Sphere Pattern

Hello All!

Here is the pattern I used to make my stockinette spheres. At the moment there are two sizes, but stay tuned for a third.

Yarn: Any, but this is a great project for stash-busting all those sock-yarn leftovers!
Gauge: Shouldn’t matter, but try not to make the fabric too loose, otherwise you’ll see the stuffing.

Small size (golf ball):
CO 16 stitches using a provisional cast-on (I used the Invisible Crochet cast-on II from Eunny’s blog).

Note: each row in this pattern ends with a wrap/turn/slip first stitch. Make sure the stitches on either side of this process are fairly tight, or you may end up with loose stitches.

Row 1: Slip 1 purlwise, K13, wrap yarn around next stitch, turn.*
Row 2: Slip 1 purlwise, P11, wrap next stitch, turn.
Row 3: Sl1 purlwise, K9, wrap & turn.
Row 4: Sl1 purlwise, P7, wrap & turn.
Row 5: Sl1 purlwise, K to end, knitting wraps with stitches.**
Row 6: Sl1 purlwise, P to end, knitting all wraps with stitches.
Repeat these 6 rows 7 more times (8 times in total), then move on to Finishing (below).

Medium size (cricket ball):
CO 31 stitches using a provisional cast-on (I used the Invisible Crochet cast-on II from Eunny’s blog).

Note: each row in this pattern ends with a wrap/turn/slip first stitch. Make sure the stitches on either side of this process are fairly tight, or you may end up with loose stitches.

Row 1: Slip 1 purlwise, K28, wrap yarn around next stitch, turn.*
Row 2: Slip 1 purlwise, P26, wrap next stitch, turn.
Row 3: Sl1 purlwise, K24, wrap & turn.
Row 4: Sl1 purlwise, P22, wrap & turn.
Row 5: Sl1 purlwise, K20, wrap & turn.
Row 6: Sl1 purlwise, P18, wrap & turn.
Row 7: Sl1 purlwise, K16, wrap & turn.
Row 8: Sl1 purlwise, P14, wrap & turn.
Row 9: Sl1 purlwise, K11, wrap & turn.
Row 10: Sl1 purlwise, P8, wrap & turn.
Row 11: Sl1 purlwise, K to end, knitting wraps with stitches.**
Row 12: Sl1 purlwise, P to end, knitting all wraps with stitches.
Repeat these 12 rows 7 more times (8 times in total), then move on to Finishing.
Finishing
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Using a darning needle, thread the tail through the rear loop of each of the 8 selvedge stitches forming the ‘top’ of the sphere, repeat, and pull tight. Now use the kitchener stitch to graft the loops of the provisional cast-on to the live stitches still on the needle (don’t forget to insert stuffing/bell/polystyrene ball first!). Thread the remaining yarn through the rear loops of the 8 selvedge stitches at the opposite end, repeat, and pull tight. Use the remaining tail to hang up the sphere somewhere, or thread it through the sphere itself and cut off.

*To make a wrap, slip the next stitch purlwise onto the right needle, bring the yarn to the other side of the work (i.e. if you’re knitting, bring it to the front; if you’re purling, bring it to the back), put the stitch back onto the left needle, return the yarn to its proper side, and turn the work.

** To knit a wrap with a stitch, insert the needle under the wrap from front to back (when looking at the right side) or from back to front (when looking at the wrong side), then insert the needle into the stitch (either knitwise or purlwise, as required) and then knit the stitch and the wrap together.