Crochet a sphere: basic pattern and how to change its size

A crochet ball can become an amigurumi head, a nose or the base of many other designs. Learning to crochet one will help you understand how to give your pieces volume and adjust their size.

In this tutorial you'll find a free pattern for a ball with 48 stitches at its widest point, along with an explanation of how to make smaller or larger versions.

New to crochet? Before you begin, take a look at my guides on how to read a crochet pattern and how to make the basic stitches. They'll help you understand the abbreviations and instructions so you can follow this tutorial step by step.

How is a crochet ball shaped?

The ball is made in three parts:

• Increases: expand the piece until it reaches its maximum width.
• Even rounds: keep the stitch count the same and add height.
• Decreases: narrow the piece until it is closed.

The number of rounds in each part affects the final shape. With the same base, more even rounds make the ball longer; fewer rounds make it flatter.

Materials needed

• Yarn in your chosen colour.
• A crochet hook suitable for creating a dense fabric.
• Amigurumi stuffing.
• Stitch marker.
• Yarn needle.
• Scissors.

The finished size will depend on your yarn, hook and tension. Two balls with the same stitch count may have different dimensions if they are crocheted with different materials.

Abbreviations

Repeat the instructions in brackets as many times as indicated.

48-stitch crochet ball pattern

Work in a continuous spiral without joining each round with a slip stitch. Place a marker in the first stitch and move it when you begin the next round.

Part one: increases

R1: 6sc in a magic ring → [6].
R2: 6inc → [12].
R3: (1sc - 1inc)x6 → [18].
R4: (2sc - 1inc)x6 → [24].
R5: (3sc - 1inc)x6 → [30].
R6: (4sc - 1inc)x6 → [36].
R7: (5sc - 1inc)x6 → [42].
R8: (6sc - 1inc)x6 → [48].

At the end of R8 you will have 48 stitches around the piece. These 48 stitches make up the circumference of the round, rather than the diameter of the ball.

Part two: even rounds

R9-R15: 48sc → (x7) [48].

Work 7 rounds, making one single crochet in each stitch of the previous round.

Part three: decreases

R16: (6sc - 1dec)x6 → [42].
R17: (5sc - 1dec)x6 → [36].
R18: (4sc - 1dec)x6 → [30].
R19: (3sc - 1dec)x6 → [24].
R20: (2sc - 1dec)x6 → [18].

Add the stuffing and spread it throughout the piece. Add small amounts at a time to avoid lumps.

R21: (1sc - 1dec)x6 → [12].
R22: Inverted magic ring → [0].

Not sure how to make the inverted magic ring? This guide explains step by step how to use it to close your ball. Before you start closing it, cut the yarn, leaving a tail long enough to work with your yarn needle.

Cut the yarn, leaving a tail for closing.

How to calculate the middle rounds

For this basic structure, which starts with 6 stitches and adds 6 stitches per round, you can use this guideline:

Even rounds = (maximum stitch count ÷ 6) − 1.

For the ball in this tutorial:

48 ÷ 6 = 8.
8 − 1 = 7 even rounds.

This guideline is a starting point, but it does not guarantee a perfect sphere with every yarn or tension. The ratio between the width and height of your stitches, together with the stuffing, affects the result. The best way to check is to crochet a sample with your materials and look at it with the stuffing in place before closing it completely. If it looks flat, try one more middle round; if it looks elongated, try one fewer.

Stitches at the widest point	Rounds from the magic ring to that width	Suggested even rounds
24	4	3
30	5	4
36	6	5
42	7	6
48	8	7
54	9	8
60	10	9

How to make the ball larger or smaller

To make it larger, continue increasing after R8:

R9: (7sc - 1inc)x6 → [54].
R10: (8sc - 1inc)x6 → [60].

When you reach your desired width, begin the even rounds. Then decrease by following the sequence in reverse.

To make it smaller, stop increasing earlier. For example, for a 36-stitch ball, finish the increases at R6, try 5 even rounds and begin decreasing with:

(4sc - 1dec)x6 → [30].

You can also change the size by using thinner or thicker yarn and a suitable hook.

Tips for a better finish

Count your stitches in every round. A missed increase or decrease can change the shape.

Use invisible decreases. They help make the final section more even, with fewer gaps.

Distribute the stuffing evenly. It should support the shape without stretching the stitches too far apart.

To reduce the hexagonal look, you can stagger the positions of your increases from one round to the next, always keeping the 6 increases and the stitch count indicated.

With this basic pattern, you can experiment with different sizes and turn a simple ball into part of your next amigurumi.

What will you make with it? Tell me in the comments and, if you share your result on Instagram, tag El Pony Tejedor so I can see it.