Wow – thank you for all of the feedback! (I’m working on the baby shoe pattern and I’m hoping to have it up for you by the end of next week)
Ok, so I was thinking of making a tomato-esque pincushion pattern for myself. I picked out this rich mustard wool/rayon felt and the plaid/floral cotton, then started sketching out a pattern. As I was working out the dimensions, my mind wandered... I could make a ball... I could make a ball for Charlotte... Why are there no girly balls?...(indignant)Girls like to play with balls too... This fabric over here would make a fabulous ball... What if I made Charlotte a girly ball instead? So, I moved to a new sheet of paper and designed this:
I stuffed each ball lightly, then added in a little beanbag filled with poly-pellets. Then I added more polyfil until the ball was rather firm (so the beanbag ends up in the center of the ball, with padding all around it). The beanbag gives them the perfect weight for tossing and somehow, magically, they actually bounce a bit!
Elijah wanted some too and these ones go with his room so well -- It’s important for children’s toys to enhance the décor of their room, right? Ha! Just a bonus ☺
Isaac (my “in-house” photographer) even got in on the action this time and snapped this beautiful still-life. Now, back to that pincushion.
I love the balls - a great idea for using up scraps as well.The cushion fabric in the background is gorgeous, as is the model of course! Can't wait to see the shoe pattern:)
Posted by: Kristy | June 03, 2006 at 11:55 AM
These balls are quite perfect! Thanks for the tip on adding a bean bag to the centre. I will definitely try this.
Posted by: claire | June 03, 2006 at 12:50 PM
Okay, now I need a ball that matches my room too. They're adorable.
Posted by: Ali | June 03, 2006 at 02:03 PM
They are fantastic! But i don't think it's very fair that you have an in house photographer, i want one too!!! (stamping my feet here).
Posted by: Nichola | June 03, 2006 at 03:19 PM
Great idea. Thanks for the bean bag tip.
Posted by: Kate | June 03, 2006 at 04:11 PM
The balls are adorable. I'd like to make my daughter Mia a giant one to play with. I love the colors you chose. And the photography is absolutely beautiful. So vibrant. I'm really enjoying your blog.
Posted by: Rachel | June 03, 2006 at 04:16 PM
This is a cool blog! Thanks for the headband pattern too! :)
Posted by: Catrina | June 03, 2006 at 04:34 PM
um, hello mag spread. very nice.
Posted by: melissa f. | June 03, 2006 at 05:44 PM
Love the balls and the photo's are just amazing! Lucky you to have a resident photographer in the house!!
Posted by: Morgan | June 03, 2006 at 06:53 PM
simply adorable! I must try this for my daughter!
Posted by: Heather | June 04, 2006 at 12:34 AM
Oh, I'm going to have to try this RIGHT NOW! OK, maybe after my headband...you just keep churning out such cute stuff! Thanks so much for sharing - I'm very glad to have found your site. :0)
Posted by: meg | June 04, 2006 at 04:58 AM
It is Very Important for your gorgeous balls to match the decor of your childs room. I see that as item number one on my Mummy Job Description. If we don't do it for them, who will ??
Posted by: Jo | June 04, 2006 at 06:45 AM
love them, and you take the best photo's......
Posted by: justine | June 04, 2006 at 02:49 PM
love these. great tip with the bean bag. i'm going to give this a try for an upcoming toddler birthday. beautiful photos!
Posted by: Stephanie | June 05, 2006 at 08:56 AM
I'm slightly new to the sewing world but love the colorful balls in the pics. How exactly do you finish them though? You sew the sides, and stuff them, and then after, do you close the opening by hand? Thanks for the great ideas!
Posted by: Ziva | June 06, 2006 at 04:57 AM
I love these!! I think you may need to do a tutorial (including pattern shapes, sizes) for these! I'm wondering, too, how you finished them.
Posted by: lera | June 06, 2006 at 11:55 AM
Are those stuffed tight enough for EPB? I remember from her class, some MAJOR stuffing!
Posted by: Lara | June 06, 2006 at 12:39 PM
Here's the scoop: The balls are finished by hand with a ladder stitch. If you look closely in the picture of my daughter with the yellow ball, the hand-sewn seam is right in front and just a tad bunchier that the rest of the seams.
If you make a ball, drop me an email, I'd love to see what you come up with!
Posted by: Heather Bailey | June 06, 2006 at 04:20 PM
such great balls...and a perfect toy. i've knit some in the past, but sewing would be sooo much faster. And it looks like Charlotte is QUITE happy with her ball. ;)
Posted by: amanda | June 07, 2006 at 09:08 AM
Hello Heather! I love your blog...I drop by a lot. Just snuck another peek at the stuffed toys here as I am planning on making some for my neice out of the scraps that I did her baby quilt in. Are they just triangle pieces essentially? I think I'll go play...great blog.
Posted by: Marti | June 19, 2006 at 07:59 AM
SO ADORABLE! Have to make up some of these will the ton of scraps I've got!
If you don't mind, what is the general shape of each piece?
Posted by: tiffany | June 21, 2006 at 11:49 AM
I was looking for something like this! Still trying to find a pattern/tutorial, because I'm far from a proffessional when it come to sewing. I'm starting up a little business (hopefully!!) on etsy, to sell some items. Nothing there yet, but I wanted to make stuffed fat birds, using a ball shape as the body. :) LOVE the pictures by the way. :)
Posted by: Sarah | August 16, 2006 at 08:47 PM
love these balls and have now found my challenge for today! Thanks!
Megan
Posted by: glorydaze | May 27, 2007 at 04:26 PM