How to Make Easy Crochet Stocking Stuffers
The Smiles & Hugs Fidget Toy is a fun take on a footbag or kick sack. These are quick and easy gifts perfect for kids. I’ve updated this pattern with new holiday charts so you can share these as quick stocking stuffers for Christmas time!
Before you begin..
You can find the ad-free PDF version of this pattern in my Ravelry shop or my Etsy shop. This PDF includes all the alphabet letter graphs for this pattern!
Shop the recommended yarn, Dishie Cotton!
You’re also gonna need a 3.5mm hook, check out this hook set!
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What is a Fidget Toy?
A fidget toy is a small toy that it used to help focus energy and manage stress. These are especially popular with neurodivergent children and people with anxiety. Fidget toys are meant to be small and relatively quiet, so they’re not a distraction for others. This fidget toy is actually a kick sack or footbag, sometimes called a “hacky sack”.
While these are typically used for the game of footbag, they are often popular for juggling or as fidget toys. Depending on what you fill your toy with they can have different textures. While I typically fill mine with rice, I also experimented with playdoh tied in a balloon and had great feedback from my own kiddos.
The Holiday Edition
The Smiles & Hugs Footbag is essentially a crochet ball that is filled with rice. I designed this pattern as a quick make for Valentine’s Day gift for my kiddos. If made with cotton yarn and rice (which are both microwave-able), these little fidget balls double as hand warmers in the winter. A quick 20 seconds in the microwave keeps them warm for about 10-15 minutes! Since I thought these would make excellent stocking stuffers, I decided to add some candy canes and Christmas trees to the color work charts.
If you opt to purchase the PDF of this pattern from one of my shops, it will include the original charts with a smiley face, heart, and full alphabet, as well as these new holiday charts.
About the Yarn
This project calls for worsted weight cotton yarn. I used Dishie Yarn from WeCrochet for this project. Its 100% cotton, durable, comes in tons of colors, and its really affordable. It’s one of my favorite cotton yarns to use…which means I had lots of yarn scraps on hand. You won’t need much for this project, so it’s a great time to do some scrap busting!
If you want to substitute yarn, I recommend choosing 100% cotton yarn (CYC Weight 4). Cotton yarn is durable and is going to hold up better to use than most other materials.
Filling your Footbag
This crochet footbag uses a few tablespoons of uncooked rice as a filling instead of pellets or sand. The reason behind this is simply to make is microwave safe. If you opt to use a material other than rice, definitely DO NOT microwave it without doing your research on the safety.
I used an inner lining to make sure no rice came out of my footbag during play. This step is optional, but highly recommended. You can either make a small liner pouch with a bit of cotton fabric (very similar to making a Faux Fur Pom Pom) or grab a sock without a buddy from your laundry basket and give it a new use! I recently tried using a balloon and tying it off before inserting it, and this is both quick and works well. If you don’t mind getting a little messy, you can try putting playdoh inside! This is my kids favorite version.
Once you have filled your inner lining with rice and closed it, you can simply place it inside and crochet around it to close up your footbag.
Let’s Get Started…
Materials Needed
25 yds of Dishie Cotton yarn in Main Color (or other 100% cotton yarn)
10 yds of Dishie Cotton yarn in Contrasting Color (or other 100% cotton yarn)
Size 3.5mm crochet hook
Tapestry needle
Stitch Markers
Scissors
Cotton Sock or 6”x6” square of cotton fabric
Sewing needle
Thread
2-3 Tbsp of rice (or other stuffing material)
Stitches Used
MC – Magic Circle
Ch – Chain
Sc – Single Crochet
Sc BLO Inc – Single Crochet in Back Loop Only Increase
Sc BLO Dec – Single Crochet in Back Loop Only Decrease
Skill Level
Experienced Beginner
Finished Measurements
2.25”w x 2.25”h
Notes
- This pattern is worked in a continuous round. It is recommended that you use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of the round.
- The color work on this pattern is worked from a graph in 18-stitch increments. If desired, you can work two graphs for each sack creating a picture or letter on the front and back of the sack. If working two graphs, it may be helpful to place an additional stitch marker in the 19th stitch of your round to distinguish start and end points of your two graphs.
- This sack is made with cotton filled with rice for weight and microwave warming. If you opt to used another material (beans, poly pellets…etc), do not microwave unless using a microwave safe material.
Pattern
INCREASING SECTION
Using your main color and a 3.5mm hook. MC with yarn and ch 1.
Round 1: Sc BLO 12 in MC. (12)
Round 2: *Sc BLO 1, Sc BLO Inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (18
Round 3: *Sc BLO 2, Sc BLO Inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (24)
Round 4: *Sc BLO 3, Sc BLO Inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (30)
Round 5: *Sc BLO 4, Sc BLO Inc.* Repeat from * to * around. (36)
Round 6: Sc BLO in each stitch around. (36)
TAPESTRY SECTION
Work 6 rounds of Sc BLO according to the following instructions.
Each square on the graph represents one Sc BLO stitch. White squares are your main color while black square are you contrasting color. Beginning in Row 1, Column 1, work one stitch per square across the row changing colors as the graph changes. In the stitch before a color change, you will follow the technique for “Changing Colors”. When you reach the end of the graph, you can begin a second graph for the back side, or work Sc BLO stitches for the remainder of the round. Begin the next round on Row 2, Column 1. Continue working across the graph rows for six rounds. (Note: for Letter Graphs, purchase the ad-free PDF pattern in my Ravelry shop or my Etsy shop )
FILLING
Before you begin decreasing, you will need to fill your footbag. If you want your finished piece to be microwaveable, you will need to use cotton and rice. I chose to add a liner to the filling to ensure that no rice comes out of the footbag. The lining optional, but recommended. If you are opting to not line your footbag, simply put the rice or other material directly into the working piece and move onto DECREASING SECTION.
NOTE: If filling with other materials, DO NOT microwave unless you have verified that substituted materials are microwave safe.
Sock Method
Fill a small cotton sock with approx 2-3 tablespoons of uncooked rice. Using a sewing needle and thread, stitch across the sock to enclose the rice. Cut off excess sock material and put into the center of crochet footbag. Continue to “DECREASING SECTION”.
Cotton Fabric Method
Cut a 6”x 6” square of cotton fabric. Using a sewing needle and thread, loosely stitch around the edge of the entire square, roughly 1/4” from the sides. Lightly pull the two tail ends of the thread to cinch the fabric into a small pouch shape. Fill the pouch with 2-3 tablespoons of uncooked rice. Cinch tightly and tie to close. You may also sew around the edge with the remaining thread to secure the pouch closure. Put into the center of crochet footbag. Continue to “DECREASING SECTION”.
DECREASING SECTION
Continuing working with your main color only.
Round 1: Sc BLO in each stitch around. (36)
Round 2: *Sc BLO 4, Sc BLO Dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (30)
Round 3: *Sc BLO 3, Sc BLO Dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (24)
Round 4:*Sc BLO 2, Sc BLO Dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (18)
Round 5: *Sc BLO 1, Sc BLO Dec.* Repeat from * to * around. (12)
Tie off leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle, weave the tail under the front loop of each stitch around. Pull the tail tightly to close. Tie off and weave in end.
USING YOUR Fidget Toy
You can now use your toy to play a passing game, squeeze as a fidget toy or as a hand warmer. To warm, place in microwave for 15-20 seconds. Be sure to monitor your toy during the warming process.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for checking out the Smiles & Hugs Footbag! I hope you have fun making these for the special people in your life. Be sure to tag me in your finished makes at @craftingforweeks on Facebook or Instagram. Use hashtag #smilesandhugsfootbag for a chance to be featured!
Until next time, Happy Crafting!
