Whenever I have to crochet a sphere, I always pull out the tried and true method: increase by the same number of stitches each row for a little while, work the rows even for the middle bit, then decrease by the same number of stitches each row until you're finished.
Once it's stuffed, this makes a decent sphere! Plus, it's a super easy pattern to remember. But it got me to thinking, how would I go about making an
ideal sphere?
After I got bored asking google, I threw a little bit of math at it. Turns out the the number of stitches in each row should scale with sin(theta), where theta is the polar angle. (Things I neglected in my quickie model: stretching and spiralling.)
These are two spheres that I made this way:
I included the pattern for the 2 spheres at the end of this post. There are more on my blog, if you are interested.
I found it tricky to figure out how to squeeze a weird number of increases into a row where they in no way fit evenly, so let me know how these patterns work out for you if you try these!
My conclusion for this sphere method: it's really fun and it makes a pretty nice looking sphere, but the tried and true method is just waaay easier!
Also, math is fun!
The Patterns:
inc = 2 single crochet in next stitch.
dec = single crochet decrease.
These are worked in spiral rounds.
20 Row Sphere:
Row 1) Ch 2. 6 Sc in second Ch from hook. (6)
Row 2) inc in each stitch around. (12)
Row 3) (1, inc) repeat () around (18)
Row 4) 1, inc, 2, inc, 3, inc, 2, inc, 3, inc, 2 (23)
Row 5) inc, 4, inc, 3, inc, 4, inc, 3, inc, 4 (28)
Row 6) 3, inc, 6, inc, 6, inc, 6, inc, 3 (32)
Row 7) 5, inc, 9, inc, 9, inc, 6 (35)
Row 8 ) 3, inc, 10, inc, 11, inc, 8 (38)
Row 9) 12, inc, 25 (39)
Row 10) inc, 38 (40)
Row 11) even
Row 12) 38, dec (39)
Row 13) 25, dec, 12 (38)
Row 14) 8, dec, 11, dec, 10, dec, 3 (35)
Row 15) 6, dec, 9, dec, 9, dec, 5 (32)
Row 16) 3, dec, 6, dec, 6, dec, 6, dec, 3 (28)
Row 17) 4, dec, 3, dec, 4, dec, 3, dec, 4, dec (23)
Row 18) 2, dec, 3, dec, 2, dec, 3, dec, 2, dec, 1 (18)
Row 19) (dec, 1) repeat () around (12)
Row 20) 4 scdec. Fasten off. Weave loose end through each stitch in the opening. Pull tightly to close.
26 Row Sphere:
Row 1) Ch 2. 6 Sc in second Ch from hook. (6)
Row 2) inc in each stitch around. (12)
Row 3) (1, inc) repeat () around (18)
Row 4) 1, inc, 2, inc, 3, inc, 2, inc, 3, inc, 2 (23)
Row 5) 2, inc, 3, inc, 4, inc, 3, inc, 4, inc, 2 (28)
Row 6) 1, inc, 4, inc, 5, inc, 4, inc, 5, inc, 4 (33)
Row 7) 3, inc, 5, inc, 6, inc, 5, inc, 6, inc, 3 (38)
Row 8 ) 8, inc, 9, inc, 8, inc, 9, inc (42)
Row 9) 6, inc, 13, inc, 13, inc, 7 (45)
Row 10) 9, inc, 14, inc, 14, inc, 5 (48)
Row 11) 15, inc, 23, inc, 8 (50)
Row 12) 24, inc, 25 (51)
Row 13) inc, 50 (52)
Row 14) even (52)
Row 15) 50, dec (51)
Row 16) 25, dec, 24 (50)
Row 17) 8, dec, 23, dec, 15 (48)
Row 18) 5, dec, 14, dec, 14, dec, 9 (45)
Row 19) 7, dec, 13, dec, 13, dec, 6 (42)
Row 20) dec, 9, dec, 8, dec, 9, dec, 8 (38)
Row 21) 3, dec, 6, dec, 5, dec, 6, dec, 5, dec, 3 (33)
Row 22) 4, dec, 5, dec, 4, dec, 5, dec, 4, dec, 1 (28)
Row 23) 2, dec, 4, dec, 3, dec, 4, dec, 3, dec, 2 (23)
Row 24) 2, dec, 3, dec, 2, dec, 3, dec, 2, dec, 1 (18)
Row 25) (dec, 1) repeat () around (12)
Row 26) 4 scdec. Fasten off. Weave loose end through each stitch in the opening. Pull tightly to close.
