Little ones will love this adorable crochet bowling set! It is the perfect size for little hands and great for developing hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. My son would knock those pins down and set them up again for hours. And it’s so much fun that older siblings will want to join in too!
This free crochet bowling pattern includes instructions for making both the bowling pins and ball. The plush pieces are perfect for indoor play—no worrying about damage to furniture or woodwork when those pins go flying!
Make six crochet bowling pins for a fun kids’ set or make all 10 for a traditional bowling setup.
Crochet Bowling Pin and Ball Patterns
Pattern Details
- Skill level: Easy/Intermediate
- Yarn: Worsted-weight yarn
- Hook: 5 mm (US H-8), or size needed for a tight fabric
- Construction: Worked in joined rounds
- Bowling pin size: Approximately 9½ in. (24 cm) high × 10 in. (25.5 cm) circumference
- Bowling ball size: Approximately 18 in. (46 cm) circumference
- Set size: 6 pins for a kids’ set or 10 for a standard set
Materials
- Worsted-weight yarn in white (approx. 300-450 yd.), red (approx. 156 yd.), gray (approx. 156 yd.), and a small amount of black (shown here in Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in White – 100, Scarlet – 113, and Charcoal Grey – 151)
- 5 mm (US H-8) crochet hook or smaller depending on your tension (see Pattern Notes)
- Yarn needle
- Stitch markers (optional)
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Securely enclosed weighted inserts (optional; see Pattern Notes)
Abbreviations
- ch – chain
- sc – single crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 stitches together
- sl st – slip stitch
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
Available as a convenient, ad-free printer-friendly PDF download here.
Pattern Notes
- Please note that, as with all crochet toys and baby items, check this crochet bowling set regularly for pulls or unraveling stitches that may allow stuffing to come out and become a choking hazard. As always, supervise infants and small children.
- Use whatever hook size lets you achieve a nice, tight fabric. The tighter the gauge, the better the shape and structure of each piece will be.
- Use a securely enclosed weighted insert in the base of each pin and center of the ball if you’d like to add a little weight. Make sure the insert is completely enclosed and cannot work through the crochet stitches.
- Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this crochet pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, U.S. to U.K. Crochet Conversion Chart, How to Make a Magic Ring {photo & video tutorial}.
Crochet Bowling Pin Pattern
Make 6 pins for a fun kid set or 10 for a standard bowling set.
With white, make a magic ring (as an alternative to the magic ring, you can ch 4 and join with a slip stitch in the furthest chain from the hook to form a ring).
Round 1: Ch 1 (does not count as st here and throughout), work 6 sc into ring, join —6 sts.
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join — 12 sts.
Round 3: Ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as the join and in each st around, join — 12 sts.
Round 4: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as the join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in next, rep from * around, join — 18 sts.
Round 5: Ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join — 18 sts.
Round 6: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, join — 24 sts.
Rounds 7 through 10: Ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join — 24 sts.
Round 11: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, join and drop white yarn — 18 sts.
Round 12: Join red yarn, ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join — 18 sts.
Round 13: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*sc2tog, 1 sc in next st, rep from * around, join and drop red yarn — 12 sts.
Rounds 14 and 15: Pick up and join white yarn, ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join and drop white yarn — 12 sts.
Round 16: Pick up and join red yarn, ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join — 12 sts.
Round 17: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in next, rep from * around, join and fasten off red yarn — 18 sts.
Round 18: Pick up and join white, ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join — 18 sts.
Round 19: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, join — 24 sts.
***Stuff the tip of the pin at this point, taking care not to overstuff.***
Round 20: Ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join — 24 sts.
Round 21: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * around, join — 30 sts.
Rounds 22 through 31: Ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join — 30 sts.
Round 32: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * around, join — 24 sts.
Rounds 33 through 35: Ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join — 24 sts.
Round 36: Ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as the join and each st around, join — 24 sts.
Round 37: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as the join and working in back loops only for this round, *sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, join — 18 sts.
***Stuff the rest of the pin at this point, taking care not to overstuff. If using a weighted insert, place it in last so it sits at the base of the pin.***
Round 38: Ch 1; beginning in the same st as join, and work *sc2tog, 1 sc in next st, rep from * around, join — 12 sts.
Round 39: Ch 1; beginning in the same st as join, sc2tog around, join — 6 sts.
Fasten off, leaving a tail about 6 inches long. Using a tapestry needle, weave the tail through each stitch and pull gently to tighten. Weave in ends.
Crochet Bowling Ball Pattern
With gray yarn, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into ring, join — 6 sts.
Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, join — 12 sts.
Round 3: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in next, rep from * around, join — 18 sts.
Round 4: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, join — 24 sts.
Round 5: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * around, join — 30 sts.
Round 6: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, rep from * around, join — 36 sts.
Round 7: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, rep from * around, join — 42 sts.
Round 8: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, rep from * around, join — 48 sts.
Round 9: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * around, join — 54 sts.
Round 10: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join,*work 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 8 sts, rep from * around, join — 60 sts.
Rounds 11 through 20: Ch 1, 1 sc in the same st as join and each st around, join — 60 sts.
Round 21: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as the join and work *sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 8 sts, rep from * around, join — 54 sts.
Round 22: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as the join and work *sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts, rep from * around, join — 48 sts.
Round 23: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join and work *sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sts, rep from * around, join — 42 sts.
Round 24: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join and work *sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 5 sts, rep from * around, join — 36 sts.
Round 25: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join and work *sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts, rep from * around, join — 30 sts.
Round 26: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join and work *sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts, rep from * around, join — 24 sts.
***Stuff the ball, taking care not to overstuff. If using a weighted insert, position it in the center of the ball.***
Round 27: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join, and work *sc2tog, 1 sc in each of the next 2 sts, rep from * around, join — 18 sts.
Round 28: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join, and work *sc2tog, 1 sc in next st, rep from * around, join — 12 sts.
Round 29: Ch 1, beginning in the same st as join, sc2tog around, join — 6 sts.
Fasten off, leaving a tail about 6 inches long. Using a tapestry needle, weave the tail through each stitch and pull gently to tighten. Weave in ends.
Faux Finger Holes (make 3)
With black yarn, make a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, work 6 sc into ring, join — 6 sts.
For best results, use the invisible join and fasten off method. Leave a tail of about 6 inches long. Using a yarn needle, sew faux finger holes to the ball as shown in pictures. Weave in ends.
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I had fun making this pattern. Made it for my Great Grandson to play with as they live in an apartment.
This pattern is really cute! I really loved making it!
I made these in rainbow colors for my nephew for Christmas. Your pattern was a little confusing, but once I followed it round by round I got it and was able to make the full set pretty quickly. Thank you for posting this pattern. I know he will love playing with his indoor bowling set. I’m going to make another set for my son. 🙂