Make a colorful Montessori-inspired counting game with crochet bowls, numbered circles, and soft balls to help kids learn numbers and sorting. This pattern includes complete step-by-step instructions for 7 bowls, 28 balls, 10 numbered white bases, number appliques, and sign squares. You will get detailed rounds, tips, and finishing notes so you can create a durable, educational toy that is both beautiful and playful.
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β Bowls :
Info :
Make 7 bowls in different colors. Each bowl starts with a magic ring and follows increases to create the base, then work in rounds to build sides and finish with a slip stitch edge.
Purple bowl (with purple yarn) :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
BLO sc X 42 => 42
Round 8 - Round 9 - Round 10 - Round 11 - Round 12 - Round 13 :
sc X 42 => 42
Round 14 :
(chain 1 + 1 slip stitch) X 42
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the first bowl is finished.
Dark Blue bowl (with dark blue yarn) :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
BLO sc X 49 => 49
Round 9 - Round 10 - Round 11 - Round 12 - Round 13 - Round 14 :
sc X 49 => 49
Round 15 :
(chain 1 + 1 slip stitch) X 49
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 2nd bowl is finished.
Light Blue bowl (with light blue yarn) :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
(3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56
Round 9 :
BLO sc X 56 => 56
Round 10 - Round 11 - Round 12 - Round 13 - Round 14 - Round 15 :
sc X 56 => 56
Round 16 :
(chain 1 + 1 slip stitch) X 56
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 3rd bowl is finished.
Green bowl (with green yarn) :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
(3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56
Round 9 :
(7 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 63
Round 10 :
BLO sc X 63 => 63
Round 11 - Round 12 - Round 13 - Round 14 - Round 15 - Round 16 :
sc X 63 => 63
Round 17 :
(chain 1 + 1 slip stitch) X 63
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 4th bowl is finished.
Yellow bowl (with yellow yarn) :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
(3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56
Round 9 :
(7 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 63
Round 10 :
(4 sc + 1 inc + 4 sc) X 7 => 70
Round 11 :
BLO sc X 70 => 70
Round 12 - Round 13 - Round 14 - Round 15 - Round 16 - Round 17 :
sc X 70 => 70
Round 18 :
(chain 1 + 1 slip stitch) X 70
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 5th bowl is finished.
Orange bowl (with orange yarn) :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
(3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56
Round 9 :
(7 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 63
Round 10 :
(4 sc + 1 inc + 4 sc) X 7 => 70
Round 11 :
(9 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 77
Round 12 :
BLO sc X 77 => 77
Round 13 - Round 14 - Round 15 - Round 16 - Round 17 - Round 18 :
sc X 77 => 77
Round 19 :
(chain 1 + 1 slip stitch) X 77
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 6th bowl is finished.
Red bowl (with red yarn) :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
(3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56
Round 9 :
(7 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 63
Round 10 :
(4 sc + 1 inc + 4 sc) X 7 => 70
Round 11 :
(9 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 77
Round 12 :
(5 sc + 1 inc + 5 sc) X 7 => 84
Round 13 :
BLO sc X 84 => 84
Round 14 - Round 15 - Round 16 - Round 17 - Round 18 - Round 19 :
sc X 84 => 84
Round 20 :
(chain 1 + 1 slip stitch) X 84
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 7th bowl is finished.
β Balls :
Info :
Make 28 balls in these counts: 1 purple, 2 dark blue, 3 light blue, 4 green, 5 yellow, 6 orange, 7 red. Crochet in continuous rounds and stuff firmly while shaping.
Round 1 :
Magic ring & 6 sc => 6
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 6 => 18
Round 4 :
(2 sc + 1 inc) X 6 => 24
Round 5 - Round 6 - Round 7 :
sc X 24 => 24
Info :
Start stuffing the ball as firmly as you like;
Round 8 :
(2 sc + 1 dec) X 6 => 18
Round 9 :
(1 sc + 1 dec) X 6 => 12
Info :
Sew this last row with a needle instead of the crochet. To do that, just insert the needle in the BLO of every stitch and pull firmly at the end. Cut the yarn and hide the remaining thread.
β White circles for numbers :
Circle for number 1 :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the first circle is finished.
Circle for number 2 :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 2nd circle is finished.
Circle for number 3 :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 3rd circle is finished.
Circle for number 4 :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
(3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 4th circle is finished.
Circle for number 5 :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
(3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56
Round 9 :
(7 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 63
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 5th circle is finished.
Circle for number 6 :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
(3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56
Round 9 :
(7 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 63
Round 10 :
(4 sc + 1 inc + 4 sc) X 7 => 70
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 6th circle is finished.
Circle for number 7 :
R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7
Round 2 :
inc X 7 sc => 14
Round 3 :
(1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21
Round 4 :
(1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28
Round 5 :
(3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35
Round 6 :
(2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42
Round 7 :
(5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49
Round 8 :
(3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56
Round 9 :
(7 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 63
Round 10 :
(4 sc + 1 inc + 4 sc) X 7 => 70
Round 11 :
(9 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 77
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the 7th circle is finished.
Circles for number 8, 9, 10 - make 3 :
(I made them the same size, but you can continue increasing if you like) R1: Magic Ring + 7 sc => 7. R2: inc X 7 sc => 14. R3: (1 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 21. R4: (1 sc + 1 inc + 1 sc) X 7 => 28. R5: (3 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 35. R6: (2 sc + 1 inc + 2 sc) X 7 => 42. R7: (5 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 49. R8: (3 sc + 1 inc + 3 sc) X 7 => 56. R9: (7 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 63. R10: (4 sc + 1 inc + 4 sc) X 7 => 70. R11: (9 sc + 1 inc) X 7 => 77. R12: (5 sc + 1 inc + 5 sc) X 7 => 84
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread and the circles are finished.
β Numbers 1 to 10 :
number 1 - with purple :
R1: Chain 20, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 2nd chain: dc X 4, 7 dc together, 8 dc
Info :
Sew the number to the first circle;
number 2 with dark blue :
R1: Chain 27, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 4nd chain: dc x 5, 7 dc together, dc x 5, 2 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc, 3 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc, 2 dc in the same stitch + 1 dc, 1 sl
Info :
Sew the number to the second circle;
number 3 with light blue - first part :
R1: Chain 12, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 2nd chain: 1 dc, 2 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc, 3 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc, 2 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc, 3 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc, 2 dc in the same stitch, 1 sl
number 3 - second part :
R3: Chain 10, turn
Round 4 :
starting from the 4nd chain: 1 dc, 2 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc, 3 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc, 2 dc in the same stitch, 1 sl
Info :
Sew the two parts from number 3 directly to the third circle;
number 4 with green :
R1: Chain 16, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 4nd chain: dc X 13, turn,
Round 3 :
1 sl (in the same stitch as the last dc from row 2), 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc,
Info :
Now we are going to work 4 tc: - the first tc starts from the base of the last dc - the other 3 tc start at the base of the last one (this allows us to work without a row foundation) - in order to turn make 4 dc in the same stitch (the base of the last tc) - 7 tc (each tc starts at the base of the last one)
Info :
Cut the yarn and sew the letter to the 4th white base
number 5 with yellow :
R1: Chain 28, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 4nd chain: dc X 5, 3 dc in the same stitch, 1 dc X 2, 3 dc in the same stitch, (1 dc + dc 3 together) X 3, 4 dc
Info :
Cut the yarn and sew the letter to the 5th white base
number 6 with orange :
R1: Chain 25, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 2nd chain: (dc X 2 + 2 dc in the same stitch) X 8
Info :
Cut the yarn and sew the letter to the 6th white base
number 7 with red :
R1: Chain 24, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 4nd chain: dc X 5, 4 dc together, 12 dc
Info :
Cut the yarn and sew the letter to the 7th white base
number 8 (your favorite color) :
R1: Chain 38, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 4nd chain: 2 dc in the same stitch X 10, 5 dc, 2 dc together X 10
Info :
Cut the yarn and sew the letter to the 8th white base
number 9 (a color you have extra yarn of) :
R1: Chain 37, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 2nd chain: (dc X 2 + 2 dc in the same stitch) X 12
Info :
Cut the yarn and sew the letter to the 9th white base
number 10 (the color that you impulse bought but never used) number 1 (similar to before but bigger) :
R1: Chain 26, turn
Round 2 :
starting from the 2nd chain: dc X 5, 8 dc together, 12 dc
Info :
R3: Chain 24, slip stitch to the first one (work over the left yarn). R4: chain 2, dc X 6, 2 dc in the same stitch X 5, dc X 7, 2 dc in the same stitch X 5, sl to the first chain 2. Arrange it as in the picture (yarn on down right to look like in my pic), Cut the yarn and sew the letter to the 10th white base
β Squares for signs :
Info :
Make 3 squares to create plus, minus and equal signs. Work rows then continue around to form a patch.
Round 2 - Round 3 - ... - Round 10 :
sc X 12, turn
Round 11 :
sc X 12, do not turn, continue in round: Start with a sc in the same stitch (2 in total). 8 X sc as you go down on the left side of the patch. 2 sc in the last stitch. 10 sc in base of row 1 (in the remaining loop of each chain). 2 sc in the last stitch. 9 X sc as you go up on the right side of the patch.
Info :
You should have around 44 in total all around the patch (including row 11) - if you don't have the exact same number is on, the stitches on the side can be harder to spot
Info :
Cut the yarn, hide the thread;
Plus sign :
R1: chain X 12. R2: starting from the 3rd chain: sc X 10. Make 2 pieces and sew them one over the other like in the first picture
Minus sign :
R1: chain X 12. R2: starting from the 3rd chain: sc X 10. Make 1 piece and sew like in the second picture
Equal sign :
R1: chain X 12. R2: starting from the 3rd chain: sc X 10. Make 2 pieces and sew them like in the 3rd picture
Info :
Your counting toy is now finished!
This colorful counting game pattern will bring joyful learning and handmade charm to any playroom! The set includes seven bowls, twenty-eight balls, ten numbered bases and number appliques ready for sorting and counting. Make it in your favorite colors and enjoy the simple satisfaction of a complete, educational toy. π§Άβ¨π§Έ