Crochet Pattern: Rainbow Nesting Bowls (rewritten)

I know this post looks familiar to some of you. I promise I am not re-posting the same thing.

I have my original pattern posted here: Rainbow Nesting Bowls. But I have gotten a lot of e-mails about the way I wrote out some of my increase rounds (rounds 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12). This is the way I increase when I crochet anything round. I hate getting that hexagon shape!! And I felt very strongly about writing my pattern out this way. I hope it has helped some crocheters that had never heard of increasing evenly. When I was a new crocheter I was so grateful to came across this blog (http://monkeyhousefull.blogspot.com/2010/03/is-it-circle-or-hexagon.html) explaining it.

So, I have decided to keep the original pattern, but for those of you that are having a hard time with it, or have your own way of evenly increasing, or just prefer the pattern written out more normal (haha), I have decided to post an updated version.

Your bowls will turn out the same as my original pattern, I have just written out those 5 rounds differently. :)

ABBREVIATIONS

ch	chain
inc	increase
rnd(s)	round(s)
sc	single crochet
( )	work instructions between parentheses as many times as indicated

MATERIALS

• US F5/3.75mm Crochet Hook
• Worsted Weight Yarn in purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red (I used "Red Heart Super Saver" in Lavender, Turqua, Spring Green, Bright Yellow, Pumpkin and Cherry Red).
• Stitch Marker
• Yarn Needle

NOTES

• Rounds are worked in continuous spirals, do not join or turn.
• Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning or end of each round. Make sure to move the marker up each time you start a new round.
• I start with a magic ring, PlanetJune has a great tutorial for that here. You can substitute "ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook" for the magic ring and round 1, if you prefer.
• I use an invisible fasten off, there is a great tutorial for that here, just scroll down to "invisible finish".
• I always back weave my ends, here is a video showing you exactly the same method I use.
• Nest the previous bowls inside the bowl you are working on (before fastening off) to make sure it is the right height. If your yarns vary in thickness (my purple is slightly thicker) you may have to add or subtract a round.
• The height of the bowls can also be adjusted to your liking, just add more rounds until they are the desired height. 

PATTERN

PURPLE BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) six times (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) six times (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: in back loops only, sc around (42)
Rnds 9-12: sc around (42)
Fasten off, weave in ends

BLUE BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) six times (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) six times (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: (sc 6, inc) six times (48)
Rnd 9: in back loops only, sc around (48)
Rnds 10-14: sc around (48)
Fasten off, weave in ends

GREEN BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) six times (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) six times (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: (sc 6, inc) six times (48)
Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) six times (54)
Rnd 10: in back loops only, sc around (54)
Rnds 11-15: sc around (54)
Fasten off, weave in ends

YELLOW BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) six times (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) six times (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: (sc 6, inc) six times (48)
Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) six times (54)
Rnd 10: (sc 8, inc) six times (60)
Rnd 11: in back loops only, sc around (60)
Rnds 12-16: sc around (60)
Fasten off, weave in ends

ORANGE BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) six times (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) six times (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: (sc 6, inc) six times (48)
Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) six times (54)
Rnd 10: (sc 8, inc) six times (60)
Rnd 11: (sc 9, inc) six times (66)
Rnd 12: in back loops only, sc around (66)
Rnds 13-18: sc around (66)
Fasten off, weave in ends

RED BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) six times (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) six times (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: (sc 6, inc) six times (48)
Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) six times (54)
Rnd 10: (sc 8, inc) six times (60)
Rnd 11: (sc 9, inc) six times (66)
Rnd 12: (sc 10, inc) six times (72)
Rnd 13: in back loops only, sc around (72)
Rnds 14-19: sc around (72)
Fasten off, weave in ends

You can find the pattern for the color sorting balls here.

I hope this version makes it easier for some of you! Let me know if you have any questions, or if you spot a mistake. Happy crocheting. :):):)

♥ Kim

Crochet Pattern: Color Sorting Balls

It has been a busy week, I have been crocheting a lot!! I worked on Riley's rainbow nesting bowls, unfortunately I still didn't finish them, because I ran out of the blue yarn I use. I tried substituting a different brand, but it just didn't look right, it was much thinner, and it made them nest funny. And in case you haven't noticed I'm kinda a perfectionist. So I'm adding it to my shopping list!!

I also crocheted a couple of pairs of cute baby button loafers. I love crocheting baby shoes!! I've made boots in the past, and they are always so tiny and cute. It's kinda funny that the loafers I made today are the same exact pattern as the ones I bought on Etsy for Riley before he was born. At the time I bought them, I thought they were the coolest things ever, and I was so amazed that someone made them. I didn't know how to crochet then, and never thought that I would be making the same booties a couple years later for other people!!! 

Today, I thought I would share the pattern for the color sorting balls that go with my rainbow nesting bowls.

ABBREVIATIONS

ch	chain
dec	decrease
inc	increase
rnd(s)	round(s)
sc	single crochet
( )	work instructions between parentheses as many times as indicated

MATERIALS

• US F5/3.75mm Crochet Hook
• Worsted Weight Yarn in purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red (I used "Red Heart Super Saver" in Lavender, Turqua, Spring Green, Bright Yellow, Pumpkin and Cherry Red).
• Stitch Marker
• Yarn Needle
• Fiberfill Stuffing

NOTES

• Rounds are worked in continuous spirals, do not join or turn.
• Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning or end of each round. Make sure to move the marker up each time you start a new round.
• I start with a magic ring, PlanetJune has a great tutorial for that here. You can substitute "ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook" for the magic ring and round 1, if you prefer.
• For my decreases I like to use an invisible decrease, it makes everything look neater. :)
• To close the ball, I use the ultimate finish for amigurumi by Planet June, I've tried other methods, and this is my favorite!

PATTERN

Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnds 4-5: sc around (18)
Rnd 6: (dec, sc 1) six times (12)
Stuff ball
Rnd 7: (dec) six times (6)
Add more stuffing if desired (I make them really firm)
Fasten off, close up remaining hole (see notes for my favorite way)

So there you go!! Pretty simple pattern, you can also add an extra round of sc between rows 4 and 5, for a slightly bigger ball. That would change the total rounds to 8 instead of 7.

I forgot to write down the way I made the balls the first time around, and the next time I made them, I made them bigger. They looked really nice, and more rounded, but they didn't fit in the container that you see in the picture above. So I decided to write the pattern for the smaller ball, in case you want to use the same container!! It's a Nabisco Go-Packs that I recycled after me and Riley ate the cookies. I always save them now, so I can use them when I make this as a gift. It keeps the balls contained, and it nests perfectly in the purple bowl.

I hope your all having a great week!! Let me know if you spot any mistakes. I double checked everything, but it's the end of a long day, so I might have missed something. :):)

♥ Kim

Crochet Pattern: Rainbow Nesting Bowls

Update 11/8/2012

I have gotten a lot of e-mails about the way I wrote out some of my increase rounds (rounds 4, 6, 8, 10 & 12). This is the way I increase when I crochet anything round. I hate getting that hexagon shape!! And I felt very strongly about writing my pattern out this way. So, I have decided to keep the original pattern, but for those of you that are having a hard time with it, or have your own way of evenly increasing, or just prefer the pattern written out more normal (haha), I have decided to post an updated version here: Rainbow Nesting Bowls.

********************

I made these nesting bowls (along with some sorting balls) last year for my cousin Riley and my nephew Ezekiel. They were birthday presents. Both kids and my own Riley loved them. I posted them on my Ravelry projects page, and shared them on Flickr. I've had a lot of requests for the pattern. So I figured it was about time I wrote it out all nice and pretty, and shared it here!!

ABBREVIATIONS

ch	chain
inc	increase
rnd(s)	round(s)
sc	single crochet
( )	work instructions between parentheses as many times as indicated

MATERIALS

• US F5/3.75mm Crochet Hook
• Worsted Weight Yarn in purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red (I used "Red Heart Super Saver" in Lavender, Turqua, Spring Green, Bright Yellow, Pumpkin and Cherry Red).
• Stitch Marker
• Yarn Needle

NOTES

• Rounds are worked in continuous spirals, do not join or turn.
• Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning or end of each round. Make sure to move the marker up each time you start a new round.
• I start with a magic ring, PlanetJune has a great tutorial for that here. You can substitute "ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook" for the magic ring and round 1, if you prefer.
• I use an invisible fasten off, there is a great tutorial for that here, just scroll down to "invisible finish".
• I always back weave my ends, here is a video showing you exactly the same method I use.
• Nest the previous bowls inside the bowl you are working on (before fastening off) to make sure it is the right height. If your yarns vary in thickness (my purple is slightly thicker) you may have to add or subtract a round.
• The height of the bowls can also be adjusted to your liking, just add more rounds until they are the desired height. 

PATTERN

PURPLE BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: sc 1 (inc, sc 2) five times, inc, sc 1 (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: sc 2 (inc, sc 4) five times, inc, sc 2 (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: in back loops only, sc around (42)
Rnds 9-12: sc around (42)
Fasten off, weave in ends

BLUE BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: sc 1 (inc, sc 2) five times, inc, sc 1 (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: sc 2 (inc, sc 4) five times, inc, sc 2 (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: sc 3 (inc, sc 6) five times, inc, sc 3 (48)
Rnd 9: in back loops only, sc around (48)
Rnds 10-14: sc around (48)
Fasten off, weave in ends

GREEN BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: sc 1 (inc, sc 2) five times, inc, sc 1 (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: sc 2 (inc, sc 4) five times, inc, sc 2 (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: sc 3 (inc, sc 6) five times, inc, sc 3 (48)
Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) six times (54)
Rnd 10: in back loops only, sc around (54)
Rnds 11-15: sc around (54)
Fasten off, weave in ends

YELLOW BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: sc 1 (inc, sc 2) five times, inc, sc 1 (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: sc 2 (inc, sc 4) five times, inc, sc 2 (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: sc 3 (inc, sc 6) five times, inc, sc 3 (48)
Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) six times (54)
Rnd 10: sc 4 (inc, sc 8) five times, inc, sc 4 (60)
Rnd 11: in back loops only, sc around (60)
Rnds 12-16: sc around (60)
Fasten off, weave in ends

ORANGE BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: sc 1 (inc, sc 2) five times, inc, sc 1 (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: sc 2 (inc, sc 4) five times, inc, sc 2 (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: sc 3 (inc, sc 6) five times, inc, sc 3 (48)
Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) six times (54)
Rnd 10: sc 4 (inc, sc 8) five times, inc, sc 4 (60)
Rnd 11: (sc 9, inc) six times (66)
Rnd 12: in back loops only, sc around (66)
Rnds 13-18: sc around (66)
Fasten off, weave in ends

RED BOWL
Make a magic ring
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc around (12)
Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) six times (18)
Rnd 4: sc 1 (inc, sc 2) five times, inc, sc 1 (24)
Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) six times (30)
Rnd 6: sc 2 (inc, sc 4) five times, inc, sc 2 (36)
Rnd 7: (sc 5, inc) six times (42)
Rnd 8: sc 3 (inc, sc 6) five times, inc, sc 3 (48)
Rnd 9: (sc 7, inc) six times (54)
Rnd 10: sc 4 (inc, sc 8) five times, inc, sc 4 (60)
Rnd 11: (sc 9, inc) six times (66)
Rnd 12: sc 5 (inc, sc 10) five times, inc, sc 5 (72)
Rnd 13: in back loops only, sc around (72)
Rnds 14-19: sc around (72)
Fasten off, weave in ends

They are awesome for nesting, stacking, sorting, counting, patterns and anything else you or your little tot can think up!! Every time Riley sees pictures of them on the computer, he tells me he wants them, so I am finally getting around to making him his own set. When I finish one bowl, he tells me which color he wants me to make next. He's kinda demanding, haha!!

I hope you like making them! It's the first time I've shared one of my patterns, so I am kinda nervous. I re-wrote it several times, trying to word it just right, then I decided that I was gonna word it the way I liked, and I put it back to the way I originally had it saved on my computer (just more cleaned up with the extra notes and stuff). 

I plan on writing out the pattern for the balls too. They are simple, and pretty basic. You can find several version online already if you look, but I figured I'd share it anyways, to save you the trouble! Hopefully I can get it posted this week. (Edit: You can now find the pattern for the color sorting balls here.)

Let me know if you have any questions, or if you spot a mistake!!! Happy crocheting. :):):)

♥ Kim