This time, going to write in English.
Saw a photo of the light ball in one of the Finnish crochet groups a while ago, and I really wanted to make one for myself for Christmas.
It is really easy to do, simple crocheted doilys connected together and then dipped in to the glue, and blow the balloon inside, let it dry!
I found the pattern from one of the Finnish blogs, Nean omat, where the written pattern in Finnish can be found. I’m gonna translate it here in english, but you can find the graphical instructions also from here!
What you need:
-Cotton yarn, thicker the yarn, bigger the ball
-1 regular size balloon
-Woodglue, or any other glue that uses water as thinner
-A bowl where to make the mixture of the glue and water
The crochet light ball
(US crochet terms)
- Chain 8 and connect to a loop with one slip stitch
- *2 double crochets in the same stitch, chain 5*, repeat until you have 8 double crochet groups
- Move to the middle of the chain with slip stitches, * Chain 7, connect with single crochet to the middle of the arch of the chain stitches*, repeat around
- In the arch do * 1 single crochet, 2 half double crochets, 3 double crochets, chain 3, 3 double crochets, 2 half double crochets, 1 single crochet* and repeat around, in each of the chain stitch arches
- Move to the middle of chain stitch arch with slip stitches, *Chain 11, join to the peak of the arch with single crochet* repeat around
- Chain 3 ( = 1 double crochet), make 14 double crochets in to the first arch, then make 15 double crochets in to each of following arches.
- *Chain 3, make 11 double crochets starting from the 3rd stitch, chain 3, join with single crochet between of the two double crochets (first and last of the groups) on the round 6* repeat around
- Slip stitch to the arch of chain stitches, *chain 3, 7 double crochets starting from the 3rd stitch, chain 3, join with single crochet in the arch of chains on the round 7, chain 3, single crochet to the arch* repeat around
- Slip stich to the arch of chains *chain 3, 3 double crochets starting from the 3rd stitch, chain 3, single crochet to the arch, chain 3, single crochet to the arch, chain 3, single stitch to the arch* repeat around
- Slip stitch to the arch of chains, *chain 3, single crochet* to the each of the arches and in the middle stich of the double crochet group on the round 9
Make two of these doilys. Then connect those two together.
Mix 50% of glue and 50% of water on a bowl and dip the joined doilys in the mixture. Squeeze it in there, so the glue gets absorbed in to the yarn well. Then squeeze off the excess water-glue mixture.
Slip the balloon between the doilys from one of the biggest holes. Blow the balloon until the doilys are tightly around it and it’s shaped perfectly round. You can also adjust the shape a bit by pressing the ball with hands.
Let it dry at least a day, or until it feels completely dry. Then pop the balloon, and take it out. And tadaa, your beautiful ball is ready!
Remember to use non-heating lamps (I prefer led’s) inside to avoid the ball catching the fire!
Edit 21.12 2017: Wanna crochet different kind of light ball? See my new pattern Tapio light ball!
Mimma K. 
Beautiful! One doily ready, another in process and glue and balloon waiting! Thank so much for the pattern!
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Glad if you liked it! 🙂
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Hi! How do you connect them??
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I use surface slip stitch join, check out the 5. tip from here: https://rensfibreart.wordpress.com/handy-crochet-tips-tricks-2/d-joining-new-yarn-joining-fabric-squares-motifs/
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how do you keep the led light from falling out? Do you anchor it somehow? I bought the kind that are a narrow oval that you twist on and off. Thanks for the help.
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Hi Nancy!
I had just chain of leds, and they had stiff enough wire in them, to form a kind of ball inside the light ball. So I just slipped them inside and and shaped them nicely. It really doesn’t matter, even the leds would drop on the bottom, since they will still light the ball nicely. I didn’t anchor mine, since I thought the holes in the ball aren’t that big and the leds won’t slip out, but you can always use thread to connect them to the ball, to ensure that they won’t fall of.
Hopefully this helped you, in case not, feel free to ask more!
Best regards, Milla
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Hola las instrucciones no las puedo leer en ingles,
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Hola! No hablo espanol.
Here is link to Italian page, but there’s a graph of how to do the ball
http://uncinettodoro.blogspot.fi/2011/11/palloncini-per-natale.html#more
Hopefully this helps!
-M
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Great pattern! Shouldn’t the last stich in the fourth round be a single crochet? It says double. 🙂
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I will check this, and correct the mistake. Thanks for the info! 🙂
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That was my question also
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Now the error is corrected! 🙂
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What glue can i use?
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I used Mod Podge “Stiiffy” Worked great
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Any water soluble glue will work. I used a brand called Erikeeper in mine.
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Hi! I have yet to work with crochet thread – what weight did you use 10, 20? And what size steel hook? (hey at least I know you need tiny hooks!)
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I used 2 mm hook (would be 1 in US sizes I think) and the yarn was Finnish brand but here you can find suggestions from other yarns that substitute mine: http://yarnsub.com/yarns/novita/kotivaki.
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Absolutely amazing! I think I will do a string of colourful crochet lights for when we sit outside in summer 🙂
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That sounds like great idea! 🙂
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I made many of these in differentsizes and put them all across my mantle with battery operated lights inserted and it was gorgeous.
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That would be awesome but be aware that unless you use waterproof glue or have your lights hanging in a protective area, the glue might dissolve 😳
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these are beautiful! I have saved this page in the hopes that my crochet one day gets good enough to make them
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These are really easy to make, just basic stitches, nothing too complicated. 🙂
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Thank you so much for sharing this, made all my family members one. Do you have different patterns, or know where some could be found?
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You can use pretty much any round doily you want with these balls. 🙂
-M
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Too bad I didn’t find this pattern earlier. The light balls look just gorgeous. Will make some for sure. Can’t wait to see them finished 🙂
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What type of yarn is this. Is it just cotton yarn or crochet thread?
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Sorry it took so long for the answer! I used cotton yarn, 100g/332m thickness, for 1,5 mm hook.
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