UM Crochet Ornament Balls

Ornament balls with the UM "U" logo, thread crochet over 2.5" styrofoam balls.

The original pattern from Michael's is here: Crochet Ball Ornaments.
I used a 2.25mm crochet hook because I have a tight stitch. My modified pattern for the UM ornaments shifts the sewing up higher on the ball to avoid sewing over the green and orange parts. This requires that the gauge be checked so that the bottom part will fit (with some stretching) over the middle of the ball. It is more difficult than fitting a top half and bottom half, as in the holiday pattern, but doable.

I got the orange crochet thread from Creative Yarn Source (amazing color selection) and the green from somewhere underneath my bed, where crafts and office supplies keep reproducing through mitosis (and sometimes meiosis - Jack-Jack's fine, but weeeeeird things are happening).

Pictures of the pattern go here -- when I take them. A description of how I sew the two pieces together so that the stitches appear to be single-crochets will also go here.

My pattern specifies starting on orange, but I made about half of the 20+ incarnations starting on orange, the other half starting on green (see first pic for reference).


UM Logo Crochet Ornament Balls
Pattern modified by Evil Bitch-Monster of Death

2.25 mm hook
Size 10 crochet thread: white, orange, green
2.5” Styrofoam balls
tapestry needle

Half of “U” takes ~ 4.5’ – cut 2 of each green and orange
~ 3’ green or orange to sew together Bottom Bowl and Top Cap

GAUGE: 8 stitches = 1”
CHECK GAUGE – use any hook to obtain gauge and fit project over 2.5” ball

Bottom Bowl:
Begin: with orange, ch 4 – join with sl st to form tight ring -- or make an adjustable ring
Rnd 1: ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join – 6 total
Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around, join – 12 total
Rnd 3: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc* repeat 6 times, join – 18 total
Rnd 4: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc* repeat 6 times, join – 24 total
Rnd 5: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc* repeat 6 times, join – 30 total
Rnd 6: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc* repeat 6 times, join, – 36 total
Rnd 7: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc* repeat 6 times, switch to green (tie off orange), join – 42 total
Rnd 8: with green, ch 1, sc in each sc around, join – 42 total
Rnd 9: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 6 sc* repeat 6 times, join – 48 total
Rnd 10: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 7 sc* repeat 6 times, switch to white (tie off green), join – 54 total
Rnd 11: with white ch 1, sc in each sc around, join – 54 total
Rnd 12: ch 1, sc in each sc around, join – 54 total
Rnd 13: ch 1, *white sc in next 7 sc, tie on green carry white sc in next 5 sc - drop, switch to white sc in next 2 sc, tie on orange carry white sc in next 5 sc - drop, switch to white sc in next 8 sc* repeat, join – 54 total
Rnd 14: ch 1, *white sc in next 5 sc, pick up green carry white sc in next 4 sc - drop, switch to white sc in next 8 sc, pick up orange carry white sc in next 4 sc - drop, switch to white sc in next 6 sc* repeat, join – 54 total
Rnd 15: ch 1, *white sc in next 4 sc, pick up green carry white sc in next 4 sc - drop, switch to white sc in next 10 sc, pick up orange carry white sc in next 4 sc - drop, switch to white sc in next 5 sc* repeat, join – 54 total
Rnds 16 - 22: repeat Rnd 15, on Rnd 22 tie off all colors
Rnds 23 - 24: repeat Rnds 11 – 12

Top Cap:
Begin: with orange, ch 4 – join with sl st to form tight ring -- or make an adjustable ring
Rnd 1: ch 1, 6 sc in ring, join – 6 total
Rnd 2: ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around, join – 12 total
Rnd 3: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc* repeat 5 times, join – 18 total
Rnd 4: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc* repeat 6 times, join – 24 total
Rnd 5: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc* repeat 6 times, join – 30 total
Rnd 6: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc* repeat 6 times, join, – 36 total
Rnd 7: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc* repeat 6 times, switch to green (tie off orange), join – 42 total
Rnd 8: with green, ch 1, sc in each sc around, join – 42 total
Rnd 9: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 6 sc* repeat 6 times, join – 48 total
Rnd 10: ch 1, *2 sc in first sc, sc in next 7 sc* repeat 6 times, join, tie off , leave 3’ string to sew together – 54 total

Hanging Loop: put 2 strands together, ch 40, fasten off, secure through Top Cap center
Sew together Bottom Bowl and Top Cap over 2.5” Styrofoam ball: Bottom Bowl Rnd 24, Top Cap Rnd 10: *green 1 sc to 1, hide string – 54 total