LGC kit, dried beans crochet

Practise your increasing anddecreasing by creating fun

juggling ballsWhether your kids love to playcircus acts or hopscotch, bean bagstyle juggling balls have a numberof uses. Crochet these onestogether using simple increasesand decreases to create a quick andfun gift for a little one, adaptingthe decorations to their own tastes.

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LGCsays..."I loved tryingto juggle as a child, it kept meentertainedfor hoursalthough Iwasn't verygood!"Emily Davies,Editor

Stitches used:Magic ringSlip stitch (sl st)Chain (ch)Double crochet(dc)Double crochettwo together(dc2tog)Half treble (htr)

jugglingballsWith a 3.5mm hookand coloured yarn,make a magic ringand work 6 dc intothe centre.Round 1: 2 dc in eadc around. (12 sts). Round 2: [2 dc innext dc, 1 dc in nextdc] around. (18 sts).Round 3: [2 dc innext dc, 1 dc in next2 dc] around. (24 sts).Round 4: [2 dc innext dc, 1 dc in next3 dc] around. (30 sts).

Rounds 5-9: Workfive rounds of dcwithout any increases.Round 10: [dc2tog,dc in next 3 dc]around. (24 sts).Round 11: [dc2tog,dc in next 2 dc]around. (18 sts).Round 12: [dc2tog,dc in next dc]around. (12 sts).Fill the ball with dried beans.Round 13: dc2togaround. (6 sts).Cut the yarn, leavinga long tail and threadonto a tapestryneedle. Pass throughthe remainingstitches and pulltight. Fasten off.

dotsWith a 3.5mm hookand coloured yarn,make a magic ringand work 6 dc intothe centre. (Fasten off here fora tiny dot).Round 1: 2 dc ineach dc around. (12 sts). (Fasten off here formedium dot).Round 2: [2 dc innext dc, 1 dc in nextdc] around. (18 sts). (Fasten off here forlarge dot).

Sew the dots onto thejuggling ball using the tails.

flowers make 3With a 3.5mm hookand coloured yarn,make a magic ringand work 10 dc intothe centre.Sl st into first st.*2 ch, 1 htr, 1 tr intonext stitch, sl st intonext.* Rep from * to* four more times.

Fasten off.Sew the flowers ontothe juggling ball usingthe tails.

heartsWith a 3.5mm hookand coloured yarn,make a magic ringand ch 2.Into the magic ring, 3 htr, 4 dc, 1 htr, 4 dc,3 htr. Pull the magicring closed and teaseout the shape of theheart. 1 ch and sl st

into centre hole.Fasten off and usetails to sew onto thejuggling ball.

hot tipMake sure yourbeans are largeenough to not poke through the stitches!

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