Pokeball EOS Lip Balm Holder Pattern

Over a year ago, I posted the pattern for the crocheted EOS lip balm holders. A couple months later, I made one that looked like a Pokeball. But I never got around to publishing the pattern.

Until now...

(Since everything Pokemon is big again, why not?)

This is pretty much like the EOS lip balm holder, except for one major alteration. Every time there's a color change, I bind off. This minimizes color jogs.

The preliminaries are the same as before...

This holder is crocheted using Caron Simply Soft Yarn (in white, red, and black) on a size G hook. The other things you'll need are a lobster claw clasp (big enough to fit over the yarn), a tapestry needle, a 5/8 inch white button, and a stitch marker. I'm not sure how much yarn this takes to make, but it isn't much at all. Color is important, so hopefully you already have the right kind of white, red, and black yarn on hand.

I'm using the usual abbreviations--sc=single crochet; sl st=slip stitch; ch=chain

Gauge: 17 sc and 18 rows over 4 inches
This is one of those projects that is so small that making a gauge swatch is kind of silly. What I suggest is that you keep an EOS Egg Lip Balm on hand and plop it in at about round 6. If it won't fit, add a stitch to the first round. If it's very loose (there should be a little ease, but not so much that it'll fall out), subtract a stitch from the first round.  

This is worked in a spiral, so make sure to mark the beginning of each round as you pass it. It's very easy to lose track if you don't mark it. (Not that I have any experience with that...)

The pattern:

Using the white yarn: ch 3. Sl st into the first chain, making a loop.
Round 1: Work 9 sc into the ch 3 loop.
Round 2: 2 sc in each sc from previous round (18 sc)
Round 3: *2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next sc*, repeat these 3 sc all the way around (27 sc)
Rounds 4 & 5: Continue working one sc into each sc (27 sc)

At the end of the round, cut yarn. Draw the yarn all the way through the loop. Then put that yarn on the tapestry needle, and loop the yarn around the base of the next sc and up and through the top of the final sc. If you've never done this before, here's a great video I found showing exactly what I'm talking about:

And what you have will end up like... 

Round 6: Using black yarn, pull up a loop anywhere on the holder. Ch 1. Then work a sc into each white sc (27 sc). At the end of the round, cut yarn and finish exactly like before... 

Round 7: Using red yarn, pull up a loop anywhere on the holder. Ch 1. Then work a sc into each black sc (27 sc)
Round 8: Continue working one sc into each sc (27 sc)
Round 9*(also see note below): *Sc into each of the next 7 sc, sc 2 together*, repeat 2 more times (24 sc)
Round 10: *Sc into each of the next 6 sc, sc 2 together*, repeat 2 more times (21 sc)

*On round 9, you'll also be attaching the claw clasp. It doesn't matter which stitch you attach it to (I usually attach it to the 4th stitch). Where you want to attach it, remove the hook from the piece, pull the loop out, slide the clasp (open part facing towards the piece) over the stitch, replace the hook, and continue crocheting. On the next round you'll need to push the clasp out of the way to work a stitch into that stitch, but then it's completely secure.

Finishing: Wind in ends. (If you crochet over the ends from the previous color, you can minimize how many ends to weave in at the end.)

Take the white button and a black permanent ink marker. Color the edge of the button. (If you can find an easier way of doing this, please let me know. This is the simplest way I've found to do this part.) Then, using the white yarn, attach the button somewhere on the black stripe.

This is a little more complex than the plain color EOS lip balm holders, but it's worth it for the wow factor. I'd love to know how yours turns out (if you plan to make one). You can comment here or tag me on Ravelry. (I'm ZiziRho, and I'll put up a pattern page for this soon.)