Tag: free crochet patterns

amigurumi

Free No-Sew Crochet Tennis Ball Pattern

Secret Crochet Box

I designed this no-sew crochet tennis ball pattern because I don’t like sewing or embroidering in crochet projects. Also, I have seen all those perfect AI photos of crochet tennis balls and was hesitating at first. But the pattern turned out quite well so I want to share it with all of you guys. It is going to ba a perfect last-minute gift for a tennis fan or just a cute project to use up your yarn leftovers. Enjoy crocheting!

You will need:

  • 3,5 mm crochet hook
  • white and pink (or of a colour of your choice) yarn leftovers that match to the hook size
  • scissors
  • fiberfill
  • metallic key ring (optional)

Abbreviations (US-terms)

  • ch – chain
  • st – stitch
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • dc – double crochet
  • trc – treble crochet
  • ( … ) – at the end of every round total number of stitches is shown

If it is your first crocheted toy ever, you might want to have a look at my tricks for crocheting amigurumi and ideas for interesting amigurumi stuffing. Also there are some tips how to crochet “zero waste”.I am sure you will find it helpful! Have fun crocheting!

Pattern

First half (pink yarn):

18 ch, now you will crochet around the ch:

Round 1: make a dc in the second from the hook st and then 5 more dc in the same st, dc in next 14 st, 6 dc in the next st (this will create a turning around the ch), dc in next 14 st, sl st in the first dc of the round (40).

Round 2: 2 ch (not counted as st), 2 trc in the first st of Round 1, 3 trc in each of the next 4 st, 2 trc in next st, dc in next 4 st, hdc in next 6 st, dc in next 4 st, 2 trc in next st, 3 trc in each of the next 4 st, 2 trc in next st, dc in next 4 st, hdc in next 6 st, dc in next 4 st, change yarn to the white one and sl st in the first dc of the round (60).

Round 3: 1 ch (not counted as st), sc in the first st of Round 2, sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in the next st, (sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in the next st) X repeat three times, sc in next 17 st, 2 sc in the next st, (sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in the next st) X repeat three times, sc in every st until the end of the round (68).

Fasten off the end, cut the yarn and make another half following the first two rounds of the pattern. Round 3 is only needed for the first half of the ball.

Turn both halfs face down. Insert the hook into the middle st of the short side of the first half of the ball (back loop of a white sc) and then in the middle st of the long side of the second half (both loops of a hdc) and sl st around both halfs using white yarn.

When you have about 10 st left, fasten off and leave really long end before you cut the yarn. You will need it for closing the ball. Turn the ball inside out so the face side is out again and stuff it really full. Pull the long yarn tail through the left 10 st of both sides with a help of your hook. Fasten off, cut the left over yarn and pull the knot into the ball.

Using white yarn make 40 ch. Now insert the hook into a random spot on the ball where you want to hang a key ring and pull the crocheted chain through. Join the chain, fasten off, cut the yarn and pull the knot into the ball.

Attach a metallic ring on the chain if you have one:

Congratulations, it is done! Isn’t it cute? What other colours would you want to crochet it with?

Thanks for following my pattern! If you enjoyed it, make sure you check out my other quick and easy patterns here.

My Inspirations

Mosaic Crochet: My First Steps

Secret Crochet Box

One of my crochet new year resolutions is to learn mosaic crochet. I thought it will be complicated and hard with all the colours and yarn ends. So I was pushing forward my first attempt of mosaic crochet for months until I have told myself: I have to try it in 2021!

And directly in January I could test a beautiful mosaic crochet sock pattern by @yarnandfabric. So I am making my first crochet sock ever and I am learning mosaic crochet. Two “firsts ever” in one pattern! So far I love it and the mosaic part is really easy to follow and now I am so motivated to add a mosaic crochet element to all my creations.

What about you? Have you tried mosaic crochet? What is your favouring crochet technique?

amigurumi, Uncategorized

German Christmass Cookies “Nüsschen” Free Crochet Tutorial

Secret Crochet Box

These cookies are very traditional German Christmas cookies every family bakes in December. This is my very first recipy and these cookies are my husband’s favourite! The crocheted version would be a cute decoration for your kitchen or a beloved toy for your kid!

Here you can find both the free crochet pattern and the original recipy!

Ingredients:

  • 3 mm crochet hook
  • stitch marker
  • dark brown and light brown (or even yellow) yarn
  • scissors
  • sewing needle
  • yarn leftovers for stuffing

Abbreviations:

  • ch – chain
  • st – stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • inc – 2 sc in one st (used to increase the number of stitches)
  • X 6 – repeat 6 times
  • at the end of every round total number of stitches is shown

The pattern:

Top part:

Start with dark brown yarn: 6 sc in Magic Ring

Round 1: Sc in each st (6)

Change to the light brown yarn.

Round 2: Inc X 6 (12)

Round 3: (sc in next st, inc) X 6 (18)

Round 4: (sc in next 2 st, inc) X 6 (24)

Rounds 5-6: sc in all st (24). Fasten off and cut the yarn, weave in the end.

Bottom part:

Crochet with the light brown yarn: 6 sc in Magic Ring

Round 1: Sc in each st (6)

Round 2: Inc X 6 (12)

Round 3: (sc in next st, inc) X 6 (18)

Round 4: (sc in next 2 st, inc) X 6 (24)

Round 5: (sc in next 3 st, inc) X 6 (30). Fasten off, cut the yarn leaving a longer tail for sewing.

Sew two parts together, stuff it with yarn leftovers. Note: the bottom part has to be inside out (the “right” side should be inside, see the pics).

Taadaaaaa, finished!

Now check out the eatable recipe 🙂

Plätzchen “Nüßchen”

  • 300 g ground haselnuts
  • 300 g soft butter
  • 200 g sugar
  • 300 g flour
  • 1 tea spoon baking powder
  • 2 packages vanilla sugar
  • about 100 whole haselnuts for decoration

Preparation:

  • Preheat the oven 180°C, soft butter and sugar mix together, add other ingridients.
  • Mix everything in a homogeneous dough
  • Shape small balls (2 cm diameter) and put it on a baking sheet
  • Press a whole haselnut in each dough ball (until a half of the nut will be inside).
  • Bake 12 minutes and let the cookies cool down (When you get the cookies out of the oven, they will still feel very soft. Dont worry about it and let them cool down, they will ge harder very fast!).

Bon appetit!

amigurumi, Uncategorized

Christmas Cookies Free Crochet Pattern

Secret Crochet Box

I continue introducing original German cookie recipes to you. Crocheted version you can use as Christmas decorations! And today’s cookie is the Nougat Rings!

This recipe is very special to me because I am making it for the first time this year! Usually I am quite conservative if it’s about Christmas recipes but this year is so different in many ways, so I have tried something new.

At the end of the pattern you can also find the real recipe!

You will need:

  • 3 mm crochet hook
  • stitch marker
  • dark brown yarn
  • light brown yarn
  • scissors
  • sewing needle
  • colourful yarn leftovers for decorating

Abbriviations

  • ch – chain
  • st – stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • inc – 2 sc in one st (used to increase the number of stitches)
  • dec – 2 sc together (used to decrease the number of stitches)
  • X 6 – repeat 6 times
  • at the end of every round total number of stitches is shown

Note:

  • Every next round is crocheted in the back loop only!!!!
  • Colour change tails can be used as stuffing

The pattern:

Dark brown Ch 6, change to the light yarn and ch 6, sl st to the first ch to join the circle.

Now the colours will be kept as in the chain. So change the yarn to the light one after a half of the circle and change back to the dark yarn at the end of every round. The tails can be left here to serve as a stuffing of the cookie. Remember to crochet in back loops only!

Rounds 1-2: sc in all st (12)

Round 3: (inc, sc in next st) X 6 (18)

Round 4: (inc, sc in next 2 st) X 6 (24)

Rounds 5-6: sc in all st (24)

Now you crochet using the light yarn only.

Round 7: (dec, sc in next 2 st) X 6 (18)

Round 8: (dec, sc in next st) X 6 (12)

Now use colourful short yarn leftovers to make the sugar.

Sew the round 8 with the base chain.

Congratulations, the cookie is finished!

And as promised, here is the real recipe of the Nougat Rings Cookies:

  • 40 g nougat
  • 120 g soft butter
  • 120 g powdered sugar
  • 160 g flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 90 g instant flakes
  • chocolate and colourful sugar for decorating

Preparation:

  • Preheat the oven 200°C, soft butter and nougat mix together, add sugar.
  • Add flour, eggs and flakes to the dough and put it in a fridge for 30 minutes.
  • Put the dough in a plastic bag with a small hole (around 1 cm diameter).
  • Press the dough out of the bag in ring shapes on a baking sheet.
  • Bake 12 minutes and let the cookies cool down.
  • Decorate with chocolate and sugar. Enjoy!

I hope you had fun baking and crocheting these beauties with me!

You might also like:

Crochet Christmas Cookie Free Pattern and Recipe!

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Uncategorized

Christmas Chocolate Cookies Free Crochet Pattern

Secret Crochet Box

You might have noticed that I was baking a lot lately. Christmas atmosphere at home is especially important this year, when we don’t have a Christmas market to go to… And baking Christmas cookies is the best and the most tasty way to create the atmosphere. And you know what, I was not only baking cookies but also crocheted them!

To introduce original German cookie recipes to you, I have decided to design a crochet pattern for every kind. And at the end of the pattern tutorials you can also find the real recipes!

So the first ones to go are chocolate cookies (Schneebällchen Plätzchen). This recipe is one of the very special to me. 2 years ago I had a baking date with a friend of mine and we both brought our favourite cookie recipes. On this day she introduced this recipe to me and now it has become my favourite, too!

So, the crochet “recipe” first!

Ingredients:

  • 3 mm crochet hook
  • stitch marker
  • dark brown yarn
  • scissors
  • sewing needle

Abbreviations:

  • ch – chain
  • st – stitch
  • sc – single crochet
  • inc – 2 sc in one st (used to increase the number of stitches)
  • dec – 2 sc together (used to decrease the number of stitches)
  • X 6 – repeat 6 times
  • at the end of every round total number of stitches is shown

The pattern:

Note: the cookie will be “inside out”. This means that you crochet around but hold the cookie in the way that the front side looks to the inside. Place a stitch marker in the first st on every round as you go.
Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6 )
Round 2: inc X 6 (12)
Round 3: (sc in next st, inc) X 6 (18)
Rounds 4-5: sc in all st (18)
Round 5: (sc in next st, dec) X 6 (12)
Round 6: dec X 6 (6)
Sew the hole.

All done!!! Easy, right?

And now, as promised, the real recipe:

Ingridients:

  • 250 g – butter
  • 250 g – cornstarch
  • 75 g – flour
  • 50 g – cacao power
  • 1 package – vanilla sugar

Instructions:

Pre-heat the oven (180 degrees C) and smash the soft butter. Now add all the dry ingridients (sieve them in) and mix everything together.

Shape small balls (2 cm diameter) and bake them around 12 min. Enjoy!

What was easier, crochet recipe or the eatable one?

You might also like:

The Nutcracker Story: Ballerina Marie Amigurumi Pattern

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