A crocheted tic-tac-toe game is a lovely small gift idea for children, but also a practical game for on the go. It is quick to explain, does not take up much space, and can be played again and again – in the car, at a restaurant, on holiday, at grandma and grandpa’s house, or simply at home on the sofa.
What makes this version especially practical is that the playing field is not just a loose square, but also works as a small storage pouch. The front serves as the playing field, with the tic-tac-toe grid slip stitched onto it. The second piece forms the back of the pouch. Buttonholes are worked into this back piece so the pouch can be closed later. After playing, the game pieces can simply be placed inside and taken along.
For the game pieces, you can use anything that is flat and lies nicely on the playing field. If you would like to crochet matching game pieces, small hearts, flowers, or leaves work especially well. These little appliqués can easily be made in two colours and fit nicely into the individual fields.
My finished game measures about 16 × 16 cm. This makes it small enough to take along, but still large enough for children to easily pick up and place the game pieces.
.png)
Materials
You will need:
- cotton yarn in at least two colours, for example approx. 170 m / 50 g
- 4 mm crochet hook
- yarn needle
- scissors
- stitch marker
- 2 buttons
- flat game pieces, for example crocheted hearts, flowers, or leaves
I used the cotton yarn held double and crocheted with a 4 mm hook. This makes the fabric more stable, while still keeping it soft and flexible.
Abbreviations
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
st/sts = stitch/stitches
row = row
turning ch = turning chain
Size
Using cotton yarn held double and a 4 mm crochet hook, my finished game measures about 16 × 16 cm.
The exact size may vary depending on your yarn, hook size, and personal tension. The most important thing is that both squares are the same size and that the game pieces fit nicely into the fields.
Construction of the Game
The game consists of two crocheted squares:
- Front: The playing field will later be crocheted onto this side.
- Back: Buttonholes are worked into the upper third of this square.
The two squares are then crocheted together on three sides. The top remains open, so the game pieces can be placed inside the pouch.
The buttons are sewn onto the back of the playing-field square. This keeps the front with the playing field smooth, so the buttons do not get in the way while playing.
Crochet the First Square
The first square is worked without buttonholes. It will later form the front of the game.
Ch 33.
Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook:
Row 1: 32 sc.
Row 2 until desired height: 1 turning ch, 32 sc.
Crochet as many rows as needed until your square is as tall as it is wide. Mine measures about 16 × 16 cm.
Cut the yarn and weave in the end.
This square will later become the front. The playing field will be slip stitched onto it afterwards.
.png)
Crochet the Second Square with Buttonholes
The second square is started in the same way as the first square.
Ch 33.
Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook:
Row 1: 32 sc.
Row 2 until desired height: 1 turning ch, 32 sc.
The buttonholes are worked into the upper third of the back square. It is important that your buttons fit through the buttonholes later. Depending on the size and thickness of your buttons, you may need more or fewer chains.
It is best to test directly while crocheting whether the button fits through the buttonhole. The buttonhole should be large enough for the button to pass through, but not so large that the pouch opens on its own.
For my buttons, I worked the buttonholes as follows:
Example row for the buttonholes:
8 sc, ch 3, skip 3 sts, 10 sc, ch 3, skip 3 sts, 8 sc.
In the next row, crochet single crochet stitches into the chain spaces:
Following row:
1 turning ch, 8 sc, 3 sc into the chain space, 10 sc, 3 sc into the second chain space, 8 sc = 32 sts
If you use larger buttons, you can ch 4 or more instead of ch 3 and skip the corresponding number of stitches. For smaller buttons, ch 2 and skip 2 stitches may be enough.
Then continue crocheting until the square is as tall as it is wide.
Do not cut the yarn if you want to continue directly with crocheting the pieces together.
Note:
The exact position of the buttonholes is not crucial. They should simply be placed in the upper third of the back square so the pouch can be closed securely later.
.png)
Crochet the Pouch Together
Once both squares are finished, they are joined to form a small pouch.
Work 1 more ch on the back square.
Now place both squares on top of each other so that the future front side with the playing field is facing forward. The back square with the buttonholes lies behind it.
The two squares are now crocheted together around the edges, leaving the top side open. The game pieces can later be placed into the pouch through this opening.
First, crochet only one side edge together using single crochet stitches. Insert your hook through both squares each time.
.png)
Position and Sew on the Buttons
After you have crocheted the first side together, open the pouch once. This allows you to see exactly where the buttonholes are.
Now mark the correct position for the buttons on the back of the playing-field square.
Sew the buttons on securely. Then check whether they fit nicely through the buttonholes and whether the pouch can be closed properly.
.png)
.png)
This places the buttons on the back of the playing field, so they do not get in the way while playing on the front.
.png)
Crochet the Remaining Sides Together
Once the buttons are sewn on, crochet the remaining two sides of the pouch together.
The top edge remains open.
At each remaining corner, work 3 sc into the corner stitch.
Crochet the Handle
Once the three sides of the pouch are crocheted together, you can work a small handle directly.
Crochet:
Ch 50
Or adjust the number of chains depending on how long you want the handle to be.
Attach the chain with 1 sl st on the opposite side of the pouch.
Cut the yarn and weave in the end carefully.
.png)
Crochet the Playing Field onto the Front
Now work the playing field onto the front of the pouch.
Using a contrasting colour, slip stitch two vertical and two horizontal lines onto the front.
Mentally divide the surface into three equal sections. For a playing field of about 16 × 16 cm, the lines are placed at roughly one third and two thirds of the surface.
With a total width of 16 cm, this means approximately:
- first line after about 10 stitches
- second line after about 20 stitches
This does not have to be exact down to the millimetre. The important thing is that you create nine roughly equal fields.
Surface Slip Stitching
Pull the yarn to the front of the fabric with your crochet hook. The working yarn stays on the front side.
Pick up the yarn and work slip stitches along the desired line. Make sure not to crochet too tightly, so the fabric does not pull together.
.png)
Work the lines in this way:
- 2 vertical lines
- 2 horizontal lines
Cut the yarn and weave in the ends carefully.
Your playing field is now finished.
.png)
Game Pieces
For the game pieces, you can basically use anything that is flat, lies nicely on the playing field, and does not slide around too easily. The only important thing is that the pieces fit well into the individual fields and that the two sides can be clearly distinguished from each other.
If you would like to crochet matching game pieces, you can use small hearts, flowers, or leaves, for example. I have already shared these little appliqués here on the blog. They are a good size for the playing fields and can easily be made in two different colours or variations.
For a complete tic-tac-toe game, you will need a total of 10 game pieces:
- 5 game pieces for player 1
- 5 game pieces for player 2
Technically, you only need a maximum of 5 pieces of one kind and 4 pieces of the other kind during the game. However, I think it looks nicer to make 5 pieces for each side. This makes the set feel more complete and easier to store or give as a gift.
For my game, I recommend flat game pieces that are about 3 to 4 cm in size. This way, they fit nicely into the fields and are still easy to pick up. I chose the hearts from the blog post mentioned above.
Rules for Tic-Tac-Toe
“Tic-tac-toe” is a simple game for two players.
Each player gets one type of game piece, for example one colour of hearts or one specific appliqué.
The players take turns placing one game piece on an empty field.
The goal is to get three of your own pieces in a row. This can be:
- horizontal
- vertical
- diagonal
The first player to get three of their own pieces in a row wins.
If all fields are filled and no one has three in a row, the game ends in a draw.
Safety Note
If the game is intended for children, all parts should be made carefully and sewn securely.
Pay particular attention to sewing the buttons on very firmly. Check regularly whether they have come loose. For very small children or children who still put things in their mouths, buttons are not suitable, as they are small parts.
In that case, you can choose a different closure or leave the pouch open.
The game pieces should also be checked regularly. Loose threads or damaged areas should be repaired before the game is used again.
Have Fun Crocheting and Playing
Your little crocheted tic-tac-toe game is now finished. The game pieces can be stored inside the pouch, the playing field is right on the front, and the small handle makes the game easy to take along or hang up.
.png)
Whether as a gift for Children’s Day, a small travel game, or a quick activity – this project is easy to make, practical, and can be customised in many different ways.
I hope you enjoyed this pattern. If you have any questions or run into any problems, please feel free to write them in the comments. Of course, I would also be very happy to receive positive feedback :)
Otherwise, have fun crocheting, and feel free to check out my other free blog posts or browse my shop. There you will find many more sewing and crochet patterns for practical items, cute plushies, and amigurumi.
