This whimsical pillow is easy and fairly quick to make. Lily Sugar and Cream Cotton has the classic colors and the small 2.5 oz. skeins keep the price down for the 6 colors needed.
Yarn- I used Lily Sugar and Cream in Mod Green, Sunshine, White, Red/Rouge, Hot Orange, Dazzle Blue.
Polyfil to stuff the ball firmly, approx a 16 oz bag.
Hook- H
Abbreviations: ch-chain, sc-single crochet, hdc-half double crochet, st-stitch(s). Also, for the end caps, inc, meaning increase, is to put two sc into one stitch, therefore increasing the number of stitches in the round.
For the Ball, ch 41
Row 1. sc in 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next 4 ch, hdc in the next 30 ch, sc in the last 5 ch, ch1, turn. (40)
Row 2-12. sc in the first 5 st, hdc in the next 30 st, sc in the last 5 st, ch1, turn. (40)(Change to the next color on the last stitch of row 12)
Row 13-24. Same as 2-12, change to the next color on the last stitch of row 24.
Row 25-36. Same as 2-12, change color on the last stitch of row 36.
Row 37-48. Same as 2-12, change color on the last stitch of row 48.
Row 49-60. Same as 2-12, change color on the last stitch of row 60.
Row 61-72. Same as 2-12, fasten off.
With the same yarn either put a slipknot on the hook and slip stitch Row 1 to Row 72, or thread the yarn onto a tapestry needle and whipstitch them together.
For the white end caps, make 2, start with a magic ring. If you haven’t done one before, you can find tutorials on Youtube called crocheted magic ring, or magic circle.
Round 1. 8sc into the magic ring, join with a slip stitch to 1st sc. ch1, it doesn’t count as a stitch. At the end of each round, join with the 1st sc, not the ch1.(skip over it)
Round 2. sc, inc in every other. (12) join, ch 1
Round 3. sc, inc in every other. (18) join, ch 1
Round 4. sc, inc in every 3rd.(24) join. Fasten off.
Thread a tapestry needle with a length of white yarn, secure it on one end of your floppy ball shape, then do a running stitch around the opening, pull it and tighten to a circle that is smaller than the end cap that you made, fasten off.
Thread white yarn again on the needle, 12-15″, and sew the white disc over the hole, sewing around the edge of the disc, covering the hole completely. Fasten off.
Stuff the ball with Polyfil, keep pushing in and to the sides, rounding out the ball and filling fairly firmly, until full and the stuffing wants to push back out. With the needle and yarn again secure a knot to the open edge and do a running stitch around the top opening, pull half closed and stuff more until the ball is round and pretty firm. Pull opening closed until the 2nd disc will cover the hole, then secure with a knot. Put a little more stuffing into the small hole and sew the disc over, as before.
I find that each end will be a little different. the first end will be a little more gathered and the second end will be more smooth. I think if you wanted to go back and remove the first disc and gathering stitch and do it again now it would be smooth as the 2nd disc. My family loves the ball as is and didn’t find this necessary.
