A Soft Bowling Pin – “Seven-Color Flower”

This unusual bowling pin was designed as a fun addition to Chucha, the colorful pyramid made of soft balls. You can crochet several pins and play with them just like real bowling pins, but this soft version is a safe and cuddly alternative for your little one. You can also add an extra play element with a colorful flower top featuring large, bright petals. This flower-shaped piece can be taken off and put back on separately. For extra sensory fun, you can add a little rustling material inside one of the petals and small beads inside another to provide interesting tactile sensations for little fingers.

You will need the following materials to crochet:

– cotton yarn YarnArt jeans 50 gr /160 m (Your favorite colors)

– fluffy yarn 100 g / 120 m

– crochet hook 5 mm for fluffy yarn (important, the size should match the yarn so that the stitches are even).

– crochet hook 2 mm (important, the size should match the yarn so that the stitches are even).

– a needle, scissors, stuffing, adhesive hook-and-loop tape, something that makes a rustling sound

Abbreviations:

ch – chain

sc – single crochet

inc – increase

dec – decrease, two single crochets together

hdc – half double crochet

dc – double crochet   

tr – treble crochet  

Bowling pin

1. Crochet 6 sc in a Magic Ring

2. 6 inc = 12 sc

3. (1 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 18 sc

4. (2 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 24 sc

5. (3 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 30 sc

6. (4 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 36 sc

7. (5 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 42 sc

8. (6 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 48 sc

9. crochet into the back loop 48 sc

10 – 18. 48 sc

19. (7 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 54 sc

20 – 22. 54 sc

23. (8 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 60 sc

24 – 26. 60 sc

27. (9 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 66 sc

28 – 38. 66 sc

39. (9 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 60 sc

40, 41. 60 sc

42. (8 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 54 sc

43, 44. 54 sc

45. (7 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 48 sc

46, 47. 48 sc

48. (6 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 42 sc

49, 50. 42 sc

51. (5 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 36 sc

52, 53. 36 sc

54. (4 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 30 sc

55 – 58. 30 sc

59. (4 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 36 sc

60 – 62. 36 sc

63. (5 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 42 sc

64 – 67. 42 sc

68. (5 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 36 sc

69 – 71. 36 sc

72. (4 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 30 sc

73, 74. 30 sc

Then add the filling material.

To make the bowling pin more stable, you can add a small amount of plastic granules to the bottom of the piece as a weight. This is especially useful if you plan to use it for bowling games and want the pins to stand upright securely. Please remember: All small parts—such as beads or rustling foil—must be packed in a well-sealed bag. This will keep everything securely in place, even if you crochet a little loosely or the leg gets damaged at some point. Be sure to secure everything carefully. Small parts can be swallowed, so you bear full responsibility here. Always attach beads and other elements very securely inside the leg.

75. (3 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 24 sc

76. (2 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 18 sc

77. (1 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 12 sc

78. 6 dec = 6 sc

Close, trim the thread.

Flower petals (4 or 5 pieces, various colors of your choice)

1. Crochet 6 sc in a Magic Ring

2. 6 inc = 12 sc

3. (1 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 18 sc

4. (2 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 24 sc

5. (3 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 30 sc

6. (4 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 36 sc

7. (5 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 42 sc

8. (6 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 48 sc

9 – 15. 48 sc

16. (6 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 42 sc

17. 42 sc

18. (5 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 36 sc

19. 36 sc

20. (4 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 30 sc

21. 30 sc

Then add the filling material.

You can add a rustling element to some of the petals. For this, I used the wrapping from a flower bouquet. I placed a piece of it along the edge inside the crocheted petal and then added the stuffing. This creates a rustling section along the edge, making a soft sound when the petal is squeezed.

22. (3 sc, 1 dec) х 6 = 24 sc

23. 24 sc

Fold the piece in half and crochet along both edges to join them 12 sc.

Close, trim the thread.

To make the petals removable, I added adhesive hook-and-loop tape as fastenings. I sewed small strips along the edge of each petal so they can attach to the fluffy flower center. I also added small beads to one of the petals to provide an extra tactile element for your little one's playtime.

The fluffy central part of a flower, the core

1. Crochet 6 sc in a Magic Ring

2. 6 inc = 12 sc

3. (1 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 18 sc

4, 5. 18 sc

6. (2 sc, 1 inc) х 6 = 24 sc

7, 8. 24 sc

Close, trim the thread.

While crocheting, before fastening off and cutting the yarn, make sure this piece fits well over the top of the bowling pin. It should slide on easily while fitting snugly enough to stay securely in place.

Leaves (4.5 pieces, green in color)

Chain 10 stitches, starting 2 stitches from the needle.

1. Crochet 8 hdc, 3 in 1 hdc, 8 hdc = 19 loops ch, turn work

2. 8 hdc, 3 inc hdc, 8 hdc = 22 loops, ch, turn work

3. 9 hdc, 1 dc, 2 tr, 1 dc, 9 hdc, = 22 loops ch, turn work

4. 9 hdc, inc dc, 2 tr, inc dc, 9 hdc, = 24 loops ch, turn work

Close, trim the thread.

Do not fasten off the yarn after the last petal. We will continue crocheting the flower center.

Use pins to distribute the petals evenly around the edge of the flower center. Then join the petals to the center by crocheting a round of single sc around the edge. Please refer to the photo.

I hope you find this little character just as adorable and enjoy making this unusual flower for it. May your little one have lots of fun playing with it while discovering something new along the way!