Size

Once size approx. 20 cm long

Gauge

7 sts = 2,5 cm garter stitch

Suggested needles

3 mm long circular needle for magic loop + 3 mm crochet hook

Materials

15 g stripe colour 1 + 15 g stripe colour 2 + 10 g basket and rope colour

Finull from Rauma Garn or similar yarn

• wool stuffing/scrap yarn for filling and optional pull-string music box

About the pattern and hot air balloon

A knitted hot air balloon made with pretty scrap yarn in thin yarn that can be used as a mobile or musical string-pull or as a simply nursery decoration. The balloon itself is worked in garter stitch, in 8 pieces that are sewn together. You may wish to use more than two colours as suggested. Stitches are then picked up for the top and bottom, which are worked in the round. Icord is used for a neat finish. The balloon can be filled with either wool stuffing or scrap yarn. The pattern includes instructions with and without a musical string-pull. The basket is worked in linen stitch. The ropes are crocheted with either fingers or a crochet hook. To finish, all the pieces are assembled.

Yarn alternatives

Finull from Rauma Garn can be replaced by many thin woollen yarns with similar gauge. If you want the balloon to hold its shape, then using sturdier fibres such as sheep wool will give better results than alpaca.

Here are some alternative yarn suggestions:

Pernilla from Filcolana

Baby Ull from Dale and Gjestal

Sølje from Hillesvåg

Sisu from Sandnes Garn

Tynn merinoull from Sandnes Garn