Knitted Christmas Ball Ornaments Pattern
Kick off the holiday season with adorable knitted Christmas Ball Ornaments. Give your home a touch of a little something special magic to capture the season by knitting your own decor.
Table of Contents
Knitting Construction
This quick-knit project makes a great holiday decoration for yourself, as well as gifts for family and friends!
- Flat and In-the Round: I recently updated the pattern to include two construction options: Flat on Straight Needles and In-the-Round on Double-Pointed Needles. Knitting flat is usually easier for beginners, while in-the-round is the preferred method for those comfortable doing so.
- Shape: These Christmas ornaments are a circular ball shape. Baubles, globes, and bubbles are terms that also refer to these rounded festive decorations.
- Texture: Stockinette and Reverse Stockinette knit stitches create the unique textured design.
- Colorwork: Changing yarn colors throughout the piece create the striped colorwork design.
- Intermediate Level: The balls are created with easy knits and purls with increase and decrease rows.
- Bottom Up: Created from the bottom up.
Knitting Supplies
You may use any size yarn and corresponding needle size to create these easy softies. I’m using bulky weight yarn with size 11 US knitting needles. You’ll also want to have a tapestry needle, scissors, and stuffing on hand.
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- 2 Colors of Bulky Size #5 Weight Yarn (100 yards of each color)
Recommended: Paton’s Classic Wool or Lions Brand Wool Thick & Quick - Knitting Flat: 2 Straight Knitting Needles 11 US / 4.5 mm
- Knitting In-the-Round: 4 Double Pointed Knitting Needles 11 US / 4.5 mm
- Polyfil, or any stuffing of your choice
- Tapestry Needle
- Scissors
Optional: - Knitting Blocks and T-Pins
- Digital Row Counter – Using row counters tutorial >
- Needle Point Protectors – How to prevent stitches from falling off your needles >
Watch Video Tutorial
Knitting Techniques
Need to brush up or learn a new technique? Check out my entire library of Knitting Techniques to help you along as you knit up this project.
• Slip Knot
• CO = Cast On Long Tail Method
• Changing Yarn Colors
• K = Knit Stitch
• P = Purl Stitch
• KFB = Knit Front + Back (increase)
• K2TOG = Knit 2 Sts Together (decrease)
• Bind Off
• Weave in Yarn Tails
Printable Knitting Instructions
Printable Knitting Pattern
Make adorable knitted Christmas Ball Ornaments! Get free knitting pattern and video tutorial to make your own ornaments this holiday with Studio Knit.
Materials
- 2 Colors of Bulky Size #5 Weight Yarn
- Polyfill, or any stuffing of your choice
Tools
- Knit Flat: 2 Straight Knitting Needles 11 US / 4.5 mm
- Knit In-the-Round: 4 Double-Pointed Knitting Needles 11 US / 4.5 mm
- Tapestry Needle
- Scissors
Instructions
KNITTED FLAT ON STRAIGHT NEEDLES
Note: When knitting this pattern on straight needles, you will need to cut your yarn for the color changes.
BEGIN WITH COLOR A
CAST ON 6 Stitches onto your Straight Knitting Needles.
- Row 1 (WS): Purl All
- Row 2 (RS): * KFB * (repeat btwn * *, 12 sts remain)
- Row 3: Purl All
- Row 4: * KFB, K1 * (18 sts)
- Row 5: Purl All
- Row 6: * KFB, K2 * (24 sts)
- Row 7: Purl All
CHANGE TO COLOR B
- Row 8: Purl All
- Row 9: Purl All
CHANGE TO COLOR A
- Row 10: Knit All
CHANGE TO COLOR B
- Row 11: Purl All
CHANGE TO COLOR A
- Row 12: Knit All
CHANGE TO COLOR B
- Row 13: Purl All
- Row 14: Knit All
CHANGE TO COLOR A
- Row 15: Knit All
- Row 16: * K2Tog, K2 * (18 sts)
- Row 17: Purl All
- Row 18: * K2Tog, K1 * (12 sts)
- Row 19: Purl All
- Row 20: * K2Tog * (6 sts)
FINISHING
Bind Off, Break Yarn.
With Right Sides Touching, Seam Edge ¾ up, Turn Right-Side Out, Insert Stuffing, Finish Seaming.
Weave Thru Remaining Stitches.
Tie a knot at the end with the remaining thread in order to hang the balls on your tree.
____________
KNITTED IN-THE-ROUND ON DOUBLE-POINTED NEEDLES
BEGIN WITH COLOR A
CAST ON 6 Stitches onto your Double-Pointed Knitting Needle. Divide your stitches to 2 each on 3 Double Pointed Needles and join in the round.
- Row 1 (RS): Knit All
- Row 2: * KFB * (repeat btwn * *, 12 sts remain)
- Row 3: Knit All
- Row 4: * KFB, K1 * (18 sts)
- Row 5: Knit All
- Row 6: * KFB, K2 * (24 sts)
- Row 7: Knit All
CHANGE TO COLOR B
- Row 8: Purl All
- Row 9: Knit All
CHANGE TO COLOR A
- Row 10: Knit All
CHANGE TO COLOR B
- Row 11: Knit All
CHANGE TO COLOR A
- Row 12: Knit All
CHANGE TO COLOR B
- Row 13: Knit All
- Row 14: Knit All
CHANGE TO COLOR A
- Row 15: Purl All
- Row 16: * K2Tog, K2 * (18 sts)
- Row 17: Knit All
- Row 18: * K2Tog, K1 * (12 sts)
- Row 19: Knit All
- Row 20: * K2Tog * (6 sts)
FINISHING
Bind Off, Break Yarn.
- Insert Stuffing
- Weave thru the remaining stitches
- Tie a knot at the end with the remaining thread in order to hang the balls on your tree
KNITTING CHART
Notes
Knitting Techniques
- Slip Knot
- CO = Cast On Long Tail Method
I-Cord - K = Knit Stitch
- P = Purl Stitch
- KFB = Knit Front + Back to Increase
- K2TOG = Knit 2 Sts Together to Decrease
- Bind Off
- Weave in Yarn Tails
Kristen McDonnell
Author & Designer
After publishing her first knitting tutorial video, Kristen founded StudioKnit LLC. Enamored with teaching online, she films knitting lessons and designs from her vibrant production studio on Half Moon Bay’s California coast.
Kristen McDonnell is the author of the highly acclaimed book Knit Stitch: 50 Knit + Purl Patterns featuring vintage and unique designs.