Here’s a super easy tic-tac-toe game to crochet. The kids are learning to play and they can take this version with them wherever we go because the game board doubles as a pouch for the game pieces.

Here’s how to make it:

Finished Dimensions: Game Board = 5” x 5”; Game Pieces = 1” diameter
Materials: Less than one ball, worsted weight yarn in at least 3 contrasting colors; (I used 100% cotton yarn)
Hook size appropriate for yarn (I used a size ‘H’ hook)
One, 1” diameter button and needle to sew it to the pouch

Front of Pouch:

Ch 21
Row 1: 1 sc in second ch from hook, 1 sc in each ch to end of chain, ch 1, turn.
Rows 2-17: 1 sc in each st to end of row, ch 1, turn.
Row 18: 1 sc in first 8 sts, ch 4, 1 sc in last 8 sts, ch 1, turn.
Row 19: 1 sc in each st to end of row, ch 1, turn.
Row 20: 1 sc in each st to end of row, fasten off and weave in ends.

Back of Pouch:

Ch 21
Row 1: 1 sc in second ch from hook, 1 sc in each ch to end of chain, ch 1, turn.
Rows 2-19: 1 sc in each st to end of row, ch 1, turn.
Row 20: 1 sc in each st to end of row, fasten off and weave in ends.

Attach Button:

Place the back piece of the pouch on a flat surface and position the front piece of the pouch on top of it. The piece on top (front piece) should have a button hole. Make sure that the two pieces are lined up and mark the back piece at the center of the button hole. Attach the button to the back of the pouch at the mark using a needle and the same color yarn as was used for the back of the pouch.

Create the Game Board:

Using a yarn needle and a yarn color that contrasts with the front of the pouch, stitch the game board lines onto the front of the pouch with a back stitch. Two horizontal lines should be stitched between rows 7 & 8 and 14 & 15. Two vertical lines should be stitched between stitches 7 & 8 and 14 & 15. Weave in ends.

Assemble the Pouch:
Button the front and back pieces of the pouch together with the game board facing out. With a yarn color of your choice, beginning in the upper left corner of the pouch, sc through both layers, in each st, continuing down the left side, across the bottom, and up the right side, making 3 sc in the two bottom corners. Fasten off at the upper right corner, leaving the top of the pouch open. Weave in ends.

Game Pieces:

Using a yarn color that contrasts with the game board, make an adjustable ring (there’s a great tutorial here).
Round 1: 5 sc in ring, sl st in first sc, ch 1.
Round 2: 2 hdc in each st around, sl st in first hdc, fasten off and weave in ends.
Repeat four times to make five game pieces in the same color. Make five game pieces in a second contrasting color.

Have fun playing!