Crochet Basketball Scrubbies – Free Pattern for Boys

Want to crochet a basketball for boys? This free pattern gives you instructions for making your own crochet basketball scrubbie that will hopefully get your little boy excited about washing his face! 😉

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Crocheting for boys can be HARD. That’s why I don’t usually design many patterns for them…

However, when I decided to host a crochet along for Operation Christmas Child, I knew I had no choice but to design some boys crochet patterns!

This basketball scrubbie can go in a boy’s shoebox of any age. It particularly matches well with the Basketball Backpack from last week!

(By the way, click here to see all the patterns for boys!)

If you want to participate in the CAL, it’s not too late! You can feel free to make as many or few of the patterns as you have time for. Read the intro post and join here if you’re interested.

AD-FREE PATTERNS

If you want to download and print this pattern, you have two options!

The first is to buy the bundle of the CAL patterns. You’ll get the PDF downloads for less than $1 each! (Oh, and did I mention? All the proceeds of this bundle will be donated to OCC).

Secondly, you can grab the Basketball scrubbie as a download all by itself on Etsy.

How to Crochet a Basketball

Now, before we get into the details of this pattern, let’s talk about how this crochet basketball will be worked up.

Since this is a scrubbie, we will be making a flat crocheted basketball. Of course, there are ways to make them round like a real ball, but that wouldn’t work too well as a face scrubbie.

Instead, we will work in the round to make a flat circle. After finishing the circle, we will sew on black lines that transform the circle into a basketball!

Getting a Perfectly Round Crochet Circle

One thing that can always be tricky when crocheting a flat circle is getting it perfectly round!

You may have noticed that when you increase to make a flat circle, it ends up turning out more like a hexagon.

Well, here’s the key to getting your circle round…increase placement!

When you crochet a flat circle, you have to change up the increase placement. If the increases are stacked on top of each other, they will inevitably create a hexagon.

Don’t worry, this pattern is written in a way that will make your scrubbie out perfectly round!

So…are you ready to get started?

Crochet Basketball Scrubbie Pattern

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Materials:

● Worsted Weight Cotton yarn in basketball colors
● I used Lily Sugar and Cream
● H/5mm crochet hook
● Yarn needle

Notes:

1. Ch 1 at beginning of rounds does NOT count as a sc
2. Scrubbie is worked in the round with orange. Black lines are sewn on afterward.

Measurements

Approximately 3.5″ in diameter

Abbreviations/Stitches Used (U.S.)

• Chain – ch
• Single crochet – sc
• Repeat – rep
• Round(s) – rnd(s)
• Skip – sk
• Space(s) – sp(s)
• Chain space(s) – ch-sp(s)
• Stitch(es) – st(s)
• Beginning – beg

Instructions:

Make a magic ring. 

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring. Pull tight, and sl st to first sc to join.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc. *Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (18 sc)

Rnd 4: Ch 1, *sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (24 sc) 

Rnd 5: Ch 1, *sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (30 sc)

Rnd 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in first sc. Sc next 4 sc.  *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (36 sc). Note: Changing up the increase placement will help your scrubbie turn out round instead of hexagonal.

Fasten off orange.

Rnd 7: Go back to beginning of rnd 6. Skip 2 sc. Join black with a sc in next sc. Sc in same sc, sc in next 5 sc. *2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc. Rep from * around. Join with sl st to first sc. (42 sc)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. 

Finishing

Using a yarn needle and leftover black yarn (or ends) backstitch the basketball lines according to the pattern pictures.

Weave in all ends, and make sure to add a bar of soap in your shoebox to go along with your scrubbie! 😉

I hope you have enjoyed this pattern! I certainly enjoyed designing it.

Have a great day and make sure to look out for the next OCC pattern next Tuesday!

More Scrubbie Patterns:

• Womens face scrubbie
• Dish scrubbie pattern
• Easy striped washcloth