SKULL TENNIS BALL COVER

My wife is working on a photography session that depicts a circus that has been corrupted by various monsters.  One of the characters is a juggler.  She asked if I could come up with a skull that the juggler could juggle.  This is the pattern for the skull tennis ball cover that I came up with.

MATERIALS:
Worsted weight yarn:  White and black
F crochet hook
Tapestry needle
Tennis Ball
2 black buttons

BALL COVER:
Rd 1: With white, 6 sc in magic ring.  (6)
Rd 2: 2 sc in each sc around.  (12)
Rd 3: (sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc) around.  (18)
Rd 4: (sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around.  (24)
Rd 5: (sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around.  (30)
Rd 6: (sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around.  (36)
Rd 7: (sc in next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around.  (42)
Rds 8-11: sc in each sc around.  (42)
Rd 12: (sc in next 5 sc, sc2tog) around.  (36)
Rd 13: (sc in next 4 sc, sc2tog) around.  (30)
THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO SEW ON THE BUTTONS AND EMBROIDER NOSE.
INSERT TENNIS BALL, WHILE HOLDING IN PLACE, CONTINUE TO CROCHET AROUND IT.  YOU MAY NEED TO PULL YOUR FINISHED WORK TIGHTLY TO GET IT TO COVER TO COMPLETELY.
Rd 14: (sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog) around.  (24)  Change to black.
Rd 15: Working in back loops only, (sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog) around.  (18)
Rd 16: (sc in next sc, sc2tog) around.  (12)
Rd 17: sc2tog around.  (6)
Finishing off leaving a long tail.  Weave tail through sc of Rd 17, pull tightly, and secure.  Weave in ends.

TEETH:
Rw 1: Count 7 sc from center of NOSE, attach white in 7th sc, ch 1, working toward NOSE, sc in next 14 sc.  (14)
Rw 2: Ch 1, turn; sc in next 14 sc.  (14)
Finish off.  Weave in ends.  Using black, embroider lines on TEETH.

This crochet pattern is an original pattern and is © by Christjan Bee (April 2018).  Please do not claim this pattern as your own.  If you wish to share this pattern, you may link to this pattern but please do not reprint/repost it on your site.  You may print and keep a copy for your own personal use, but you may not sell or distribute it, or sell items made from this pattern.