Free Pattern – Beach Ball Square

Jump into summery fun with this Beach Ball Square! Vibrant colors and a raised edge make the beach ball really pop on a neutral, sandy background. Finished off with a fast and colorful border, this square is sure to add a little sunshine to your project.

This pattern was designed for the Moogly 2017 afghan CAL. If this is the first you’ve heard about it, go check it out! The CAL is is just getting started, so there’s plenty of time to catch up. Also be sure to take a look at the block 7 post to see how Moogly’s version of this square turned out.

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Beach Ball Square

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Materials:

• Worsted weight yarn: 20-30 yds each of 5 different colors (100-125 yds total). Pictured square was made with Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in:
  • Silver Blue #105 (A)
  • Raspberry #112 (B)
  • Sky Blue #111 (C)
  • Lemon #159 (D)
  • Taupe Mist #302 (E)
• Size J / 10 (6 mm) hook or size needed to match gauge.
• Yarn or tapestry needle

Abbreviations used:

• ch = chain
• sc = single crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble crochet
• csdc = chainless starting double crochet (optional)
• sl st = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sp(s) = space(s)
• rnd = round
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side

Recommended Resources:

• The Magic Circle by Moogly
• Chainless Starting Double Crochet by Moogly
• Changing Colors
• Front Post & Back Post Slip Stitches
• Invisible Join vs Slip Stitch Join by Look at What I Made

Instructions:

Beach Ball:

Note: You will need a separate ball of yarn for each color section. Before starting, make 3 balls of A, about 8-10 yds each.

Rnd 1 (WS): With A: 6 sc inside a magic circle, close circle, join. OR ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join. (6 sc)

Note: Chainless starting double crochet stitches are recommended because it results in a cleaner looking edge. However, if you prefer, you can replace “turn, csdc” with “ch 3 (counts as first dc), turn” anywhere it appears in the pattern.

Rnd 2:

• Turn, csdc, 2 dc in same st, changing to B.
• With B, 3 dc in next st, changing to A.
• With A, 3dc in next st, changing to C.
• With C, 3dc in next st, changing to A.
• With A, 3dc in next st, changing to D.
• With D, 3 dc in next st, join.  (18 sts)

Rnd 3: Turn, csdc, dc in same st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, *change to next color, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, repeat from * 4 more times, join. (30 sts)

Rnd 4: Turn, csdc, (2dc in next st, dc in next st) twice, *change to next color, dc in next st, (2 dc in next st, dc in next st) twice, repeat from * 4 more times, join. (42 sts)

Rnd 5: Turn, csdc, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next st, *change to next color, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next st, repeat from * 4 more times, join. (54 sts)

Rnd 6: Turn, csdc, dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, *change to next color, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts, repeat from * 4 more times, join. (66 sts)

Rnd 7: Turn, csdc, dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts) twice, *change to next color, dc in next 3 sts, (2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts) twice, repeat from * 4 more times, join. (78 sts)

Ball edging: Turn, ch 1, *(fpsl st, ch 1) around next 13 sts, change to next color, fasten off previous color, repeat from * 4 more times, (fpsl st, ch 1) around next 13 sts, change to E, fasten off D.

Note: Work should now measure about 8 inches in diameter. If your piece is a little smaller, you will probably need to add the optional last rnd. To make it still come out ending with a right side rnd, simply do not turn on Rnd 9. 

Background:

Rnd 9: Turn. With E and working into the stitches from rnd 7, ignoring the edging rnd: ch 1, sc in first 6 sts, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 12 sts) 5 times, 2 sc in next st, sc in last 6 sts, join. (84 sts)

Rnd 10: Ch 4 (counts as tr), turn, tr in same st, *tr in next st, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in next 10 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 2 sts, tr in next st,** (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next st, repeat from * 3 more times, ending at ** on last repeat, 2 tr in same st as starting, ch 2, join. (96 sts, 4 sps)

Rnd 11: Turn, sl st in first sp, (csdc, dc) in same sp, *dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, sc in next 8 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts,** (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next sp, repeat from * 3 times more, ending at ** on last repeat, 2 dc in same sp as starting, ch 2, join, changing to B, fasten off E. (112 sts, 4 sps)

Border:

Rnd 12: With B, turn, sl st in first sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, *(ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st) across to next sp, ch 1** (sc, ch 2, sc) in sp, repeat from * 3 times more, ending at ** on last repeat, sc in same corner sp as starting, ch 2, join, changing to C, fasten off B. (64 sts, 60 ch 1 sps, 4 ch 2 corner sps).

Rnd 13: With C, turn, sl st in first corner sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, *ch 1, sk next st, (sc in next sp, ch 1, sk next st) across to next corner sp,** (sc, ch 2, sc) in corner sp, repeat from * 3 times more, ending at ** on last repeat, sc in same corner sp as starting, ch 2, join, changing to D, fasten off C. (68 sts, 64 ch 1 sps, 4 ch 2 corner sps).

Rnd 14: With D, repeat rnd 13, changing to E at the end of the rnd, fasten off D.  (72 sts, 68 ch 1 sps, 4 ch 2 corner sps)

Rnd 15: With E, repeat rnd 13, do not change colors or fasten off at the end of the rnd. (76 sts, 72 ch 1 sps, 4 ch 2 corner sps)

Rnd 16: Turn, sl st in first corner sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, *sc in each st and each sp across to next corner sp,** (sc, ch 1, sc in corner sp), repeat from * 3 times more, ending at ** on last repeat, sc in corner same sp as starting, ch 2.   (152 sts, 4 sps).

Rnd 17 (optional if needed for size):  Join previous rnd, turn, sl st in first sp, ch 1, sc in same sp, *sc in each st across to next sp, (sc, ch 1, sc in corner sp), repeat from * twice more, sc in each st across to starting sp, sc in starting sp, ch 1. (160 sts, 4 sps)

Fasten off, join last round with invisible join method. Weave in all ends.

I hope you enjoy the pattern. Big thanks to Tamara Kelly for testing it.

A downloadable pdf of this pattern is also available in my Craftsy store or on Ravelry, for a $1 fee. The fee for the pdf format is to offset the advertising revenue lost when you print or download the pattern rather than viewing it online.

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