There is something especially satisfying about finishing a blanket that feels both creative and practical. My Bulky Magic Ball Blanket is one of those projects. It gave me the chance to play with color placement, use up bulky yarn from my stash, and enjoy the steady rhythm of Tunisian crochet in the round.
What makes this blanket so distinctive is the contrast between the two working yarns. For the forward pass, I used Red Heart Super Saver in White held double. For the return pass, I used a handmade magic yarn ball made from bulky weight yarns arranged in planned color sections. That combination gave the blanket a structured look on the forward pass while allowing the return pass to bring in all the color and movement.
The result is a blanket with strong stitch definition, beautiful color changes, and a construction method that becomes very rhythmic once established. The final dimensions are 54" x 48".
How I Made the Magic Ball
Before I ever began crocheting, I started by building the yarn ball itself.
I gathered all of my bulky weight yarns and laid them out in an order that felt right for the color placement. I wanted the transitions to feel balanced and visually interesting, so I took some time arranging the shades before winding.
Once I was happy with the sequence, I began winding the yarns into 3-meter sections of each color until I had created two full magic balls. Each ball weighed about 75 grams.
That preparation stage was a big part of the project. It allowed me to guide the overall flow of color while still keeping the surprise and spontaneity that makes a magic ball so enjoyable to use.
The Structure of the Blanket
This blanket is worked in Tunisian crochet in the round.
- Forward pass hook: Size N15 / 10 mm
- Return pass hook: Size M/13 / 9 mm
- Cable: begin with a short cable and change to longer cables as the blanket grows
- Forward pass yarn: Red Heart Super Saver - White held double
- Return pass yarn: Handmade magic yarn ball
Using different hook sizes for the forward and return passes helped keep a balanced the structure of the blanket as it grew.
Stitch Key
If any of these stitches are new to you, I’ve included room for tutorial links below so readers can explore them in more detail.
- TSS – Tunisian Simple Stitch
- TTSS – Twisted Tunisian Simple Stitch
- TKS – Tunisian Knit Stitch
- TTKS – Twisted Tunisian Knit Stitch
- TPRS – Tunisian Purled Reverse Stitch
How the Blanket Begins
Using the white yarn held double, chain 22.
Draw up loops in the back loop of the next 20 chains, leaving 21 loops on the hook. In the next chain, draw up a loop, chain 1, and then draw up another loop in the same chain.
Next, before rounding the corner, those 23 loops need to be closed with a closing stitch using the magic ball yarn. Slide all stitches to the opposite end of the cable and attach the magic ball yarn. Yarn over and pull through one loop, then continue by yarning over and pulling through two loops at a time until only two loops remain on the hook. Move stitches back to the forward pass hook end to continue.
Now the opposite side of the foundation chain can be worked. Insert the hook into the front loop of the same chain used for the turning point, draw up a loop, chain 1, and draw up another loop in that same chain. Then draw up loops in the front loops of the next 20 chains.
In the next chain, draw up a loop, chain 1, and draw up another loop in the same chain. Then draw up a loop on the opposite side of that same chain. Mark the first loop on the hook for this round to designate the beginning of the round.
When to Begin the Return Pass
With Tunisian crochet in the round, there are two situations where I begin the return pass.
The first is when I reach a point where it is no longer practical to turn the corner or continue working in the next direction. In that case, I work off stitches until only two loops remain on the hook, which makes the turn much easier.
The second is when the cable is full and cannot comfortably hold any more stitches.
This becomes part of the rhythm of the project. Rather than forcing the work, I let the shape of the round and the capacity of the cable determine when to begin the return pass.
Round 2
Work a twisted Tunisian simple stitch (TTSS) and a twisted Tunisian knit stitch (TTKS) in the next stitch to form the corner increase. Work Tunisian simple stitch (TSS) in the next 20 stitches. In the next stitch, work Tunisian knit stitch (TKS), then (TSS) in the same stitch. In the next stitch, work TTSS and TTKS. Work TSS the next 20 stitches, then work TKS and TTS in the next stitch. Repeat from there around until you are back just before the marked stitch.
Each side increases by 2 stitches when worked in this manner.
Building the Blanket
Repeat Round 2, incorporating the additional 2 stitches on each side with every round, until a total of 12 rounds have been completed.
Then drop the magic ball yarn and use the white yarn for the return pass on the next round. Work the corner stitch as established. In each stitch to the next corner, work one round in TSS.
On the following round, drop the white return-pass yarn and resume using the magic yarn ball for the return pass with one round in Tunisian purled reverse stitch (TPRS) and 11 more rounds in TSS. Repeat the section with the white return pass once or twice. It's your preference, made 2 rounds of TPRS here and 3 on the next section.
Continue alternating these sections in the same manner.
This creates a wonderful visual rhythm in the blanket. The magic-ball return passes bring in flowing color, while the white return-pass rounds worked in Tunisian purled reverse stitch add contrast, texture, and a subtle sense of spacing within the design.
Bind-Off Round
Working with all white yarn, make 1 round in TSS, 1 round in TPRS, 1 round in TSS, and 1 round in TPRS. Then bind off in TSS.
This gives the blanket a clean, structured finish and ties the edge in visually with the rest of the design. After completing the bind-off round, fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why I Loved This Method
One of my favorite things about this blanket is the balance between structure and spontaneity.
The structure comes from the Tunisian crochet in the round, the steady increase pattern, and the white forward pass that keeps the stitch definition crisp. The spontaneity comes from the handmade magic ball and the way the return-pass colors travel through the blanket.
Because I arranged the yarn colors myself, the blanket feels planned without feeling overly controlled. It gave me the joy of making intentional color choices at the winding stage, then simply enjoying the unfolding of those choices as I crocheted.
It was also a very satisfying stash-based project. Gathering my bulky yarns, arranging them into a sequence, and turning them into a blanket made the whole project feel especially personal.
Final Thoughts
Finishing this blanket was incredibly rewarding. It combines strong Tunisian structure with playful color, and it gave me a chance to use yarn in a way that felt both creative and practical.
What I love most about it is that the design starts long before the first stitch. It begins when the yarn is gathered, arranged, and wound into the magic ball. From there, the blanket becomes a conversation between planning and surprise, structure and color, rhythm and texture.
This Bulky Magic Ball Blanket was a joy to make, and I am so glad to finally have it finished.
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