Have you ever had a chance to see the world from a hot air balloon? If not and if you like dreaming about flying on a beautiful and colorful balloon as the sun sets, crochet the one for yourself with this free crochet pattern! A lovely summer give away for friends and relatives. This is a very simple design. This pattern is accessible to beginners. It works up very quickly and is super cute. Happy crocheting!
SUPPLIES
crochet hook 3 mm, button, bead, satin ribbon, scissors, yarn needle, cotton yarn (e.g. Schachenmayr Catania 125m/50g) in any colors you wish:
SKILL LEVEL
Easy
SIZE
The ready amigurumi is approx. 30 cm long, can be made bigger or smaller depending on the yarn and hook you use.
SKILLS YOU NEED
chain, single crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, slip stitch, increase, decrease
ABBREVIATIONS
Ch =chain
St = stitch
Sc =single crochet
Sl st = slip stitch
dec = decrease stitch (two single crochets together)
inc = increase stitch (two single crochets in the one stitch)
Dc = double crochet
Rnd = Round
* = repeat instructions for the times indicated
(...) = total amount of stitches
TIPS
- Do not join rounds, work in a continuous spiral.
- Use a stitch marker or piece of yarn to keep track of the last stitch in each round
- All stitches are worked into both loops, unless stated otherwise in the pattern.
- When filling with polyester stuffing, pull apart each large chunk into many smaller chunks. This ensures an even distribution of firmness within the amigurumi
- Balloon can be made in any desired colors.
Seamless way of changing color when working in the round
Pick up the new color at the end of the round: inset your hook into the stitch, yarn over the new color and pull through the stitch and the loop on your hook to complete the stitch.
To make a magic ring
- Loop the thread twice around your middle finger
- Put the hook under both loops, pull the yarn under the loops and hook the thread again
- Pull the thread through the new loop. The first crochet stitch is ready!
- Repeat the needed number of times.
- Pull the inner threads to tighten the ring.
SHIFT STITCH
Sometimes during a work of the spiral amigurumi, you need to keep the work symmetrically. As work tends to twist to the right you need to adjust position of the marker periodically (beginning of the round).
Shift stitch is an extra stitch you work at the end of a round to make your work look symmetrical. If you notice that marker moves right, you need to work one extra stitch in the end of the round and move marker for one stitch (now 2nd stitch of the round becomes 1st). this is shift stitch.
The shift stitch is not included in the round description. To check if it’s time to work shift stitch fold your work in half and check if marker still goes straight or use a yarn that marks a straight line.
You may think this is a increase, but it isn’t. This way you don’t increase or decrease the number of stitches. The stitches count remains the same.
INSTRUCTIONS
The balloon consists of several parts which you crochet separately and then you will sew them together.
Ready? Let´s start!
BALLOON
Use the colors of your choice.
Round 1: 6 sc into Magic Ring
Round 2: inc 6 times (12 stitches)
Round 3: *sc in the next stitch, inc* (18 stitches)
Round 4: *sc in each of next 2 stitches, inc* (24 stitches)
Round 5: *sc in each of next 3 stitches, inc* (30 stitches)
Round 6: *sc in each of next 4 stitches, inc* (36 stitches)
Round 7: *sc in each of next 5 stitches, inc* (42 stitches)
Round 8: *sc in each of next 6 stitches, inc* (48 stitches)
Round 9: sc in each of next 48 stitches
Round 10: *sc in each of next 7 stitches, inc* (54 stitches)
Round 11: *sc in each of next 8 stitches, inc* (60 stitches)
Rounds 12-26: sc in each of next 60 stitches
Round 27: *dec, sc in each of next 8 stitches* (54 stitches)
Round 28: sc in each of next 54 stitches
Round 29: *dec, sc in each of next 7 stitches* (48 stitches)
Round 30: sc in each of next 48 stitches
Round 31: *dec, sc in each of next 6 stitches* (42 stitches)
Round 32: *dec, sc in each of next 5 stitches* (36 stitches)
Round 33: sc in each of next 36 stitches
Round 34: *dec, sc in each of next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)
Round 35: sc in each of next 30 stitches
Round 36: *dec, sc in each of next 3 stitches* (24 stitches)
Rounds 37-39: sc in each of next 24 stitches
Bind off. Hide yarn ends.
BASKET
Work with light brown color yarn. Crochet in rounds. Every round start with chain 3 and join with slip stitch at the end.
BOTTOM
Starting at center of the sole with chain of 7 stitches.
Round 1: dc into the 4th chain from hook and into each of next 2 stitches, 6 dc in the next stitch, then, working in the other side of foundation chain, dc in each of next 2 stitches, 4 dc in the next stitch, slip stitch.
Round 2: chain 3, 2 dc in next stitch, dc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 dc in each of next 6 stitches, dc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 dc in each of next 4 stitches, dc in next stitch, slip stitch.
Round 3: chain 3, 2 dc in next stitch, dc in each of next 3 stitches, *2 dc in next stitch, dc in next stitch*, repeat from* 6 times, dc in each of next 2 stitches, *2 dc in next st, dc in next stitch*, repeat from* 4 times, 2 dc in next stitch, slip stitch.
Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc):
Yarn over, insert your hook between the posts of the first and second stitch of the row below, and then from back to front again between the posts of the second and third stitches
Yarn over and draw the yarn around the post of the stitch. You now have 3 loops on the hook
Yarn over and draw the yarn through the 2 loops on the hook, twice.
One front post double crochet (FP dc) is complete.
BASKET
Continue crocheting using light brown color yarn.
Round 4 (working into the back loop): chain 1 stitch, sc in each of next stitch till the end of the round.
Rounds 5-7: chain 3 stitches, *1 fpdc into the next stitch, dc in the next stitch*, slip stitch.
Turn the work.
Rounds 8-11: chain 1 stitch, sc in each of next stitch till the end of the round.
Bind off.
Change yarn color to white
Work one round in sc’s. Bind off. Weave in yarn ends. Fold the edge of the basket outwards.
RUFFLE
Use the color of your choice.
Row 1: chain 120 stitches
Row 2: slip stitch into the 2nd stitch from the hook and each of next stitch till the end of the row. Turn the work.
Row 3: *slip stitch in the next stitch, chain 3 stitches, skip the next stitch*, repeat from* till the end of the row.
Bind off leaving a long tail for sewing the ruffle to the balloon.
STRAP (2x)
Use light brown color yarn.
Chain 60 stitches. Bind off leaving a long tail for sewing. Repeat one more time to make a second strap.
ASSEMBLY
Since all the elements of your amigurumi are crocheted, it´s time to sew them together. Use a blunt sewing needle.
Sew the straps to the bottom of your balloon. Help yourself with some pins. Fix the straps in place with a few stitches to the balloon, using the remaining tails in the ends. Then sew the basket in the other end of the straps.
Pin the ruffle and sew it in place with some stitches.
Sew a beautiful button to the basket if desired.
Sew satin ribbon and a bead to the top of your balloon. Ready!
I hope you enjoyed crocheting the turtle and found the pattern helpful. I would love to see your finished amigurumi, so share a picture here or on Instagram by tagging me @tansuluucrafthaus.
Happy crocheting! Feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely day!
