Crochet Pumpkin Stress Ball – Free Pattern
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The Crochet Pumpkin Stress Ball is a free crochet pattern that is made with simple single crochet stitches using the worsted weight Dishie yarn by WeCrochet and a balloon filled with flour.
Although crocheting a supposed to be relaxing, we can all agree that this year, 2020, has been fairly stressful for many crocheters and people around the world. Relieving stress can be done with exercise, such as yoga and strength training, but it can also help to simply squeeze a stress ball. Furthermore, stress balls are not just for stress relief, but they also help strengthen your hand muscles.
Crochet Stress Ball
Stress balls are easily made with a balloon and flour or corn starch. But crocheting a stress ball will make the stress ball last longer and it can easily be modified to anything you want it to be. Whether, you will make an emoji stress ball or animal stress ball, you will always find someone who appreciates a good and also very cute stress ball.
To crochet a stress ball you simply place your flour filled balloon inside a crochet sphere. Then you simply glue the faces onto the crochet or paint it on using fabric paint.
Crocheting pumpkin stress ball
You can literally make pumpkins in so many different ways. Pumpkins can be made into Jack-o-lanterns by just adding a face – scary or funny.
Crocheting a pumpkin itself is not that hard. Whether you start from a magic ring and work your way out and back closed, as I did with the Striped Pumpkin, or whether you start from a rectangle, that is totally up to you. In fact, you can even start from a slanted rectangle to make a Spiral Pumpkin.
For the Pumpkin Stress Ball I simply used single crochet stitches. I added the face using felt and E6000 glue.
Best Yarn to use for Stress Ball
To make the pumpkin stress ball sturdy so it will last a long time, I used the worsted weight yarn called Dishie yarn by WeCrochet. It’s soft and so easy to use and 100% cotton. I even made a review about the Dishie yarn as it is such an incredible yarn to work with.
If you like this pumpkin stress ball crochet pattern, you might like these also:
So, let me now give you the supplies you need in order to crochet this easy Pumpkin Stress Ball.
This pattern is also available as an ad-free, printer-friendly pdf pattern that can be purchased at the links below for only a small fee.
Great Catnip toy also
As you can see, my cat Nibbles, having cancer, enjoys the stress ball very much also. He even sleeps on the balls while I work. Yes, that is my computer and microphone in the back LOL
You can easily makes this stress ball pattern also into a great catnip toy (use cheesecloth and catnip instead of a balloon with flour). You cat will love it and play with it often.
Fun Fact, he got his name “Nibbles” because he always loves nibbling on food and things. Not as much right now, as he is sick and on treatment. But hopefully soon again.
How to crochet the
Pumpkin Stress Ball for Halloween
You will need:
- WeCrochet Dishie Worsted yarn (1 skein/ 100g/ 218yd) – color Paprika
- 3.25 mm hook
- scissors
- tapestry needle
- Flour or corn starch filled balloon inside another balloon (all without air)
- great catnip toy also (use cheesecloth and catnip instead of a balloon with flour)
- E6000 glue
- felt or fabric for the face (I bought mine from Michaels)
- fabric paint for stem/leaves
Gauge:
4 sts x 5 rows = 1 square inch
Size:
On average 2.5 inches in diameter
You can make the Pumpkin ANY size you wish. Just add more increasing and decreasing rounds as well as normal rounds (without inc or dec). It would also need a bigger or smaller flour filled balloon.
Stitches used:
Learn all the basic crochet stitches HERE
- sc = single crochet
- inv sc dec = invisible single crochet decrease
- sl st = slip stitches
- ch = chain
Pumpkin Stress Ball Crocheted
Video Tutorial
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Written Crochet Pattern for the Pumpkin Stress Ball:
Pattern Notes:
You will first crochet 2/3 of the pumpkin sphere and then add the flour filled balloon and then finish crocheting the sphere around the inserted balloon. Lastly, you will add the face and optionally add a stem and leaves (I used fabric paint for that).
PREPARE: take one normal balloon and add flour to the balloon. When filled, knot it up but make sure the balloon includes NO AIR. Then add the flour filled balloon into another balloon and knot it up. It makes the stress ball more sturdy and less likely to pop.
You can also make it into a catnip toy (use cheesecloth and catnip instead of a balloon with flour).
Pattern:
Make a magic ring and add 7 sc to the circle, the close the circle. Use a stitch marker to mark when a new round begins.
R1: 2 sc in each st (14 sts)
R2: * 1 sc, 2 sc in the next st, repeat from * till the end of the round (21 sts)
R3: * 1 sc each in the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the next st, repeat from * till the end of the round (28 sts)
R4-8: 1 sc in each st
Now add your flour filled balloon. Then, continue to crochet around it.
R9: *1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, 1 inv sc dec, repeat from * until the end of the round (21 sts)
R10: * 1 sc, 1 inv sc, repeat from * until the end of the round (14 sts)
Now cut your yarn and pull it out of the last loop.
Next, using your tapestry needle, weave your needle through all of the front loops of the leftover stitches. Then pull tight until the hole is closed. Fasten off and weave in your end.
Adding a face and a stem to the crochet pumpkin stress ball to make it Halloween scary
Use a piece of fabric or felt and draw a face (using chalk for felt) and cut out the face. Then glue on the face using fabric glue (I used E6000).
Finally, optionally, you can use fabric paint to add a stem on top of the stress ball. Make sure you let the stress ball’s glue and paint dry for 24-72 hrs before using it to squeeze it and release your stress on the ball.
I hope you love this Pumpkin Stress Ball pattern as much as I do OR my cat Nibbles. If you love this pattern and technique, please use the social media share buttons above or below and share this pattern link with the world and your friends.
That way you will find it easily again when you need it and you also provide the world and your friends with the ability to gain extra crochet knowledge as well. And to top it off, you help me as it allows me to create more content that you love already and want to see more of – free crochet patterns and tutorials. So, thank you for sharing.
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