How to Draw a Yarn Ball

1. Begin the yarn ball outline by drawing a circle. This outlines the first yarn ball. Then, add some texture and detail to its surface.

Draw curved lines - single or in pairs - to indicate the yarn wrapped around the ball. Notice that some of the lines meet as if the portions were overlapping.

2. Draw more curved lines. Where you drew single lines in the previous step, draw another line parallel to them. Then, band the ball with additional pairs of lines.

3. The yarn is narrow, so let's add more texture to the cartoon yarn ball. Draw parallel curved lines between the previous pairs of lines.

4. Continue drawing parallel lines between the previous pairs of lines.

5. Now, fill in the remaining sections with the texture of the yarn, using parallel curved lines.

6. Draw a partial circle, one side hidden behind the existing yarn ball. This will become the second ball of yarn. Draw pairs of curved lines across it.

Notice how some lines seem to overlap with others. Does this shape look a bit like a volleyball to you?

Then, extend parallel "S" shaped lines from the first ball of yarn and connect them at the end. This is the loose end of the yarn.

7. Detail the second ball of yarn by drawing parallel lines between the existing pairs of lines.

8. Draw parallel lines across the open spaces on the ball of yarn.

9. Complete your yarn ball outline by extending parallel curved lines from the second yarn ball.

Allow them to meet at the end, forming the loose end of the yarn. Then, draw knitting needles sticking out of the ball of yarn.

For each needle, extend two slightly divergent curved lines from the yarn, erasing as necessary. At the top, connect the lines with a bulbous round shape.

Color your cartoon yarn ball. We've shade ours brightly in red and blue. What colors will yours be?