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
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UM crochet pouches

UM crochet pouches. Three varieties -- green, orange, and white backed, each with magnetic snap attached.


The division of academics in which I work at the University of Miami has between 17 and 20 employees. For gift-giving seasons, I have taken to making UM-themed crafts for my co-workers. These are pouches from a few years ago, made with nylon thread/cord.


Front of pouch with pattern

This is the final incarnation of the pattern -- the first few were a scratchy mess. Note that the pattern is drawn green-side-left, which means it is worked essentially from the back. Keep this in mind if you try to make a pouch, and tie off/weave in accordingly.


Nylon crochet thread used to make pouches. It is fun to work with, washable, durable, and the ends are easily sealed by a careful application of fire -- or fray sealant, for the non-pyros out there. I bought the nylon cord from Creative Yarn Source, an excellent distributor of many knit and crochet ingredients.

For those of you interested, below is the pattern. There may be errors. I will eventually post detailed carry and color change instructions, possibly with videos.

UM Crochet Pouches
Pattern by Evil Bitch-Monster of Death

14 x 22 stitches
Omega La Espiga nylon size 18 (comparable to #5 cotton, #3 linen; purchased from Creative Yarn Source)
Size E/F crochet hook (I have a very tight crochet stitch, so I used F -- 3.75mm)
magnetic snaps
yarn needle (for sewing sides together)

UM “U” has orange on left, green on right – crochet pattern works backwards. This was on purpose for some right-side/wrong-side reason, but that was before I revised the pattern. It will likely turn out fine started on orange.

Stitches used:
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
slst = slip-stitch

Begin: with white, chain 14
R1-3: ch1, turn, with white sc in each – 14 sc
R4: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 2, tie on green next sc, with green carry white sc in next 9 – drop, switch to white sc in next 3 – 14 sc
R5-6: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 2, with green carry white sc in next 10 – drop, switch to white sc in next 2 – 14 sc
R7: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 2, with green carry white sc in next 2 – drop, switch to white sc in next 10 – 14 sc
R8: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 10, with green carry white sc in next 2 – drop, switch to white sc in next 2 – 14 sc
R9: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 2, with green carry white sc in next 1 – drop, switch to white sc in next 11 – 14 sc
R10: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 11, with green carry white sc in next 1 – drop, switch to white sc in next 2 – 14 sc
R11-12: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 14 – 14 sc
R13: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 2, tie on orange in next sc, with orange carry white sc in next 1 – drop, switch to white sc in next 11 – 14 sc
R14: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 11, with orange carry white sc in next 1 – drop, switch to white sc in next 2 – 14 sc
R15: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 2, with orange carry white sc in next 2 – drop, switch to white sc in next 10 – 14 sc
R16: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 10, with orange carry white sc in next 2 – drop, switch to white sc in next 2 – 14 sc
R17-18: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 2, with orange carry white sc in next 10 – drop, switch to white sc in next 2 – 14 sc
R19: ch1, turn, with white sc in next 3, with orange carry white sc in next 9 – drop, switch to white sc in next 2 – 14 sc
R 20-22: ch1, turn, with white sc in each – 14 sc, tie off

Begin: with white, green, or orange, chain 14
R1-9: ch1, turn, sc in each – 14 sc
R10: ch 6, ch1, turn, sc in each ch (6), sc in each sc (14) – 20 sc
R11-13: ch1, turn, sc in each – 20 sc
R14: ch1, turn, slst in 6 sc, sc in next 14 sc – 14 sc
R15-22: ch1, turn, sc in each – 14 sc, tie off

Using white, sew back to front except for side with tab. Press magnetic snaps into tab and top middle of front of pouch.
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