Basketball in a Hoop Costume

Basketball has always been my favorite sport. I love it as a fan and a participator. Hubby and I love watching college basketball, especially the UK Wildcats and WV Mountaineers.

My grandson had dismantled (aka tore up...lol) one of those stick up basketball hoops for inside use. I think it may have come from the Dollar Tree or Dollar General Store ($1-$2).  The hoop frame measures approximately 9 1/2" in diameter.  Instead of tossing in the trash, I decided to re-purpose it by making it into a usable costume idea for toddlers and making it functional again as a basketball hoop.

"Basketball in a Hoop" Toddler Costume

Size:  The hoop's diameter is approximately 9 1/2" and will fit most toddlers as a costume

Gauge:  Is not important

Materials:
For the Hat and Hoop Costume:
--6.0mm hook
--#4 worsted weight yarn in white, orange and brown (I used ILTY and Crafter's Secret)
--(1) plastic hoop
--tapestry needle for weaving

For the Basketball:
--4.5mm hook
--#4 worsted weight yarn in orange and brown
--(2) small eyes (optional); you could make crocheted eyes
--Polyfil
--tapestry needle for weaving

U.S. Stitch Abbreviations:
Ch:  chain
Sl st:  slip stitch
St:  stitch(es)
SC:  single crochet
HDC:  half double crochet
SC2tog:  single crochet 2 stitches together (creates a decrease)
Rep:  repeat
Sk:  skip
MR:  magic ring
FO:  fasten off

Directions:
Hat:

• There are 2 ways you can work this hat - 1.) in the round; if so, use a stitch marker to keep track of the beginning and ending stitch and move the stitch marker up as you start each new round; or 2.) slip stitch join to the first stitch and chain 1.
• To altar the overall size of your hat, you will need to know the diameter.  To find this, you will first use a tape measure around a child, teen or adult's head.  Now, divide this number by 3.14.  This will give you the diameter of your circle you will need to achieve before you stop with increase rounds and start working repeat rounds. 

1.  With 6.0mm hook and orange yarn, 10 HDC into MR.  (10)
Increase Rounds:
2.  2 HDC in each st around.  (20)
3.  2 HDC in first st, 1 HDC in next st.  Rep around.  (30)
4.  2 HDC in first st, 1 HDC in next 2 st.  Rep around.  (40)
5.  2 HDC in first st, 1 HDC in next 3 st.  Rep around.  (50)
6.  2 HDC in first st, 1 HDC in next 4 st.  Rep around.  (60)
Repeat Rounds:
7-16.  1 HDC in each st around.  At the end of Round 16, FO orange yarn and weave ends.  (60)
17.  With brown yarn, sl st join into any st of Round 16 and Ch1.  SC in same st and each st around.  Sl st join and FO.  Weave ends.  (60)

Stripes (make 3):
1.  Leave a starting tail.  With 6.0mm hook and brown yarn, Ch50.  FO and leave a long tail for attaching to the hat.

Assembly:
1.  See pics for help with placement of stripes:  1 is middle center and the 2 remaining stripes are placed to the left and to the right of the center stripe.  I placed each of mine 5 stitches over on each side from the center with each touching Round 6.

Hoop:

1.  With a 6.0mm hook, plastic hoop and white yarn, you will want to join yarn around hoop and work 56 SC stitches.  I put 3 SC stitches at the beginning, and then 10 SC between each of the notches on the hoop and then 3 SC at the end.  Sl st join to first st and Ch1.  (56)
2.   SC in first st.  Ch9, Sk 3 st.  SC in next st.  Rep around.  Sl st join to first st and Ch1.  (14 SC and 14 Ch9)
3-9.  Rep #2.
10.  Same as #2, except you will Ch7 (not Ch9).
11-12.  Rep #10.  At the end of Round 12, FO and weave ends.

Hoop Straps (make 2):
1.  With 6.0mm hook and white yarn, I chained 75.  FO and left a tail to attach to the side of the hoop.
Attach the second strap to the opposite side of the hoop.  Make sure to really secure the straps.  
2.  The straps can either be left visible and tied in a bow around the neck or you can weave under the shirt and then tie in a bow around the heck.  
  

Basketball:
Follow same principle as hat for working in the round; see above note:

1.  With 4.5mm hook and orange yarn, 6 SC into MR.  (6)
2.  2 SC in each st around.  (12)
3.  2 SC in first st, 1 SC in next st.  Rep around.  (18)
4.  2 SC in first st, 1 SC in next 2 st.  Rep around.  (24)
5.  2 SC in first st, 1 SC in next 3 st.  Rep around.  (30)
6-10.  1 SC in each st around.  (30)
11.  SC2tog, 1 SC in next 3 st.  Rep around.  (24)
12.  SC2tog, 1 SC in next 2 st.  Rep around.  (18)
13.  SC2tog, 1 SC in next st.  Rep around.  (12)

If using safety eyes, add them now at Round 10, with 3 stitch spaces between them.  Stuff with polyfil.

14.  SC2tog.  Rep around.  FO and leave a tail for closing up last 6 stitches.  (6)

Assembly:
1.  Using the tail, weave yarn in and out of the last 6 stitches and pull to close up opening.
2.  I used brown yarn and added a smile 3 rows down from the eyes.
3.  For the stripes, I used my tapestry needle and brown yarn and just embroidered around the center of the ball for the center stripe and then worked a circular stripe for each side 4 stitches over from the center on each side.

Frayed Hair:
1.  I used the tapestry needle to weave and knot yarn at the top of the ball.
2.  I then used the needle to fray the yarn.
3.  I made 5 for the top of my ball.

This is a super cute, quick and simple project to make.  The hat and hoop can be worn as a costume for Halloween (or dress-up) with the ball to carry as an accessory.  AND, then, afterwards, can be used to play ball indoors during the coming winter months...

Inexpensive costume with a little versatility...I hope ya'll will enjoy this.

 Happy Crocheting...

Legal:

--don't use/claim my design as your own

--don't use/claim my pics as your own

--okay to make and sale your finished work
--don't share my pattern electronically or in print format (without prior consent) but provide a link to my blog