When I crochet, I usually have “my little sidekick” at my side. She loves getting into my yarn and helping me by tangling the heck out of it unraveling it. For her first birthday, I decided to make her a crochet hook and ball of yarn pattern of her own.
While she enjoys playing with it and trying to figure out the impossible task of trying to unravel that loose little bit of yarn, it has not deterred her from going after my yarn stash. Oh well.
The toy crochet hook and yarn were easy to make. The hook measures approx. 9 inches in length and 4 inches in circumference. The ball of yarn measures approx. 8 inches in circumference. They are a great size for little 1 year old hands!
I chose to use 100% cotton for these toys. I typically use cotton for baby/kids toys because it is easy to wash, and it is more of a pure material.This is just my personal preference, and I am sure that these items can be just as cute with other yarn types.
Toy Crochet Hook
Supplies:
Size H crochet hook
Stitch Marker
Yarn needle
Worsted weight yarn (I used 100% cotton)
Stuffing (I used cotton)
Pattern Notes:
Mark the first stitch of the round, moving up with each round. Do not join rounds, just keep working in a spiral.
Pattern:
Ch 2
Round 1: 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (6)
Round 2: 2 sc in each st around. (12)
Round 3: [sc, sc2 in next st] rep around. (18)
Rounds 4-6: sc in each stitch around. (18)
Shape hook head:
Round 7: sc 9 (Keep a marker in the first sc. You will come back to it in rounds 8,9, & 12.), ch 6. (9)
Round 8: sc in marked st, sc 8, sc in each of the 6 ch. (15)
Round 9: sc in marked st, (and working through the sts made on the ch) sc in each st around. (15)
Round 10: [sc, sc2tog] rep around. (10)
Round 11: [sc2tog] rep around. [5]
Slip st in next st, FO, leaving long (8in, or so), thread tail through yarn needle and sew closed.
Continue the handle:
Round 12: Reattach yarn to marked stitch. Working in the unworked side of the chain, sc 6, continuing in the unworked stitches from round 6, sc 9. (15)
Rounds 13-38: sc in each st around, stuffing as you go. (15)
Finishing:
[sc2tog] around, rep until 6 sts remain. Sl st in next st, FO leaving long tail (approx. 10 in.), thread tail through yarn needle and sew closed. Weave in all ends.
Toy Ball of Yarn:
Supplies:
Size H crochet hook
Stitch Marker
Yarn needle
Worsted weight yarn (I used 100% cotton)
Stuffing (I used cotton)
Pattern:
Ch 4, join with sl st to 1st ch to form ring,
Round 1: ch 2 (does not count as st here and throughout) dc 9 in ring. Join to first dc with sl st. (9)
Round 2: ch 2, starting in same st as join, 2 dc in each st around. Join with sl st to first dc. (18)
Round 3: ch 2, starting in same st as join, [dc, 2 dc in each st] rep around. Join with sl st to first dc. (27)
Rounds 4-6: ch 2, starting in same st as join, dc in each st around. Join with sl st to first dc. (27)
Round 7: ch 2, starting in same st as join, [dc 1, dc2tog] rep around. Join with sl st to first dc. (18)
Stuff as you go.
Round 8: ch 2, starting in same st as join, [dc2tog] rep around. Join with sl st to first dc. (9)
Round 9: ch 2, starting in same st as join, [draw a loop through each of the next 4 sts, yo and pull through all loops] rep. Sl st in next st, FO leaving long tail (approx. 10 in.), thread tail through yarn needle and sew closed.
Create “yarn ball” stitching:
Attach yarn to the post of a dc. Sl st through posts around. repeat in desired pattern to get a “wound up” look. When you get your desired look, ch 12.
FO and weave in all ends.