How to Create the Perfect Spiral

Have you ever wanted to make a mesmerizing spiral of colors, but don’t like the mess of color work? I totally get it. Between floats with tension issues and messy yarn tails, changing colors a million times can be a huge hassle. But did you know there is actually a way to get that spiral look without changing colors at all? In this article, How to Create the Perfect Spiral, I’ll walk you through how to use this technique so you can add eye-catching swirls of color to your next project!

©2024 cbfiberworks. This pattern or it’s parts are not allowed to be redistributed, copied or resold. Any items handmade by you from this pattern may be sold, but please credit me (cbfiberworks) as the designer.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you purchase through my links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. View the full affiliate disclaimer here.

How to Create the Perfect Spiral

Picking Colors and… Math?

Before we dive into the fun stuff, to really understand this technique we need to do a little math. Ugh. I know, math sucks, but unfortunately it’s necessary. I promise that at least it isn’t hard math.

In the sample project below, we’ll be making a ball that begins with a magic ring of 6. In order for the spiral to turn out right, we need to pick a number of colors that can multiply to 6. This means you can choose to use 2 colors or 3 colors for your spiral. For this example, we’ll use 3 colors.

NOTE: If you commonly use plush yarn and work with a magic ring of 8, the same concept applies (use 2 colors or 4 colors).

Now let’s look at the basic structure of a ball:

Each Rnd of this pattern is divisible by 3, so you’ll be able to work a certain set of instructions per color. For example, this means that “Rnd 2: [inc, sc] 6 times. (18)” would look like this:

• Rnd 2:
  • Color A: [inc, sc] 2 times.
  • Color B: [inc, sc] 2 times.
  • Color C: [inc, sc] 2 times.
    • In the end you still have 18 stitches and each color works the same amount of repeats each Rnd.

If you were using 2 colors instead, Rnd 2 would look like this:

• Rnd 2:
  • Color A: [inc, sc] 3 times.
  • Color B: [inc, sc] 3 times.

Essentially, you’re following the normal steps to creating a ball, but splitting the instructions for each Rnd between 3 (or 2) different colors.

Supplies for the Sample

Project Materials

• Yarn: Wool of the Andes (worsted, 3 skeins) –affiliate link
  • Color A: Pumpkin (10yds) (orange)
  • Color B: Persimmon Heather (10yds) (dark orange)
  • Color C: Rooibos Heather (10yds) (red-orange)
• 3.00mm hook
• Stitch markers
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Polyfil/stuffing

Stitch Abbreviations

(**) – See Project Notes section

• MR – magic ring (**)
• Sc – single crochet (**)
• Inc – increase (**)
• Dec – decrease (**)
• St(s) – stitch(es)
• Rnd – round
• (#) – the number inside is the stitch count for the Rnd
• [ ] – repeat the stitches inside the brackets the given number of times

Project Notes

• This project is written in US terminology.
• Unless otherwise specified, work in continuous rounds without using a slip stitch to join rows.
• Move stitch markers up each row as you go.
• Magic Ring: Create a magic ring and work the specified number of single crochet into it (ex. MR6 = 6sc into the ring).
• Single Crochet: Unless otherwise specified, this project uses the yarn under technique. Insert your hook into the stitch, yarn under, pull up a loop (2 loops on your hook), yarn under, and pull through both loops.
  • NOTE: I use yarn under, but you don’t have to. It is not necessary for this project.
• Increase: work 2sc into the same stitch.
• Decrease: Unless otherwise specified, use the invisible decrease method. Insert your hook into the front loop of the next stitch, then insert your hook into the front loop of the following stitch, yarn over and pull through the first loop (3 loops on the hook), then yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

Sample Pattern

Place your colors in the order you want. We’ll work each color individually, in that order. Here is the order I’m using.

1. Color A (orange)
2. Color B (dark orange)
3. Color C (red-orange)

If you would like to follow along, check out the full video tutorial below!

To start the MR:

1. A: create a MR and work 2sc into it. Remove your hook and place a stitch marker into the working loop.
2. B: to the left of the first color, attach Color B to the MR with a ch 1, then work 2sc. Remove your hook and place a stitch marker into the working loop.
3. C: to the left of the second color, attach Color C to the MR with a ch 1, then work 2sc. Remove your hook and place a stitch marker into the working loop.

NOTE: The instructions above are written for right-handed crocheters (working counter-clockwise). If you’re left-handed and crochet clockwise, place the Color B & C stitches to the right of the Color A stitches instead.

Each time you work a color, you’ll remove the stitch marker from the working loop, follow the instructions and then return the stitch marker to the working loop. This will keep your colors from unraveling as you continue.

Rnd 1: A: inc 2 times, B: inc 2 times, C: inc 2 times. (12)

NOTE: Rnd 1 is written in an expanded format to emphasize that you’ll work the exact same instructions for each color around. However, the following Rnds have been condensed so it’s easier to read.

Rnd 2: A–C: [inc, sc] 2 times. (18)

Rnd 3: A-C: [sc, inc, sc] 2 times. (24)

Rnd 4: A-C: [inc, 3sc] 2 times. (30)

Rnds 5-8: A-C: 10sc. (30) (4 rnds)

Rnd 9: A-C: [dec, 3sc] 2 times. (24)

Rnd 10: A-C: [sc, dec, sc] 2 times. (18)

Add stuffing to your ball.

Rnd 11: A-C: [dec, sc] 2 times. (12)

Rnd 12: A-C: dec 2 times. (6)

Fasten off all 3 colors with a short yarn tail (6-8in.). Use a tapestry needle and one of the yarn tails to sew the remaining hole closed. Then weave the remaining tail (and the other 2 yarn tails) into the ball.

Wrap Up

You might be wondering if this can be used on any project and the answer is: possibly. It kind of depends on how much work you want to do. For simple shapes like this ball, it’s super easy to split up the round instructions. However, when you get into complex shaping, you math will suddenly be a bit more complicated and if your stitch counts deviate from the multiples of 3 (or 2) then you’ll also run into trouble. Plus I wouldn’t recommend this technique for projects that use short rows since it’ll disrupt the spiral.

All that being said, it’s not impossible. You can do all sorts of amazing things with crochet, so if you’re up to the challenge, then I say, go for it!

So what do you think about this perfect spiral technique? Is this something you would like to incorporate into your next project? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! If you enjoyed this article, be sure to Pin it for later and share it with your crochet friends!

Want to give this spiral technique a try? Check out my free Sammie the Turtle pattern!

I hope you have an amazing day and I’ll see you next time! Happy stitching!