I really enjoy getting crafty at this time of year as a way of adding a personal touch to the seasonal decor - you may remember my Pom-Pom Wreath, Scandi Rustic Garland, and Crafty Cone Tree Ornaments from last year.
Well, this year I learned a new craft: lace making. I'll be sharing more about that in the new year but, for now, suffice to say that I have become obsessed! In fact, I have decided to introduce a lace theme to our tree this year. Of course, I'm still just a beginner at making lace, so I am not limiting myself to lace alone to decorate the tree - otherwise it would be a pretty bare tree! So I have come up with a variety of ways to represent the idea of "laciness", one of which are these yarn baubles.
There are three different versions to try - the first is really quick and easy way , and then there are two other (still quite quick and easy) options if you know some crochet.
Materials
- Yarn or string
- Scissors
- Round balloons
- PVA glue
- Container (I used a restaurant take-out container)
- Water
- Paper Towel
- Large pin to pop the balloon
- Optional: crochet hook to suit the size of yarn (you will find this information on the paper wrapping of the ball of yarn. I used size 20 cotton and a 1.5mm hook)
PIN THIS!
Yarn Bauble
This one is so easy that it only takes a minute (not counting drying time) and is something you could even get the kids involved with. I wanted a classic white scheme for my tree, but you can do this in a variety of colours, use metallic threads, or even sprinkle with glitter if you like. Go for a more rustic look by using jute garden twine, or make some giant baubles to hang from the ceiling or staircase. You could even use this technique to make a light shade!
Start by blowing up the balloons and cutting lengths of yarn.
Next, pour some PVA glue into a container. Thin it a little with water, if necessary, but do not allow it to become runny.
Take a length of your chosen yarn and coat it with the glue.
Wrap the gluey yarn around the balloon, tucking the ends underneath to ensure that they do not come loose.
Pat with a paper towel to remove excess glue - the yarn should be wet, but not soggy.
Hang the balloons to dry for at least 24hrs, and be sure to place a sheet of paper underneath to catch any excess glue that may drip off.
Now comes the fun bit - pop the balloon!
I have to say, when I first did this, I wasn't expecting what happened next, but it was fascinating. Watch ...
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bcpds5WhyWp/?taken-by=thehousethatwill
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Then pull the balloon out of the centre.
If you didn't blot enough when the glue was wet, you may see clots of glue around the strands of yarn.
If this happens, don't worry; they can be brushed off using your fingers or a craft brush.
Finally, attach a string so that your ornament can be hung.
Crochet Lace Bauble
For this design, you only need to know some basic stitches.
| UK | Abbreviation | US | Stitch Guide |
| chain stitch | ch | chain stitch (ch) | Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through the loop on your hook. |
| slip stitch | ss | slip stitch (ss) | Insert hook into stitch. Yarn over hook. Pull through stitch and loop on hook. |
| double crochet | dc | single crochet (sc) | Insert hook into stitch. Yarn over hook. Pull through stitch (2 loops on hook). Yarn over hook. Pull through both loops on hook. |
| treble crochet | tr | double crochet (dc) | Yarn over hook. Insert hook into stitch. Yarn over hook. Pull through stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through 2 loops. Yarn over hook. Pull through remaining 2 loops. |
Round 1: Start by making a chain of 6.
Then slip stitch into the first chain to make a ring.
Round 2: Inserting the hook into the centre of the ring, crochet 12 double crochet (US single crochet). Ss into the top of the first stitch in the row to complete the round.
Round 3: Continue with ss into each chain of the previous row until you reach the centre of the loop. Ch 4. Skipping one stitch in the row below, ss into the third stitch in the previous row. Continue making ch 4 and ss into every other stitch (5th, 7th, 9th, 11th). Ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 4 loops.
From now on, you will need to start each row by doing ss into each chain of the previous row until you reach the centre of the first loop - the goal is to start each new row at the top of a loop rather than at the base of it.
Round 4: Ch 6 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 6 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 6 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 6 loops.
Round 5: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 8 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 8 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 8 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 8 loops.
Round 6: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 10 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 10 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 10 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 10 loops.
Round 7: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 12 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 12 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 12 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 12 loops.
Round 8: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 14 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 14 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 14 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 14 loops.
You have the option here to repeat the previous row two more times to make a slightly larger bauble.
Round 9: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 12 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 12 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 12 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 12 loops.
Round 10: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 10 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 10 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 10 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 10 loops.
Round 11: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 8 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 8 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 8 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 8 loops.
Round 12: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 6 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 6 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 6 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 6 loops.
Round 13: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 4 and ss into next loop of previous row. (Ch 4 and ss into the next loop in the row below) 4 more times. Ch 4 and ss into the base of the first loop to make six ch 4 loops.
Round 14: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 2. Do one treble crochet into each of the remaining loops in the previous row.
Round 15: Slip stitch into each stitch of the previous row to close the bauble at the top.
Cut the yarn and pull the loose end through the loop on the hook to finish off.
To Shape & Stiffen the Bauble
Insert a balloon through the side of the bauble and inflate it. This is actually quite difficult as the yarn restrains the balloon and puts a lot of pressure back on you as you blow! Twist and tie off the balloon.
Put some PVA glue in a container. Thin with water if necessary, but do not allow it to become runny. Dip the bauble into the glue until it is completely coated.
Use a paper towel to blot the excess glue - the yarn should be wet, but not soggy.
Hang the balloon to dry for at least 24hrs, and be sure to place a sheet of paper underneath to catch any excess glue that may drip off.
The next day, pop the balloon and pull it out of the bauble.
Then attach a string so that your ornament can be hung.
Ornamented Crochet Bauble
This is very similar to the previous bauble, but with some extra detail. This detail is done using a Three Treble Crochet Cluster Stitch (3 tr cl). If you're not familiar with this stitch, I promise it's easier than it sounds - in fact, it's probably easier to do than it is to say! In essence, it's like making three unfinished treble crochets that you finish off in one go after completing the third of those stitches.
Three Treble Crochet Cluster Stitch (3 tr cl)
Note that in US nomenclature, this stitch is referred to as the Three Double Crochet Cluster.
Start by working the stitch like a regular treble crochet - yarn over hook twice, insert hook into stitch and pull through (4 loops on hook). Yarn over hook and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Yarn over hook and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook). Now this is where the cluster stitch starts to diverge from the regular treble stitch because we leave those two remaining loops on the hook. Proceed as though starting another treble crochet i.e. yarn over hook twice, insert hook into stitch and pull through (5 loops on hook). Yarn over hook and pull through 2 loops (4 loops). Yarn over hook and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook). Leave those remaining loops on the hook and proceed as though starting another treble crochet stitch: yarn over hook twice, insert hook into stitch and pull through (6 loops on hook). Yarn over hook and pull through 2 loops (5 loops on hook). Yarn over hook and pull through 2 loops (4 loops on hook). Now we finish all those stitches in one go by doing yarn over hook and pulling through all four remaining loops on the hook to complete the cluster.
I chose to add this detail only around the centre - but you could add it to every row if you wish.
Work rows 1-7 as above.
Round 8: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the centre of the loop. Ch 8. Now do the 3 tr cl into the last chain (it is a little tricky to insert the hook the first time as the stitch is so close to the hook, but it gets easier as you work).
Ss into the same chain.
Continue by doing a ch 7.
Ss into next loop of previous row. (ch 8, 3 tr cl into last ch, ss into same ch, ch7, ss into next loop) 4 more times. Ch 8, 3 tr cl into last ch, ss into same ch, ch7, ss into the base of the first loop to make six chain loops with a cluster in the centre of each.
You have the option here to repeat the previous row two more times to make a slightly larger bauble with extra detailing. See the next row for how to slip stitch into a loop with a cluster.
Round 9: Ss into each chain of the previous row as far as the cluster. Ch 12.
To connect into a loop with a cluster: insert hook into loop in front of cluster; yarn over hook and pull through (2 loops on hook).
Then insert hook into loop beyond the cluster; yarn over hook and pull through so that there are 3 loops on hook, with the cluster gripped between the 2nd and 3rd loop.
Yarn over hook and pull through all 3 loops.
Alternatively, you could simply slip stitch into the loop in front of the cluster and do another slip stitch into the loop beyond the cluster.
(Ch 12, ss either side of cluster in next loop) 4 more times. Ch 12 and ss into base of the first loop in the previous row to make six ch 12 loops.
Rounds 10-15 as above.
Shape and stiffen as above.
Trim Your Tree!
I'll be back next week to share my seasonal home tour, where you will see these baubles hanging on the tree alongside my other lace-themed decorations.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcuPNclhJqJ/?taken-by=thehousethatwill
If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. As always, if you try these, please do share and tag me on social media as I would love to see!
And if you're feeling extra crafty, check out my other festive craft ideas ...
