Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Crocheted Volleyball pattern

I made a crocheted volleyball last year for a Volleyball game that our local Middle School was hosting. The game was a fundraiser for cancer (relay for Life, I think, maybe).
All the girls loved it. Unfortunately, like a lot of my projects, I didn't write down how I made it. Mostly I like to just sit down and make something, no pattern, no preparation, Just Do It.
I was doing a lot of experimenting with Tunisian crochet at the time. I remember loving the look, but hating the work it took to get done. So this year, I decided to make a new one and make a pattern. It turned out just a fuzz bigger than an actual volleyball size, but I still love it.

I used a size J hook. I didn't pay to much attention to gauge. If you are wanting to get the exact size of an official volleyball, then you might want to use a size or two smaller hook. 
I used white, navy, and grey yarn. This happens to be the colors of my step-daughter's school (I homeschool my little girls but if I didn't, this would be their school colors too). The middle school volleyball coach happens to be a good friend of mine (and an all-around awesome lady), so this ball is for the South Central Lady Falcons!


Crochet Volleyball pattern




Crochet hook size J
With white, chain 27
Double crochet in 3rd chain from hook, and continue to double crochet in each stitch across.
Row 2:  Chain 2, turn, double crochet in each stitch across
Row 3:  Chain 2, turn, double crochet in each stitch across
Break  yarn and finish off.
Turn strip upside down and slip stitch in bottom beginning chain. Single crochet in each stitch across and break yarn and finish off.

With Gray, slip stitch to join (on either end of the white strip)
Chain 2, double crochet in each stitch across.
Row 2: chain 2, turn, double crochet 2 together, double crochet across the row until you have 2 spaces left, double crochet2 together.
Break  off yarn (be sure to leave a long tail of yarn to stitch with)


Row 3: repeat row 2
With Navy, repeat what you did with the Gray, only on the other side of the white strip.
Make 6 of these sections and then sew them together with a yarn needle.

 Make sure you sew them facing opposite directions like a real volleyball.
I stuffed the ball with some fiberfill before I sewed up the last section. I was afraid that the fiberfill might poke through between the crochets, so I put some quilt batting around the inside (so of lining the ball). It ended up being a nice soft squishy ball. If you want a harder more bouncyish ball, you might try sewing your sections over a cheap kids rubber ball. the only downside to that would be that if your ball looses air or pops, then you are going to have to take the whole thing apart to replace it.

Well, I am off to make another one of these in the opposing teams colors!

 

11 comments:

  1. What type of yarn did you use for this?

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    1. U can use any brand of a thin yarn.

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  2. I just used red heart super saver yarn. You could use just about anything, I would think.

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  3. I finished the 6 sets but am unable to piece together. There isn't instructions on layout and the picture don't show enough. Can you please help me out?

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  4. basically, assemble it as you would a cube. stitch together your sections so that the stripes are running opposite directions like a volleyball. Stitch together all of the sections except leave open one side of a section in order to stuff it. When you stuff it, it will puff out into more of a ball shape. When you are done stuffing it, then sew the last section shut.
    Hope this helps, If not then let me know and I will draw it out for you! Good Luck and feel free to email me a picture of the finished project. I would love to see it!

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  5. Thank you so much for this pattern! I have tried for SO LONG to find a volleyball pattern and your pattern is the only one I have found, let alone a free and easy to understand one! You have a real talent! Thank you again!

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  6. Thanks for this pattern really enjoyed making it, but I do not know how to sew the volleyball together, like how the peices go together. could you show me a picture or explain how to sew them together.

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    1. Check out the last picture of the finished product. I just sewed them together with a yarn needle and yarn, using a simple whip stitch. Sew the end of the stripes to the end of a solid piece to form what looks like a cube, but it will be more rounded once you stuff it.

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  7. I love this pattern as well very simple to do but i am having a hard time putting it together i tried following the picture but that was difficult as well is there anyways u can make a video to show us how to put it together?

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  8. I cannot figure out how to assemble. Please give a diagram. Thanks

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