Scrappy Bag of Balls: Valentine’s Day Edition

If you have followed me on my Facebook page or Instagram, you may know that I love using all my scrap yarn by making up fun little kids toy ball sets.  I usually add a bag to most of them like in the above photo.  These are very popular for me both on Etsy and when I used to do craft fairs.  You can do a lot of sets in a short amount of time and make use of all your fun scrap yarn.  This is my original post where I talk about how to make the balls and the carry bag.

The more varied the textures and colors the better! These make great sensory toys for littles and are easily washed depending on what you use. I caution against using any wools in making these for sensitivity issues and washing.

This is my Valentine’s Day edition, and I thought it would be fun to make a conversation heart and chocolate kiss – and, of course, I will share my pattern here.

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I have used regular 4-ply worsted weight yarn and my G/4mm and H/4.5mm hook for these.

This pattern is intended for personal use only. This pattern -and all my patterns- are offered for free or a small fee to help support my family so please do not redistribute, sell, copy or use them in any way not in accordance with fairness.

You may sell products made from this pattern, but please give me credit as the designer. Please do not use my photos as your own work, but you may use my photos to reference back to my blog, Etsy, Pinterest, IG or FB, but please link back to me.

If you find any problems with this pattern, please let me know and if you have any problems with any of it feel free to message me and ask for support.

Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to me, Kristi Bergin-Smith and The Burgundy Basket with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

If I write sc 2 it means single crochet (sc) in the next two stitches.  If I write 2sc it means make 2 single crochet in the next same stitch.

Stitches used:

Single crochet (sc)

Increase (inc)

Invisible decrease (inv dec)

Chocolate Kiss:

For the little Hershey kiss “tag” at the top, I did a simple chain 6 with my H/4.5mm hook and then did a single crochet 5 back up the chain- leaving tails on both sides for the little top “tag.” Just tie it in the inside once you get enough rounds done.

For the main part, I used a silvery light gray 4-ply yarn and my G/4mm hook.

I work in the CONTINUOUS Round and do not join.

*I do not join and chain but continue to work in the next stitch. Use a stitch marker for this so you don’t lose your place.

Chain 2. Sc 6 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail.

Starting in the first sc make (2sc, sc 2) repeat once. (8) *Still work over the starting tail.

After getting done with all 8 sc for that round, pull the starting tail to cinch up the opening. You can now trim that tail or weave it in or just leave it if it will be on the inside of your work.

You want to move your stitch marker to the last stitch of each round so you know when you get to the end.

Round 3: (2sc, sc 3) repeat (10)

Round 4: (2sc, sc 4) repeat (12)

Round 5-8: sc in each stitch around (12)(12)(12)(12)

Round 9: (2sc, sc 3) around (15)

Round 10: sc in each stitch around (15)

Round 11: (2sc, sc 4) around (18)

Round 12: sc in each stitch around (18)

Round 13: (2sc, sc 2) around (24)

Round 14: sc in each stitch around (24)

Round 15: (2sc, sc 3) around (30)

Rounds 16-17: sc in each stitch around (30)(30)

Round 18: (2sc, sc 4) around (36)

Round 19: (2sc, sc 5) around (42)

Rounds 20-23: sc in each stitch around (42)(42)(42)(42)

Stuff and decrease:

Round 24: (1 sc in next 5 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (36)

Round 25: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (30)

Round 26: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (24)

Round 27: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (18)

Round 28: (1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)

Round 29: (inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around. (6)

Heart:

I have used a regular 4-ply yarn like Red Heart and a G/4mm hook.

You will start by making the two top pieces.  Finish off the first one, but not the second one – after the second one you will hold the two together and work around both pieces.

Chain 2. Sc 6 in the second chain from the hook and work over your starting tail.

Starting in the first sc make 2 sc in that stitch and in each stitch around. (12) *Still work over the starting tail.

After getting done with all 12 sc for that round, pull the starting tail to cinch up the opening. You can now trim that tail or weave it in or just leave it if it will be on the inside of your work.

You want to move your stitch marker to the last stitch of each round so you know when you get to the end.

Round 3: (1 sc in next stitch, 2sc in the next stitch) repeat around (18)

Round 4: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, 2sc in the next stitch) repeat around (24)

Round 5: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, 2sc in the next stitch) repeat around (30)

Round 6: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, 2sc in the next stitch) repeat around (36)

Rounds 7-8: sc in each stitch around (36)(36)

Round 9: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (30)

Round 10: sc in each stitch around (30)

Round 11: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (24)

Round 12: sc in each stitch around (24)

Round 13: hold the two pieces together and single crochet around both pieces to connect them.  (48)

Round 14: sc in each stitch around (48)

Round 15: (1 sc in next 6 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (42)

Round 16: (1 sc in next 5 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (36)

Round 17: (1 sc in next 4 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (30)

Round 18: sc in each stitch around (30)

Stuff and keep stuffing as you go.

Round 19: (1 sc in next 3 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (24)

Rounds 20-23: sc in each stitch around (24)(24)(24)(24)

Round 24: (1 sc in next 2 stitches, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (18)

Round 25: (1 sc in next stitch, inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (12)

Rounds 26-27: sc in each stitch around (12)(12)

Round 28: (inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around 6)

Round 29: (inv dec over the next two stitches) repeat around (3)

Finish off and weave in the end.

If you enjoy this post, you may also like these balls that I did for Halloween.  

or these that I did for Easter. 

And that is it.  I hope you enjoy making this set for your little one.

Speaking of “balls” and “love” – we absolutely love our big dog, Ruger.  He is the best and smartest dog we’ve ever known!  He is a big hunk of love and a blue heeler – so smart!  He loves balls and toys, but because he’s a super chewer he can’t have these balls (our small dogs enjoy these scrappy yarn balls, but they are not suitable for big chewers) – so, ordering him the Bark Box and having it delivered each month to us is one of the best things I’ve ever done! (doggie related of course) – but I highly recommend the Bark Box.  When we get our box each month, I say “Ruger! Your box came!” and he goes nuts!  He jumps around completely excited!  After I open it, I sit it in the floor and he pulls everything out and picks his favorite toy!  He is in love with his subscription.  It’s his Valentine all year long <3