Cheerful Crochet Hot Air Balloon Appliqué — Step-by-Step Pattern for Three Sizes

This charming crochet hot air balloon appliqué is a quick, colorful project that makes a lovely decoration or a thoughtful handmade gift. The pattern below walks you through creating the balloon in three sizes (large, medium, small), using striped sections, a neat finishing row and a small basket that attaches with short chains. Materials, stitch abbreviations and clear section-by-section instructions are included so you can follow along and customize colors to your taste.

This pattern builds the balloon in striped panels worked across the front and then mirrored on the back, followed by the bottom, a neatening row and a small basket. Suitable for crocheters comfortable with basic stitches (sc, hdc, dc, tr) and working short rows.

Crocheting a hot air balloon is such a cheerful and delightful project! The colorful yarns twisting and turning into the shape of a tiny hot air balloon always bring a smile to your face. Imagine the whimsical vibes it adds to any room as a cute decoration or a thoughtful handmade gift for a loved one. With every stitch, you're not just creating a soft and cozy piece of art, but also a warm and fuzzy feeling in your heart. So grab your crochet hook, pick your favorite colors, and let's soar into the sky of creativity together!

Finished hot air balloon appliqué in rainbow colors — a bright, handmade decoration.

Abbreviations:

• st – stitch
• sts – stitches
• ch – chain
• sl st – slip stitch
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• tr – treble crochet

Materials:

• Any thickness crochet cotton or yarn, I used Scheepjes Maxi Sweet Treat 2 ply crochet cotton colors (606) Grass Green, (208) Yellow Gold, (189) Royal Orange, (115) Hot Red, (146) Vivid Blue, (201) Electric Blue, (521) Deep Violet, (113) Delphinium, (106) Snow White and (254) Moon Rock.
• A crochet hook, I used a 1mm hook.
• A darning needle to weave in ends.
• Scissors.
• Black thread and needle to embroider on markings and attach basket to balloon.

Size

Large balloon (Using 8 ply yarn & a 3mm hook): 13cm wide x 20.5cm high or 5” wide x 8” high

Medium balloon (Using 4 ply crochet cotton & a 1.5mm hook): 9cm wide x 13cm high or 3.5” wide x 5” high

Small balloon (Using 2 ply crochet cotton & a 1mm hook): 7cm wide x 10.5cm high or 2.75” wide x 4” high

Balloon

First Section

Using (606) Grass Green work 29 ch.

Row 1: Miss 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of next 26 ch, 1 sl st in each remaining ch. Turn. (28 sts)

Row 2: 1 ch, work 1 sl st in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 6 sts, 1 tr in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. (28 sts)

Fasten off the Grass Green leaving a tail for the neatening row.

First section in Grass Green showing shaping after the first rows.

Second Section:

Join (208) Yellow Gold to last st worked leaving a tail for the neatening row.

Yellow Gold second section joined to the green panel.

Row 3: 1 ch, work 1 sc in same st as join and each of next 25 sts, 1 sl st in each st to end. Turn. (28 sts)

Row 4: 1 ch, work 1 sl st in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 1 tr in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 3 sts,1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. (28 sts). Fasten off.

Royal Orange third section worked and fastened off.

Third Section:

Join (189) Royal Orange to last st worked.

Row 5: 1 ch, work 1 sc in same st as join and each of next 25 sts, 1 sl st in each st to end. Turn. (28 sts)

Row 6: 1 ch, work 1 sl st in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 1 tr in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 3 sts,1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. (28 sts) Fasten off.

4th Section:

Join (115) Hot Red to last st worked.

Row 7: Work 1 sl st in each of next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, 1 sl st in each of last 2 sts. Turn. (23 sc)

Row 8: 1 ch, work 1 sl st in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 3 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 1 tr in each of following 4 sts, 1 dc in same st as last tr and next st, 1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 sl st in each of last 3 sts. Fasten off leaving a long tail for the neatening row.

2nd Side:

1st Section:

Join (146) Vivid Blue to top of green section in back of chain where shown.

Row 1: 1 ch, work 1 sc in back of each of 1^st 26 ch, 1 sl st in each remaining ch. Turn. (28 sts)

Row 2: 1 ch, work 1 sl st in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 6 sts, 1 tr in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. (28 sts) Fasten off leaving a tail for the neatening row.

Vivid Blue joined to the back of the green section to begin the second side.

2nd Section:

Join (201) Electric Blue to last st worked.

Row 3: 1 ch, work 1 sc in same st as join and each of next 25 sts, 1 sl st in each st to end. Turn. (28 sts)

Row 4: 1 ch, work 1 sl st in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 1 tr in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 3 sts,1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. (28 sts) Fasten off leaving a tail for the neatening row.

3rd Section:

Join (521) Deep Violet to last st worked.

Row 5: 1 ch, work 1 sc in same st as join and each of next 25 sts, 1 sl st in each st to end. Turn. (28 sts)

Row 6: 1 ch, work 1 sl st in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 1 tr in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 3 sts,1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of last 2 sts. (28 sts) Fasten off leaving a tail for the neatening row.

4th Section:

Join (113) Delphinium to last st worked.

Row 7: Work 1 sl st in each of next 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, 1 sl st in each of last 2 sts. Turn. (23 sc)

Row 8: 1 ch, work 1 sl st in each of 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 3 sts, 1 hdc in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc in each of next 5 sts, 1 tr in each of following 4 sts, 1 dc in same st as last tr and next st, 1 hdc in each of following 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 1 sl st in each of last 3 sts. Fasten off.

Neatening Row:

Join (113) Delphinium to 1^st st of Delphinium at bottom of balloon.

Work 1 sl st in each st to the Deep Violet, using the colors of the top work 1 sc in each st of Deep Violet, 1 hdc in each st of Electric Blue, 1 dc in each st of Vivid Blue and Grass Green, 1 hdc in each st of Yellow Gold, 1 sc in each st of Royal Orange and using the long Hot Red tail work 1 sl st in each st to bottom of balloon. Fasten off.

Bottom of Balloon

Join (106) Snow White to 1^st st at bottom of balloon. I left a long tail at beginning for the neatening row.

Row 1: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st until 2 sts left along bottom, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn.

Row 2: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st until 2 sts left, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn

Row 3: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st until 2 sts left, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Fasten off.

Neatening Row:

Using the tail left at the beginning work 1 sl st in each st around. Fasten off.

Basket:

Using (254) Moon Rock work 4 ch.

Row 1: Miss 1^st ch, work 1 sc in each remaining ch. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 2: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 3: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st. Don’t turn or fasten off.

Neatening Row:

1 ch, work 1 sc in each side st, 1 sc, 1 ch and 1 sc in each corner st. Join with a sl st in 1^st st. Fasten off.

To make up:

Weave in Ends. Embroider markings on the white part of the balloon and attach the ends to the basket working about 10 chain to hang between the balloon and basket as shown.

And there’s the finished hot air balloon appliqué. I’ve also made it in different sizes and colors.