Skill level: Intermediate (read more about skill levels of knitting patterns here)
Time: varies, but about 2 to 6 hours depending on your knitting speed
Holidays are coming and I LOVE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. There’s something special in knitted Christmas ornaments. This free basic Christmas ball ornament pattern is perfect now, when holidays are coming again, and we desperately need great knitted Christmas gift ideas.
Let’s work on our Christmas baubles now.
Last time I posted a list of colorful stranded knitting links for perfect outcome. Today I’ll give you a basic knitting pattern for Christmas balls.
Knitted Christmas ornament tutorial
You will need:
- 25 g (or less) sock yarn;
- double pointed needles in size 3 mm / US 3;
- styrofoam balls with the diameter of 10 cm or filling of your choice;
STEP 1:
Cast on 8 stitches and divide between 4 needles. Knit 1 round.
STEP 2:
*Inc1* x 8 times by knitting 2 stitches into one stitch (16 stitches total).
Knit 1 round.
STEP 3:
*Knit 1, inc1L, knit to last stitch, inc1R, knit 1* repeat rest of 3 needles;
Knit 1 round.
STEP 4:
Repeat STEP 3 until you have 16 stitches on one needle ending with increase round. If you use a styrofoam ball for filling, test it – does it fit if you stretch it?
STEP 5:
Knit 12 rounds. If you use a styrofoam ball then on 6th round try it – it should cover half of the ball (with stretching). If you have less or more then you need to adjust your knit rounds accordingly.
STEP 6:
When using a styrofoam ball, now is the time to leave it inside of your work. If you use soft filling, no need to worry about it yet.
*Knit 1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, knit 1* repeat rest of 3 needles;
Knit 1 round.
STEP 7:
Repeat STEP 6 until you have 4 stitches on one needle. Using soft filling – stuff your Christmas ball.
*k2tog* x 8 times
STEP 8:
Cut yarn leaving enough for sewing. Take a sewing needle and bring yarn through all stitches. Tighten up and wave in.
Make your Christmas ball wet (I used spray bottle) and let it try.
There are so many possibilities with this basic ornament cover. Thank you for the pattern! 😀
You’re welcome 🙂
Hey there,
do you happen to remember the diameter of the ball? Can’t wait to try this out!
Sorry no, but I can give you circumference – 23,5 cm / 9,25 inches (and I used DROPS Baby Merino yarn)
Perfect, that helps, thanks a lot 🙂 (It’s roughly 7,5cm by the way, I had the internet do the math.)
Ha, clever thinking 😀
Wasn’t Melanie clever at thinking and even better for sharing.
As you are too PatternDuchess.
I personally Thank You for all that you share and for taking the time out to reply. You are a Gem.
Ha ha ha ha. You are not on ur own Melanie. The Internet is so useful these day’s. Thanks for sharing.
Could you tell me the size needles you used??
I think it was 3,5 mm / US 4 – if you knit a bit looser then try 3mm / US 3 🙂
Love it .Gonna start on next years decorations.Tha ks
Thank you for the pattern!!!
Thank you for following along 🙂
By the way, here’s what I made. Thank you so much for the pattern!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOcr9LrhEf7/?taken-by=melonenvogel
Beautiful Christmas baubles 🙂
Is it possible to use circular needles?
Yes, absolutely. Just use markers where I had separate needles and you should be good 🙂
I can’t wait to try them!!!!
Thank you do much for your post. I had been wondering if it was possible to knit around a Styrofoam ball. Next year’s tree is going to look very different!
What kind of circular needles would work and what size.? I would so appreciate a chart like the heart pattern shown. Would it be possible to receive a chart or is there one on your site?
Thank you😊
Hmm, I haven’t tried to knit it with circulars, so I don’t really know. I use double point needles for this as it is more convenient for me.
I had the heart pattern (and other patterns) for sale for a while, but I’m currently improving them – so the pattern set is unavailable at the moment. I hope to get to it soon.
Are you using 5 needles then? One to knit with once the 8 stitches are on? I’m confused now this works. Any advice would be awesome thanks
Yes, 5 needles. 4 needles are holding the stitches and 1 is the working needle for knitting.
Hello Thank you very much for the pattern, I dont really understand Step 3. How do I increase ? How many stitches must I have on each knitting needle at the end of this step ? Thanks a lot
Oh, I didn’t write that out… I’m sorry! I increase like this: pick up the bar between the stitch you knit and the one you’re about to knit, put it on your left-hand needle making a twist, then knit it through.
You will have a total of 8 increases on that round.
I hope this helps.