The formula is simple and scaling is easy! Follow this tutorial to make a perfect sphere and boost your confidence in your ability to make a sphere of any size!
As in all my tutorial posts, I have linked videos and/or articles to explain key concepts. If you're unfamiliar with any terminology in my posts, please click the links and utilize my resources to help get you up to speed. If you need something else explained, please contact me for more help - I am very responsive!
To ensure your sphere is as round as possible, use the staggered increase technique. If you are unfamiliar with this technique, please learn about it in my Increase Factor post. The staggered increase technique results in a more blended round shape as you increase your rounds, versus a hexagonal shape, and this is the pattern I am sharing in this tutorial.
Crochet a Sphere
To follow this sphere tutorial, you should be familiar with the following stitches and terminology:
mc = magic circle (loop/ring)
sc = single crochet
inc = increase (2 sc in same stitch)
dec = invisible decrease
st(s) = stitch(es)
[...] = total stitch count of round
The first round of the sphere begins with a magic circle. If you are unsure how to make this, please watch this tutorial video.
At this point, you can begin stuffing your sphere. Continue adding stuffing as you reduce your rounds.
Round 13: (sc, dec, sc) 6x [18]
Round 14: (sc, dec) 6x [12]
Add a bit more stuffing as desired. Cut yarn leaving a tail about 6 inches long. Next, you will close up the hole by making a drawstring with the yarn tail and pulling the hole closed. For all 3D shapes, I use the Seamless Closing Method to complete the last round of the shape and close up my work after stuffing. If you are unfamiliar with the technique, please watch my linked video or read about it here.
Scaling the Sphere
If you want to make a smaller or bigger sphere, there is a very simple formula to follow. In this pattern, I increased the stitch count in the first 5 rounds. Then, rounds 6 through 11 were crocheted continuously, with no increases. So, we can say that there are 5 increase rounds and 6 continuous rounds. For every increase round you crochet to make a sphere, crochet that many continuous rounds, plus 1. That's it!
If you increase up to 3 rounds to have 18 stitches, crochet 4 continuous rounds of 18 stitches! Then decrease with the same multiples of 6 as your last increase round.
If you increase up to 8 rounds to have 48 stitches, crochet 9 continuous rounds of 48 stitches! Rinse and repeat! So easy!
I hope you found this tutorial helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions. Check out my other posts for more information and my YouTube channel for helpful video tutorials!
Happy crafting!
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