Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball ⋆Free Knitting Pattern
This free knitting pattern makes a great gift for a sport fan. This pattern uses up small amounts of yarn and is quick to make up.
I first designed my Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball Pattern a number of years ago when I wanted to create a handmade gift for my partner.
I couldn’t find many knitted gift ideas suitable for men, so I designed my own Knitted Cricket Ball.
My Knitted Cricket Ball Pattern was one of my first attempts at designing and I knew that it was pretty special! My partner thought so too.
Knitted Cricket Ball in Simply Knitting
I hadn’t come across many designs of gifts for men, so I contacted Simply Knitting about it to share with them what I had created – and they published an article about me! They made a mention of the cricket ball in the article! (You can just about make it out in the photo)
Then, 4 years later when I decided to become a designer I submitted this design to an online magazine called Knotions Magazine – and it was accepted! The Editor suggested that I make the design a dual design, so the ball could be turned into either a Baseball or Cricket Ball! Such a wonderful idea!
Three Sizes of Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball
The first version of the Cricket Ball / Baseball was normal / life-like size. Then I decided to create some smaller versions!
- The mini is perfect for keyrings
- The small is perfect for tree decorations, car decorations or larger keyring decoration.
- The standard is perfect for a realistic version of the ball to practice throwing with.
I personally love the mini one the best! I will be making it for keyrings to give to baseball and cricket fans 🙂
Mini Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball
Small Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball
Standard Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball
Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball Stiching
It takes a little time and some patience to sew on the stitching for the balls, but it is not that hard to do!
I created a Youtube video showing you how to sew on the stitching for both the Cricket Ball and Baseball to show you how to do the stitching.
Free Pattern
The pattern is available for free in this blog post. This blog has ads so I can provide the pattern for free.
Please note: This post contains affiliate links, which means you don’t pay any extra but a small percentage goes to me if you buy through my link (thank you for supporting me!).
Ad-free PDF Version
An ad-free PDF version of the pattern is available on Ravelry and Lovecrafts.
Buying the PDF version makes it easy to follow the pattern without ads and is ideal if you want to print the pattern. As a bonus, when you buy the pattern it supports my work and enables me to continue making patterns for you!
Before you get started
I highly recommend that you read the Essential Information and Additional Information sections before you read this pattern.
If you’ve already read them, and are returning to this page to continue knitting, then simply jump to the patterns using the buttons below.
Essential Information
Difficulty
Intermediate
Skills
Knitting in the round
Picked up stitches / Lifted stitches
Materials
Yarn for Cricket Ball
Stylecraft Special DK (8 Py); 295 m (323 yards) per 100g; 100% acrylic
Standard
Ball: 7g / 21 m / 23 yards in Red
Stitching: 1g / m / yards in in White
Small
Ball: 5g / 15 m / 17 yards in Red
Stitching: 1g / 3 m / yards in White
Mini
Ball: 3g / 9 m / yards in Red
Stitching: 1g / 3 m / 3 yards in in White
Yarn for Baseball
Stylecraft Special DK (8 Py); 295 m (323 yards) per 100g; 100% acrylic
Standard
Ball: 7g / 21 m / 23 yards in White
Stitching: 1g / m / yards in Red
Small
Ball: 5g / 15 m / 17 yards in White
Stitching: Less than 1g / 3 m / 3 yards in Red
Mini
Ball: 3g / 9 m / 10 yards in White
Stitching: Less than 1g / 3 m / 3 yards in Red
Needles
Other Supplies
Gauge
13 sts x 18 rows = 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 in) over St st using 3 mm (US 2.5 )needles or size needed to obtain stated gauge
Sizing
Standard: 9 cm / 3.5 in
Small: 5 cm / 2 in
Mini: 4 cm / 1.5 in
Special Stitches
Pick Up Left (PUL) Increase
Use your left needle to pick up the left side of stitch that is two stitches below the stitch on the right needle. Slip this stitch onto your left needle. Knit it through the back of the loop. Also known as a Left Lifted Increase. (See blog post)
Pick Up Right (PUR) Increase
Use your right needle to pick up the stitch that is one stitch below the stitch on the left needle, lift this stitch and slip it onto the left needle. Knit it through the front of the loop. Also known as a Right Lifted Increase. (See blog post)
Abbreviations
K2tog: Knit two stitches together
Kfb: Knit front and back of the stitch
PUL: Pick Up Left / Left Lifted Increase
PUR: Pick Up Right / Right Lifted Increase
Rep: Repeat
Rnd: Round
St st: Stockinette stitch
St(s): Stitch(es)
Stitch Counts
The stitch count is indicated at the end of every round or row. Stitch counts are shown like this: (12 sts)
Repeats
Sections to be repeated are indicated within squared brackets [ ], with the number of repeats written after.
Additional Instructions
Sewing Up Cast On End
Thread the cast on tail onto a needle, then thread it through all of the cast on stitches. Then gently pull, like a draw string bag, to close the cast on end.
Secure the end by working it into the back of the previous rows and cut the yarn
Stuffing the Ball
Stuff the ball firmly as this evens out the surface of the balls and makes them lovely and round.
Finishing the Ball
Cut the yarn leaving a 8 cm / 3 in tail and attach a sewing needle to the end of the yarn, then draw it through all the stitches on the needles, stitch by stitch until you have threaded through all stitches and you can pull the top of the ball shut like a drawstring. Add in some final bits of stuffing before you close the top.
Stitching
For guidance on how to sew on the stitching. Watch my video on How to Stitch Your Baseball and How to Stitch Your Cricket Ball.
Questions
If you have any questions please contact me via my contact form.
Use of this pattern
Pattern Content & Images © 2017-2023 Ruth Haydock – All Rights Reserved.
All content in this pattern is the copyright and design right of Ruth Haydock. You are not permitted to sell the written instructions or images in any way, amended or as they are. You may only print this pattern out for personal use. You are allowed to sell completed items that you have made using this pattern but you must credit me as the designer of the pattern (Ruth Haydock) and provide a link to my website, ruthhaydock.com.
Standard Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball Pattern
Use the same pattern below for both balls.
Rnd 1: With Wine or White, cast on 12 stitches on to one needle. If using double pointed needles split stitches over 4 needles, with 3 on each needle and hold in the round. (If you find it too tricky split over two. Then, split over four needles at round 2). (12 sts)
Rnd 2: Holding the needles in the round, [k1, kfb, k1] four times. (16 sts)
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: [K2, PUL, PUR, k2] four times. (24 sts).
Sew up cast on end. See Additional Instructions on page 3.
Rnd 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: [K2, PUL, k2, PUR, k2] four times. (32 sts)
Rnd 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: [K2, PUL, k4, PUR, k2] four times. (40 sts)
Rnd 9: Knit.
Rnd 10: [K2, PUL, K6, PUR, k2] four times. (48 sts)
Rnd 11: Knit.
Rnds 12 to 18: Rep rnd 11, seven more times.
Rnd 19: [K1, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k1] four times. (40 sts)
Rnd 20: Knit.
Rnd 21: [K1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1] four times. (32 sts)
Rnd 22: Knit.
Rnd 23: [K1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1] four times. (24 sts)
Rnd 24: Knit.
Rnd 25: [K1, k2tog, k2tog, k1] four times. (16 sts)
Rnd 26: Knit.
Stuff your ball firmly to even out the ball.
Rnd 27: [K1, k2tog, k1] four times. (12 sts)
Rnd 28: Finish the ball. See Additional Instructions on page 3.
Sew on the Stitching for your Cricket Ball or Baseball.
Now your ball is finished!
Small Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball Pattern
Use the same pattern below for both balls.
Rnd 1: With Wine or White, cast on 8 sts on to one needle. If using double pointed needles (instead of circular needles), split sts over four needles and hold in the round. If you find it too tricky split over two. Then, split over four needles at round 2).
Rnd 2: Holding needles in the round, [kfb] eight times. (16 sts)
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: [K2, PUL, PUR, k2] four times. (24 sts)
Sew up cast on end. See Additional Instructions on page 3.
Rnd 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: [K2, PUL, k2, PUR, k2] four times. (32 sts)
Rnd 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: [K2, PUL, k4, PUR, k2] four times. (40 sts)
Rnd 9: Knit.
Rnds 10 to 14: Rep rnd 9, five more times.
Rnd 15: [K1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1] four times. (32 sts)
Rnd 16: Knit.
Rnd 17: [K1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1] four times. (24 sts)
Rnd 18: Knit.
Rnd 19: [K1, k2tog, k2tog, k1] four times. (16 sts)
Rnd 20: Knit.
Stuff your ball firmly to even out the ball.
Rnd 21: [K2tog] eight times. (8 sts)
Rnd 22: Sew up the ball. See Additional Instructions on page 3.
Sew on the Stitching for your Cricket Ball or Baseball.
Now your ball is finished!
Mini Knitted Baseball and Cricket Ball Pattern
Use the same pattern below for both balls.
Rnd 1: With Wine or White, cast on 8 sts on to one needle. If using double pointed needles (instead of circular needles), split sts over four needles and hold in the round. If you find it too tricky split over two. Then, split over four needles at round 2). (8 sts)
Rnd 2: Holding needles in the round, [kfb] eight times. (16 sts)
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: [K2, PUL, PUR, k2] four times. (24 sts)
Sew up cast on end. See Additional Instructions on page 3.
Rnd 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: [K2, PUL, k2, PUR, k2] four times. (32 sts)
Rnd 7: Knit.
Rnds 8 to 10: Rep rnd 7, three more times.
Rnd 11: [K1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1] four times. (24 sts)
Rnd 12: Knit.
Rnd 13: [K1, k2tog, k2tog, k1] four times. (16 sts)
Rnd 14: Knit.
Stuff your ball firmly to even out the ball.
Rnd 15: [K2tog] eight times. (8 sts)
Rnd 16: Sew up the ball. See Additional Instructions on page 3.
Sew on the Stitching for your Cricket Ball or Baseball. Now you have finished your ball!
Subscribe to my email list
Join my mailing list to find out when I share calls for testers, latest pattern releases and other news.
