Last weekend Hubby and I were at the mall doing some Christmas gift shopping.

Between the decorations, the roaming carolers in Victorian Dress, and the peppermint hot cocoa I had sucked down I was suddenly overcome with the desire to make some Christmas ornaments.

Our tree at home has been up since just after Thanksgiving. We have a mix of eclectic, special ornaments and your standard glass balls. There are even already a few I knit and a few my yarny friends have given me.

I popped into the mall craft store and grabbed a bag of four 2.5 inch (6.35 cm) foam balls.

There were other size foam balls, and even glass balls, but I went with the little ones since time was of the essence. I wanted to be able to make fast ornaments so I could share them with you in time to actually be of value this year. haha!

The first two I’ve made are crocheted. I’m accustomed to thinking of crochet in a structural way and I crochet faster than I knit. Don’t worry, I’m working on knit versions!

Mirasol Kutama

A number of yarns in red and green presented themselves for ornament creation. Here you see Mirasol Kutama at the top of the pile, Elsebeth Lavold Favorite Wool on the right, and Ella Rae Superwash Classic on the left.

I decided to start with the red Kutama. It’s color #1908-American Rose. Kutama comes in 16 colors, so you can use traditional red and green like I did, or select colors that match your decor.

This yarn is a 50% Alpaca, 50% Fine Highland Wool blend. It comes in 67 yard (50 gram) hanks.

Kutama is a soft fluffy yarn with two strands ply together. This gives it bulk and loft without being heavy. For a garment it will be warm and snuggly without weighing you down.

I’ve been working on the Loreto cowl from “Book #23-Kutama,” so I already knew this yarn was lovely to knit with.

For my ornament, it worked up quickly with just a slight halo to soften the lines. I had to hang the ornament on the tree as soon as I was done taking pictures because I keep wanting to pet it!

You should be able to make this ornament in an hour or two.

Kutama Crocheted Ornament

NOTE: US Crochet terms used throughout. Work in continuous rounds without turning.

Materials:

Yarn: Mirasol Kutama in color #1908- American Rose or #1915-Forest Green, One skein

Crochet Hook size H

Gauge: 3 sc x 3 rounds per 1″ (on the ball.)

2.5 inch Styrofoam ball

Scrap yarn or stitch markers to mark rounds

Pattern:

Chain 4 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring

Round 1: 6 sc in ring (place marker at beginning of round)

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around (12 sc)

Round 3: 2 sc in each sc around (24 sc)

Round 4: 1 sc in each sc around (24 sc)

Rounds 5-10: work even

Insert ball (NOTE: you’ll finish working the ornament with the ball in place.)

Shape top:

Round 11: 2sctog around (12 sc)

Round 12: 2sctog around (6 sc)

Round 13: 1 sc in each sc around (6 sc)

Make loop:

Chain 12 (or desired length). Join with slip stitch to top of ball.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Variations

Simple, right?

You can easily change the look of the ball by making stripes or using beads.

It would be easy to make this ornament bigger by working another row of increases before beginning to work even. You can just try the cover on your ornament shape as you go along.

I had originally worked to 36 sc but felt that was a little baggy.

Also, if you use a larger ornament form you’ll want to try the cover on as you’re working the body. I found leaving about a third of the ball exposed before decreasing was the way to go. Less than that and not only was the top hard to work, but the body was stretched too tightly and showed too much of the white foam ball.

Try the fabric on the form to test the size.

You will find many uses for this crocheted ornament. Hang your finished ornament on your tree and admire how fiber makes everything better. Hang several on a string or piece of yarn as garland on a doorway or window. You can even use it in place of bows on your wrapped gifts.

Stay tuned tomorrow for another version of a crocheted ornament!