 ch, sl st into top of 3 ch. 2nd round: 3ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into next tr, [(1 tr, 1 ch, 1 tr) into 1 ch sp, 1 tr into next 2 tr] 5 times, ( 1 tr, 1 ch, 1 tr) into 1 ch sp, sl st into top of 3 ch. 3rd round: 3ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into next 2 tr, [(1 tr, 1 ch, 1 tr) into 1 ch sp, 1 tr into next 4 tr] 5 times, ( 1 tr, 1 ch, 1 tr) into 1 ch sp,1 tr into next tr, sl st into top of 3 ch. Fasten off. Squares (make 6) Using DK yarn and a 3 mm hook make 4 ch, sl st into 1st ch to form a ring. 1st round: 3 ch (counts as 1 tr), 2 tr into ring, [1 ch, 3 tr into the ring] 3 times, 1 ch, sl st into top of initial 3 ch. 2nd round: 3 ch (counts as 1 tr), 1 tr into next 2 tr, [(1 tr, 1 ch, 1 tr) into ch sp, 1 tr into next 3 tr] 3 times, ( 1 tr, 1 ch, 1 tr) into ch sp, sl st into top of 3 ch。 Fasten off.
It is easiest to decorate the hexagons and squares before the ball is constructed. The centres of the large flowers are crocheted as follows: Using DK yarn and a 3 mm hook make 4 ch, sl st into 1st ch to form a ring. 3 ch (counts as 1st tr, 11 tr into ring, sl st into top of 3 ch. Fasten off. I stuffed these lightly when applying them to the ball.
The heart motif is also crocheted, as follows: Using DK yarn and a 3 mm hook make 4 ch. 1st round: 11 tr (US = dc) into 1st of the 4 ch. The other 3 ch count as first tr. Sl st into top of 3ch. 2nd round: sl st into next tr, (1 dc {Us = sc}, 2 tr) into next tr, (2 tr, 1 dc) into next tr, sl st into next tr, (1dc, 2 tr) into next tr, (2 tr, 1 dc) into next tr, sl st into next 3 tr, (1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc) into next tr, sl st into next 3 tr. Fasten off.
The remaining decoration was all embroidered using DK yarn oddments. Anything goes. I'm particularly proud of the bee, which is made using bullion knots.
Once decorated the ball is constructed in two halves around a central hexagon as per this diagram:
When each half has been joined along all the seams, the two halves can be joined. Leave a small opening for stuffing (but do not overstuff), then close the opening.
I hope you enjoy making this. Patchwork Ball ? Janet McMahon, 2010. www.yellowpinkandsparkly.blogspot.com
