Snowlace is a fine, all-white lace cover for a round Christmas ball. It starts as a small doily-style flower at the bottom of the ornament. Rings of chain-loop diamonds, small fans and a scalloped band at the equator follow, and the mesh gets smaller as it closes in under the gold cap.
All you need is white crochet thread and one plain white ball ornament. White lace over a white ball reads soft and wintry, especially with tree lights behind it. If you want more contrast, a pale gold or silver ball underneath works too.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished cover fits a ball 3 in (7.6 cm) in diameter, with a circumference of 9.4 in (23.9 cm) at the equator.
You make the cover in one piece, in joined rounds, from the bottom pole up. You work the lower half flat until it cups into a bowl. Then you slip the ball inside and finish the upper rounds around it, decreasing to a small sc ring that sits hidden under the cap.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: fits a 3 in (7.6 cm) ball; 9.4 in (23.9 cm) around the equator
- Skill level: Intermediate (fine thread, chain-loop lace)
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Size 10 cotton crochet thread (Lace, 0)
- Hook: 1.5 mm (US steel 8)
- Number of pieces: 1
- Layout: single seamless cover, worked bottom-up in the round
- Piece size: lower half flat to Round 5 is 2 in (5.1 cm) across; the full cover covers the whole ball
- Size before border: top opening after Round 17 is about 1 in (2.5 cm) across
- Border depth: 1 round of sc, about 0.1 in (0.3 cm)
Materials
Thread: Use a mercerized cotton crochet thread in size 10. Mercerized cotton holds stitch definition, takes stiffener well and won’t fuzz against the tree. Avoid acrylic thread, which tends to relax and sag over time.
- White: 10 g (about 51 m / 56 yd) per cover
Tools and extras:
- 1.5 mm (US steel 8) crochet hook
- One round ball ornament, 3 in (7.6 cm) diameter, with a removable cap
- Fine tapestry needle
- Small scissors
- Spray bottle with water, or diluted fabric stiffener or starch (optional)
- Gold cord or ribbon for hanging, if the ornament doesn’t have one
The thread amount includes a margin of about 25% for your test circle and for weaving in ends.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Special stitches
- Shell: (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same space, unless the round says otherwise.
- Fan: 7 dc in the same space.
- sc2tog over 2 loops: insert the hook in the next loop, yarn over and pull up a loop. Insert the hook in the following loop, yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook. This turns 2 loops into 1 stitch.
- Loop-closing joins: “ch 2, dc in first sc” makes the last ch-5 loop and leaves you at its center. “ch 2, hdc in first sc” does the same for a ch-4 loop.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 10 dc = 1 in (2.5 cm). Rounds 1–5 = 2 in (5.1 cm) across, laid flat.
Before you start the full cover, work Rounds 1–5 as a test circle. Press it flat with your fingers and measure straight across from fan tip to fan tip.
- Bigger than 2.25 in (5.7 cm): go down to a 1.4 mm (US steel 9) hook. Otherwise the cover will slide around on the ball.
- Smaller than 1.75 in (4.4 cm): go up to a 1.65 mm (US steel 7) hook. Otherwise the cover won’t stretch over the equator.
Measurement checkpoints:
- After Round 1: 0.75 in (1.9 cm) across
- After Round 5: 2 in (5.1 cm) across, flat
- After Round 6: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) across, flat
- After Round 8: the piece starts to cup into a shallow bowl about 3 in (7.6 cm) across the rim
- After Round 10: placed on the ball, the fan band sits at the equator and stretches to 9.4 in (23.9 cm) without gaping
- After Round 18: the sc ring fits snugly around the ornament neck, under the cap
Lower Half (Worked Flat)
Ch 6, sl st in the first ch to form a ring.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 23 dc in the ring, sl st in the top of the ch-3. (24 dc)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in the same st, ch 5, skip 2 sts. [sc in the next st, ch 5, skip 2 sts] 7 times. Sl st in the first sc. (8 sc, 8 ch-5 loops)
Round 3: Sl st in the next 2 ch to reach the center of the loop. Then sl st into the loop itself. Ch 3 (counts as dc), and work (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the same loop. Work a shell in each of the remaining 7 loops. Sl st in the top of the ch-3. (48 dc, 8 ch-2 spaces)
The shells sit side by side and make the solid flower center.
Round 4: Sl st in the next 2 dc, then sl st in the ch-2 space. Ch 3, and work (2 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the same space, then ch 2. [Work (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the next ch-2 space, ch 2] 7 times. Sl st in the top of the ch-3. (48 dc, 8 ch-3 spaces, 8 ch-2 spaces)
Round 5: Sl st in the next 2 dc, then sl st in the ch-3 space. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in the same space, ch 3, sc in the next ch-2 space, ch 3. [Fan in the next ch-3 space, ch 3, sc in the next ch-2 space, ch 3] 7 times. Sl st in the top of the ch-3. (56 dc, 8 sc, 16 ch-3 spaces)
Checkpoint: 2 in (5.1 cm) across with 8 rounded fans.
Round 6 (diamond mesh begins): Sl st in the next dc, which is the 2nd dc of the fan. Ch 1, sc in the same st, ch 5. Sc in the 6th dc of the same fan, ch 5. Sc in the next sc, ch 5. [Sc in the 2nd dc of the next fan, ch 5, sc in the 6th dc, ch 5, sc in the next sc, ch 5] 7 times, but end the last repeat with ch 2, dc in the first sc instead of ch 5. (24 sc, 24 ch-5 loops)
Round 7: Ch 1, sc in the same loop. [Ch 5, sc in the next loop] 23 times. Ch 2, dc in the first sc. (24 ch-5 loops)
Round 8: Repeat Round 7. (24 ch-5 loops)
The piece now cups into a shallow bowl. That’s correct: the loop count stays at 24 while the sphere starts to curve.
Round 9 (shell band): Ch 1, sc in the same loop. Then ch 3, shell in the next loop, ch 3, sc in the next loop, ch 5. [Sc in the next loop, ch 3, shell in the next loop, ch 3, sc in the next loop, ch 5] 7 times. Sl st in the first sc. (16 sc, 48 dc, 8 ch-2 spaces, 16 ch-3 spaces, 8 ch-5 spaces)
Each repeat uses 3 loops of Round 8, so 8 repeats use all 24 loops.
Round 10 (equator fans): Sl st in the next 3 ch, sl st in the next 3 dc, then sl st in the ch-2 space. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 6 dc in the same space, ch 3, sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 3. [Fan in the next ch-2 space, ch 3, sc in the next ch-5 space, ch 3] 7 times. Sl st in the top of the ch-3. (56 dc, 8 sc, 16 ch-3 spaces)
This is the scalloped band that circles the widest part of the ball. It uses the same stitches as Round 5, so it echoes the bottom flower.
Upper Half (Worked Around the Ball)
Round 11: Work as for Round 6. (24 sc, 24 ch-5 loops)
Now take the cap off the ornament. Drop the ball into the cover, top up. Line up the Round 10 fans with the equator, then carry on working with the ball inside.
Round 12: Repeat Round 7. (24 ch-5 loops)
Round 13: Ch 1, sc in the same loop. [Ch 4, sc in the next loop] 23 times. Ch 2, hdc in the first sc. (24 ch-4 loops)
Round 14: Repeat Round 13. (24 ch-4 loops)
Shortening the chains from 5 to 4 makes the diamonds smaller as the ball curves inward.
Round 15 (decrease): Ch 1, sc in the same loop, ch 4, sc2tog over the next 2 loops, ch 4. [Sc in the next loop, ch 4, sc2tog over the next 2 loops, ch 4] 7 times. Sl st in the first sc. (8 sc + 8 sc2tog = 16 sts, 16 ch-4 loops)
Every 3 loops become 2, so the round goes from 24 loops to 16.
Round 16: Sl st in the next 2 ch. Ch 1, sc in the same loop. [Ch 3, sc in the next loop] 15 times. Ch 3, sl st in the first sc. (16 sc, 16 ch-3 loops)
Round 17 (decrease): Sl st in the next 2 ch. Ch 1, sc2tog over this loop and the next loop, ch 3. [Sc2tog over the next 2 loops, ch 3] 7 times. Sl st in the first sc2tog. (8 sc2tog, 8 ch-3 loops)
Checkpoint: the opening measures about 1 in (2.5 cm) across and sits close to the ornament neck.
Border (Top Edging)
Border gauge: 10 sc = 1 in (2.5 cm).
Round 18: Sl st in the next ch-3 loop. Ch 1, 3 sc in the same loop, then 3 sc in each of the remaining 7 loops. Sl st in the first sc. (3 sc × 8 loops = 24 sc)
Why the math works: At the border gauge, 24 sc measure 2.4 in (6.1 cm). That matches the circumference of the neck on a standard 3 in (7.6 cm) ball, so the ring hugs the neck without puckering. Working 3 sc in each ch-3 loop also fills the loops completely, which gives a smooth, firm rim for the cap to rest on.
Fasten off and leave a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Thread it on the needle and weave it through the 24 sc of Round 18. Pull it snug around the neck, knot it securely and weave in the end. Put the cap back on. Its rim should cover the sc ring completely.
Final Blocking
- Keep the ball inside the cover. It’s the perfect blocking form.
- Mist the lace lightly with water, or brush on fabric stiffener diluted 1:1 with water, until the thread is damp but not dripping.
- Straighten the bands. The Round 10 fans should form an even ring around the equator, with all 8 fan tips at the same height.
- Center the bottom flower (Rounds 1–5) on the bottom pole of the ball.
- Ease the diamond mesh so each loop is open and the diamonds line up in columns.
- Hang the ornament by its cap and let it dry completely, usually 6–12 hours.
- Once it’s dry, wipe any stiffener residue off the cap with a damp cloth.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- [ ] Round 1 has exactly 24 dc and the center hole is closed
- [ ] There are 8 fans in Round 5 and 8 fans in Round 10, lined up in the same columns
- [ ] Every mesh round from Round 6 to Round 14 has 24 loops
- [ ] Round 15 has 16 loops, Round 17 has 8 loops and Round 18 has 24 sc
- [ ] The equator band measures 9.4 in (23.9 cm) around, with no gaps between fans
- [ ] The cover doesn’t spin or slide when you turn the ball
- [ ] The top sc ring is completely hidden under the cap
- [ ] All ends are woven through solid stitches, not through chain loops
Troubleshooting
The cover is loose and wrinkles on the ball. Your gauge is too large. Rework it with a smaller hook. As a quick fix, change the ch-5 in Rounds 11–12 to ch-4.
The equator band won’t stretch over the ball. Your gauge is too tight. Rework it with a larger hook, or crochet the chains in Rounds 6–10 a little looser.
The bottom flower ruffles. Your shells in Rounds 3–4 are too tall. Pull each dc snug, and check that Round 4 has ch-2 (not ch-3) between shells.
The fans lean to one side. In Round 6 or Round 11, you’ve anchored in the wrong dc. Each sc belongs in the 2nd and 6th dc of a 7-dc fan.
The top is puckered. Round 18 is pulled too tight. Loosen the woven tail until the ring lies smooth.
The decrease rounds look uneven. Make the sc2tog in Rounds 15 and 17 over two neighboring loops, never skipping a loop.
Care
Dust the cover gently with a soft brush. If it needs washing, remove the ball, hand-wash the cover in cool water, then re-block it over the ball.
Final Notes
Snowlace is built on one measurement chain. Ten dc to the inch gives a 2 in (5.1 cm) flower at Round 5. Twenty-four mesh loops cup the lower half into a bowl, and the Round 10 fans stretch to 9.4 in (23.9 cm) at the equator. The upper half then decreases from 24 loops to 16 to 8, and finishes with a 24-sc ring that measures 2.4 in (6.1 cm) and sits hidden under the cap. If your test circle matches the gauge, every later checkpoint will fall into place.
Happy crocheting!