Hot air balloon- free crochet pattern

Check out my Youtube tutorial for this pattern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DN9GW0elgw

Materials needed:

DK yarn in red, white and beige

3mm crochet hook

Stitch marker

Scissors

Sewing needle

Invisible thread to hang your balloon up with- I used clear stretchy plastic called Crystal tec 0.8, it's used to make jewellery but you can use ordinary invisible thread too

Abbreviations (US crochet terms):

st- stitch

mr- magic ring

sc- single crochet

sl st- slip stitch

inc- increase

invdec- invisible decrease

ch- chain

BLO- back loops only

Both of the balloons in the photo are made using the same pattern and both keep the yarns attached all the time when changing colour, but the one on the right is made by working the other colour into the back of the stitches so that it's always in the right place to change colour, the one on the left is made by not working the other colour in but by carrying it across to the point you need it to be at from the inside.

Working the yarn in makes the red show through the stitches, whereas if you carry it over then there won't be any visible red behind the white. The downside to carrying it over is that you have to be careful not to pull it too tight or it'll pull it out of shape, it also makes the balloon come out a slightly different shape and slightly smaller, this is because when you work the other yarn in it makes the stitches thicker and the shape is more pronounced.

I prefer the shape of the one where I worked in the other colour, but it's up to you which method you want to use. In my Youtube video I show you how to work the yarn into the back of the stitches and then I use the carry over method for the rest of the video.

When you're switching between two yarns they can become tangled and twisted and that can make the yarn thinner, so to avoid that happening, keep each yarn away from each other with one on either side of you, and when you change colour try not to cross them over each other, just put them down so that they stay on their side.

Make a mr in white, begin first sc and change to red as you finish it by pulling a loop of red through the white loops. then do this for each of the 6 sc in the mr, changing the colour as you finish every sc, so that it alternates between white and red for each st.

Then for all of the increase rounds, change colour as you finish the second sc of each increase. For the rounds that are just sc in every st, change colour in line with the previous round. For the decreasing rounds, begin an invdec and pull through the new colour to complete it and change colour. Keep changing colour in line with the previous rounds.

The white section always has 8 stitches on every rnd after rnd 8 (the last increase rnd), the red sections are the parts that decrease in number of red stitches and the decreases are always on the last 2 red stitches on every rnd.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in mr (6)

Rnd 2: inc in every st (12)

Rnd 3: (sc in nxt st, inc) x6 (18)

Rnd 4: (sc in nxt 2 st, inc) x6 (24)

Rnd 5: (sc in nxt 3 st, inc) x6 (30)

Rnd 6: (sc in nxt 4 st, inc) x6 (36)

Rnd 7: (sc in nxt 5 st, inc) x6 (42)

Rnd 8: (sc in nxt 6 st, inc) x6 (48)

Rnds 9- 14 (6 rnds): sc in every st (48)

Rnd 15: (sc in nxt 14 st, invdec) x3 (45)

Rnd 16: sc in every st (45)

Rnd 17: (sc in nxt 13 st, invdec) x3 (42)

Rnd 18: sc in every st (42)

Rnd 19: (sc in nxt 12 st, invdec) x3 (39)

Rnd 20: sc in every st (39)

Rnd 21: (sc in nxt 11 st, invdec) x3 (36)

Rnd 22: sc in every st (36)

Rnd 23: (sc in nxt 10 st, invdec) x3 (33)

Rnd 24: sc in every st, sl st in last st (33)

Fasten off and cut both yarns leaving enough tail to sew in. Weave both ends into the back of the stitches on the inside of the last rnd, trim excess.

Basket:

In beige:

Row 1: ch 7, starting in 2nd st from hook: sc in nxt 6 st (6)

Rows 2-4 (3 rows): ch 1, turn, sc in nxt 6 st (6)

Now we'll work in rounds- make sc stitches going down the sides where the rows end and then along the bottom chain edge, back up the other side and then through both loops of the top row of stitches:

Rnd 1: sc in same space as the last st, sc in nxt 2 spaces, sc in first ch space, sc in nxt 5 spaces, sc in nxt 3 spaces, sc in nxt 6 st (18)

Put your marker in the last st you did to mark start of new rnd.

Rnd 2: In BLO: sc in every st (18)

Rnds 3-4 (2 rnds): sc in every st (18)

sl st in nxt st, fasten off leaving long tail (this will be the ropes that attach the basket to the balloon).

Thread tail onto needle, go through the FLO of the last st on any white section, don't pull through all the way, leave about 1-1.5 inches of length for the first rope, then go back through the FLO, don't pull through all the way, leave a small loop, go through the loop from behind and pull tight to make a knot (this is how you'll fasten off on every strand), then cross over to the last white st on the other side of the same section, go through the FLO and fasten off in the same way, making sure the length of the ropes is kept the same, then count 4 stitches away from where you fastened off on the basket (to the left), go through the BLO of this st and fasten off around it.

Weave through the back of 5 stitches on the last rnd of the basket, come out on the opposite end, then go through the FLO of the white sc on the end of the next section, fasten off, cross the strand over and go through the middle FLO of the white section, go through the basket and fasten off. Weave in ends.

Cut a 38cm long piece of invisible thread, thread onto needle, go through a loop on rnd 1, don't pull through all the way, leave about 2 inches, then tie a double knot around the st. Make your loop about 4-5 inches, then find a loop on the opposite side of rnd 1, fasten off around it making another knot. Weave the ends through the inside of the balloon and pull them through from the inside.

The hot air balloon is finished! I'd love to see a photo of yours, you can share it with me by tagging me on instagram @laura_wilson01

Check out my Etsy shop for more patterns: https://laurawilsondesigns.etsy.com

This pattern was designed by Laura Wilson of Laura Wilson Designs. This pattern is strictly for personal, non-commercial use. Copy, distribution or commercial use of this pattern or any of its parts is not allowed. Please give credit if posting photos or selling finished item. © Laura Wilson 2024- All rights reserved.