Chunky Intarsia Spider Ball Doll Free Knit Pattern

Introduction

This little spider ball doll is a squishy, round friend that fits right in the palm of your hand — firm enough to sit up on a shelf, soft enough to squeeze. It is written for knitters who have mastered knit and purl and are ready to try their first bit of colorwork, since the cream spider motif is worked in simple intarsia across just five rounds. The sage green body with its bold cream spider and eight stubby legs gives it that maximalist, slightly goofy charm that makes people smile. At about 4 inches across, it works up in an evening or two and makes a wonderful gift, desk companion, or Halloween decoration.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Sport weight cotton (100% cotton; 50 g / 125 yd per ball). Sage green (MC): 100 yd. Cream (CC): 30 yd.
• Needles: 3.25 mm (US 3) knitting needles — a set of double-pointed needles or a short circular for working the body in the round, plus a pair of straight needles for the flat legs.
• Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, polyester fiberfill for stuffing, black yarn for embroidered eyes (optional), scissors.
• Finished size: Body approximately 4 inches in diameter; each leg about 1.5 inches long.

Abbreviations

• MC — main color (sage green).
• CC — contrast color (cream).
• k — knit.
• kfb — knit into the front and back of the same stitch (makes one new stitch).
• k2tog — knit two stitches together (decreases by one).
• sts — stitches.
• Rnd(s) — round(s), worked in the round.
• Row — a row worked flat, back and forth.

Gauge

24 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. Knit a small swatch in the round (or flat, then measure), and if you have more stitches than 24 per 4 inches, go up a needle size; if fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Keep the intarsia tidy: On Rounds 10–14, carry the cream and sage yarns separately and twist them at each color change so no holes appear. Wind a small separate bobbin of CC just for the motif.
• Stuff firmly, but not rock-hard: Add stuffing gradually from Round 18 onward so the sphere stays round and the intarsia motif doesn't stretch out of shape.
• Use a stitch marker at the start of each round — the spider motif needs to sit on the upper half, so knowing where your round begins keeps it centered.
• Cotton has little stretch: Work the legs a touch loosely so they stay soft and easy to seam into tubes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (MC and CC)

Using MC, cast on 6 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a stitch marker at the start of the round.

Rnd 1: kfb in each st (12 sts).

Rnd 2: [k1, kfb] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 3: [k2, kfb] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 4: [k3, kfb] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 5: [k4, kfb] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 6: [k5, kfb] x6 (42 sts).

Rnd 7: [k6, kfb] x6 (48 sts).

Rnd 8: [k7, kfb] x6 (54 sts).

Rnd 9: [k8, kfb] x6 (60 sts).

Rnds 10–14: Knit even in stockinette, working the cream spider motif in intarsia across these 5 rounds on the upper portion of the sphere (centered on the front, roughly 20 sts wide). Keep all other stitches in MC (60 sts).

Rnd 15: [k8, k2tog] x6 (54 sts).

Rnd 16: [k7, k2tog] x6 (48 sts).

Rnd 17: [k6, k2tog] x6 (42 sts).

Rnd 18: [k5, k2tog] x6 (36 sts).

Rnd 19: [k4, k2tog] x6 (30 sts).

Rnd 20: [k3, k2tog] x6 (24 sts).

Rnd 21: [k2, k2tog] x6 (18 sts).

Rnd 22: [k1, k2tog] x6 (12 sts).

Rnd 23: k2tog x6 (6 sts).

Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 6 sts and pull tight. Stuff the body firmly before closing the hole completely.

Legs (make 8, MC)

Using MC and straight needles, cast on 8 sts.

Rows 1–12: Work in stockinette stitch flat (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows) (8 sts).

Bind off. Fold the leg in half lengthwise and seam the long edges together to form a tube, leaving one short end open. Stuff lightly. Repeat to make 8 legs total.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew the legs evenly around the body at the equator, 4 on each side, attaching each leg by its open end so the stuffed tube points outward. Use the long tail from each leg to secure it with a few firm stitches, then weave in all ends on the inside of the body. If you like, embroider two small eyes with black yarn on the face area below the spider motif. Block lightly by misting with water and shaping the body into a round ball; let it dry fully before displaying.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Color swap: Try a charcoal body with a bright orange spider for a classic Halloween look, or pastel pink with a white motif for a sweeter version.
• Poseable legs: Thread a short length of pipe cleaner inside each leg before seaming so the legs can be bent and posed.
• Hanging loop: Before closing the body, knit a 12-stitch i-cord and attach it at the top so the doll can hang from a shelf or tree.