Pet Toy Crochet Patterns

Tapestry Rosette Ball Toy Free Crochet Pattern

OEMGrid: Original Essentials, Maker Tools & Artisan Crafts • November 04, 2026

Introduction

This big, bouncy ball toy is made for the large dogs who destroy everything else in five minutes flat. Bright rainbow wedges in tapestry crochet run around a crisp white ground, and seven little Victorian-style rosette dots sit around the middle, one on each matching color stripe. Worked in sturdy worsted weight cotton, it comes out firm, smooth, and about 6 inches across, with a crocheted hanging loop on top so you can swing it, toss it, or clip it to a rope. It is a satisfying colorwork project that stays small enough to finish in a weekend, and the result looks far more complicated than it is.

Materials Needed

Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) cotton yarn, approx. 200–250 yards total. Small amounts of 7 rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) for the wedges and rosettes, plus 1 skein white for the background and rosettes.
Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6) crochet hook.
Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, polyester fiberfill stuffing.
Finished size: Approx. 6 inches (15 cm) diameter.

Abbreviations

ch – chain
sc – single crochet
inc – increase: work 2 sc in the same stitch
dec – decrease: work 2 sc together into 1 stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
sl st – slip stitch
MR – magic ring
rnd(s) – round(s)
[ ] x6 – repeat the instructions in brackets 6 times

Gauge

20 sc x 22 rnds = 4 inches (10 cm) in tapestry crochet pattern. Work a small swatch in the round with a color change and measure it flat; if your stitches are looser or tighter, go down or up one hook size so the finished ball matches the 6-inch size.

Tips Before You Start

Keep the unused color carried loosely along the inside of the ball. Pulling it tight will pucker the surface and shrink the ball.
Use a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round; the ball is worked in a continuous spiral, so rounds are not joined.
Count your stitches at the end of every increase and decrease round. A missed stitch in the middle section throws off all 7 wedges.
Stuff firmly but in small handfuls as you close the ball, so the cotton stays smooth and the toy keeps its shape when chewed and squeezed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Ball (worked in continuous rounds, tapestry crochet)

Rnd 1: With white, MR 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x6 (42 sts).

Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] x6 (48 sts).

Rnd 9: [7 sc, inc] x6 (54 sts).

Rnd 10: [8 sc, inc] x6 (60 sts).

Rnd 11: [9 sc, inc] x6 (66 sts).

Rnd 12: [10 sc, inc] x6 (72 sts).

Rnds 13–24: Work even in the tapestry pattern: each round has 7 wedges of 10 sts each in rainbow colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet), separated by 2 white sts. Change color as needed (72 sts each round).

Rnd 25: [10 sc, dec] x6 (66 sts).

Rnd 26: [9 sc, dec] x6 (60 sts).

Rnd 27: [8 sc, dec] x6 (54 sts).

Rnd 28: [7 sc, dec] x6 (48 sts).

Rnd 29: [6 sc, dec] x6 (42 sts).

Rnd 30: [5 sc, dec] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 31: [4 sc, dec] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 32: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 33: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 34: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 35: dec x6 (6 sts). Fasten off, weave the tail through the remaining sts and pull closed.

Rosette Dots (make 7, one in each rainbow color)

Rnd 1: With color, MR 6 sc (6 sts).

Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Hanging Loop

Setup: With white, ch 20, join with sl st to form a ring.

Rnd 1: sc in each ch around (20 sts).

Rnd 2: sc in each sc around (20 sts). Fasten off, leaving a long tail.

Assembly and Finishing

Stuff the ball firmly through the closing gap before the final rounds are pulled tight, adding small handfuls so the surface stays even. Sew the 7 rosette dots evenly around the middle of the ball at rounds 18–20, one on each matching color wedge, using the long tails and small, invisible stitches. Sew the hanging loop securely to the top of the ball with several passes of yarn so it holds up to tugging. Weave in all ends on the inside of the ball, then gently steam or damp-block the finished toy to smooth the tapestry surface and even out the rosettes.

Pro Tips and Variations

Add a small jingle bell or crinkle paper inside the stuffing before closing for extra interest during play.
Swap the rainbow wedges for two alternating colors to make a simpler two-tone ball that works up faster.
Skip the hanging loop for a plain fetch ball, or make it longer (ch 30) for a tug toy handle.

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