Summer is all about having a little fun, so work up this bright puzzle ball for yourself or as a creative gift. This quick project is a blast to crochet because you can mix and match colors and shapes to add your personality to the puzzle. Make all the sides smooth like Segments 1 & 2, or all of them pointy like Segment 3!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 18” circumference around narrowest sides x 28” circumference around pointy side

Gauge: 16 sts and 20 rows = 4” [10 cm] in single crochet after wet blocking.

Materials

Yarn:

 Universal Yarn Uptown Worsted (100% Anti-pilling acrylic; 180 yards [165 meters]/100 grams): 311 Cherry (A), 1 skein; 326 Blush (B), 1 skein; 331 Sapphire (C), 1 skein; 316 Turquoise (D), 1 skein; 327 Bright Yellow (E), 1 skein; 304 Baby Yellow (F), 1 skein

Hook: US size G-6 (4 mm)

Notions: Tapestry needle; polyester stuffing

Pattern Notes

This stuffed toy is made of 3 segments, which are in turn each made of 4 wedges – 12 wedges total. It is stuffed and joined as you go.

Pattern

Segment 1

Wedge 1

With A, ch 2.

Row 1: Work 3 sc in second ch from hook, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc across, turn – 6 sc.

Row 3: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc) 3 times, turn – 9 sc.

Row 4: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc) 3 times, turn – 12 sc.

Row 5: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc) 3 times, turn – 15 sc.

Row 6: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc) 3 times, turn – 18 sc.

Row 7: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc) 3 times, turn – 21 sc.

Row 8: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc) 3 times, turn – 24 sc.

Row 9: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc) 3 times, turn – 27 sc.

Row 10: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc) 3 times, turn – 30 sc.

Join Sides

Fold Wedge in half.

Ch 1, join sides by working 9 sc through both edges.

Fasten off.

Wedge 2

With B, work as Wedge 1.

Wedge 3

With C, work as Wedge 1.

Wedge 2

With D, work as Wedge 1.

Wedge Tops (make 4)

Rnd 1: With E, ch 9, 2 sc in second ch from hook, sc in next 6 chs, 2 sc in last ch, working along other side of beg ch, 2 sc in first ch, sc in next 6 chs, 2 sc in last ch, join with sl st to beg sc – 20 sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in first 2 sc, sc in next 7 sc, (2 sc in next sc) 3 times, sc in next 7 sc, 2 sc in last sc, join with sl st to beg sc – 26 sc.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, hdc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, hdc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in last sc – 30 sc.

Fasten off.

Join Tops to Wedges

With F, make slipknot and place on hook. Hold a Wedge Top on top of a Wedge with WS tog. Beg at one end, join one side of Wedge to Wedge Top by working 15 sc through both pieces through outer lps of sc. Leaving other side of Wedge and Wedge Top unjoined for now, join rem 3 Wedges and Wedge Tops in the same manner. Join with sl st to beg sc, turn.

Working along other sides of Wedges and Wedge Tops in opposite direction, join first Wedge and Wedge Top along the other side by working 15 sc through both pieces, stuffing Wedge halfway through.

Join rem 3 Wedges and Wedge Tops in the same manner. Join with sl st to beg sc.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Segment 2

Work as Segment 1.

Segment 3

Work as Segment 1.

Star Wedge Tops (make 4)

First Half

With E, begin with adjustable ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 3 sc into ring, join with sl st to beg sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each sc around, join with sl st to beg sc – 6 sc.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, (2 sc in first sc, sc in next sc) 3 times, join with sl st to beg sc – 9 sc.

Rnd 4: Ch 1, (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc) 3 times, join with sl st to beg sc – 12 sc.

Rnd 5: Ch 1, (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 3 sc) 3 times, join with sl st to beg sc – 15 sc.

Rnd 6: Ch 1, (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc) 3 times, join with sl st to beg sc – 18 sc.

Rnd 7: Ch 1, (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 5 sc) 3 times, join with sl st to beg sc – 21 sc.

Rnd 8: Ch 1, (2 sc in first sc, sc in next 6 sc) 2 times, sc in last 7 sc, join with sl st to beg sc – 23 sc. Fasten off.

Second Half

With F, begin with adjustable ring.

Rnds 1-8: Work as for First Half. Do not break yarn. With WS tog, join First Half and Second Half by sl st sides tog along 8 sc, working through outer lps of sc. Fasten off.

Join Star Tops to Wedges

Join in same manner Segments 1 and 2.

Finishing

Weave in ends.

Assembly

Slip one segment around another segment with Wedge points facing inward. Slip the third segment with the Star Wedge tops around the other two, so that a Wedge points nests in each quadrant.