The days are getting shorter, the sweaters are back... there's no doubt about it, the Christmas spirit is starting to take hold all around us. This year, our creative partner Domi Moreau once again invites you to anticipate the festive season by making your own Christmas bauble!
Dive into the art of spiral crochet and create a unique and refined Christmas bauble thanks to this technique that combines tight stitches with the addition of pearls. In this tutorial, Domi guides you step-by-step through the creation of this festive decoration, which will add a handcrafted touch to your tree or home. If you're new to this technique, take a look at our How to crochet a beaded spiral.
You start by stringing the beads according to a precise pattern, an essential step in bringing your ball design to life. Next, you'll move on to crocheting tight meshes, where you'll learn to incorporate the beads as you work. Through regular increases, the ball's structure slowly takes shape, and you'll discover how to finalize your creation by adding a decorative cup and a beautiful finish at the top of the ball.
For this tutorial, Domi suggests making the ball in blue, pink and gold. But let your imagination run wild and choose other colors from our wide range of 11/0 seed beads. You'll be able to create your own unique Christmas bauble. And if you're a fan of this type of creation, check out our tutorial on crocheted spiral baubles.
Once you've completed this tutorial, you'll be proud to hang your personalized creation on your Christmas tree, or even give it as a handmade gift. So get your crochet hook and beads ready, and follow Domi's step-by-step instructions to add a sparkling touch to your tree!
Thread the beads according to the grid. Start threading at the top right, working your way to the left, line by line, from top to bottom. It's best not to thread all the beads at once. Thread a piece of paper at the end of each row (to mark the rows when crocheting). Don't hesitate to write the row numbers on it. Meshes (green boxes) are threaded on either side, like beads. Same for mini drops (orange boxes).
Crochet in tight stitches. I used a 1.25 hook, but you can also use a n°1 hook. Start with the last beads strung, i.e. 6 pink R11s. Make a magic circle, then make 6 tight stitches, without beads, around the circle, tighten and close with a cast-on stitch. Always make a cast-on stitch at the beginning to close the row. Make the 1st row by crocheting the first 6 beads.
For the 2nd row: make the first increases, crocheting twice in the same stitch (under the V) from the previous row. We have 12 beads
3rd row: crochet a normal bead and then 2 beads in the next stitch. These are increases and are always done at the end of each stitch. You have 18 beads for this row
4th row: Crochet 2 beads normally, then 2 beads in a single stitch. You have 24 beads for this row.
Row 5: Crochet 3 beads normally, then 2 beads in the same stitch. You have 30 beads.
Continue like this. Photo of 9th row. Your ball should look like this.
You have now reached rank 15. The increases are complete. You must have 90 pearls on your full turn. At this point, you can place a cup, as shown in the photo.
From now on, you continue straight on, for 21 rows, without increases, always keeping 90 beads per turn, and always closing your rows with a cast-on stitch in the air stitch at the beginning of the row.
It's time to put the support ball inside. Start tapering.
Diminutions are made at the beginning of the tip. Stitch your hook under the front strand (of the V) of the first stitch, then under the back strand (of the V) of the second stitch, 1 cast-off, pull a stitch through both strands, then finish your stitch with a cast-off and pull. There are 14 rows of decreases. Tighten the work. Be careful not to break the thread! Continue until you have only 6 beads left for the last round. Stop your work and cut your yarn long enough (40cms) to finish the top.
To finish, I threaded a cup, an R8, a 6mm round, 1 R8 and made a loop with 13 R11s.
That's it! You've got a new ball to hang proudly on your tree!
You have a question about this tutorial? Ask it to our team and the people who have already tested it. The Perles & Co community is here to help you!
Credits
Perles & Co, Internet & E-Commerce company [21/10/2024] Any reproduction, representation, adaptation, in any form whatsoever, even partial, is prohibited, except for reproduction for private use not intended for collective use, representation in the family circle (art. L 122-5 CPI) and online publishing on condition that the source is mentioned and a link is included to the corresponding page of our site www.perlesandco.com.
