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How to Make Soft Rattle Blocks for Babies: Free Pattern

February 13, 2014

Soft Rattle Blocks Tutorial

Whip up a quick and fun gift for your next baby shower with these soft rattle blocks. Each block includes a variety of colors and textures to engage a baby’s senses and you can make them even more interesting by slipping a rattle insert inside.

To choose fabrics that will be pleasing together, start with a print you love. I chose this adorable piggie fabric from SuperBuzzy. Choose solids, polka dots, or stripes that pick up the colors in your print. Don’t just limit yourself to quilting cottons for this project. It’s nice to mix in some soft textures like minky and fleece, or even fur, to make the blocks more tactile.

Fabrics

Cut your fabrics into squares. I used a 4″ square for these blocks. You’ll need six squares per block. I fused some lightweight interfacing to the backs of the quilting cotton squares to make them a bit more sturdy so that they’d hold their shape once the blocks were stuffed.

Pinning

Use a 1/4″ seam allowance when sewing the squares together. Be sure to start and stop 1/4″ inside the edge of the fabric! You’ll need that 1/4″ to attach one square to another.

Beginning with your central print, sew a square to each edge. Then sew an additional square to one of them so that it looks like this:

Assembled

Use lots of pins to hold the minky and fleece fabrics in place while you sew. Thicker fabrics, and fabrics with nap, tend to shift under the machine needle so require extra pinning.

Bring the sides up one at a time and stitch them together until you have a cube.

Leave a 2″ opening between two of the squares for turning and stuffing.

Box

Clip the corners to reduce bulk, then turn the block right side out. Push the corners out (I like hemostats for this job). Stuff with fiberfill stuffing (I like fiberfill because it’s machine washable, but if you’d rather a more natural alternative try bamboo, wool, or cotton stuffing). Be sure to push small bits of stuffing into the corners.

Rattle

When the block is mostly stuffed, push a rattle insert into the center and nestle it in the stuffing. Finish stuffing the block. The rattle inserts are machine washable and very durable.

Close the opening with ladder stitch.

Up close

There are lots of ways to vary and customize these blocks. Here are some neat ideas:

  • Make one in each color of the rainbow.
  • Embroider the letters of the alphabet on each square before sewing the blocks together.
  • Add a pocket to one side of each block for hiding treasures.
  • Sew loops of ribbon into some of the seams for a taggie-like block.
  • Put other sorts of noisemakers inside such as a bear growler.
  • Cut a square of crinkly material (from a clean chip or pretzel bag) and place it on the wrong side of one square before sewing the block together. That side will make a crinkly sound when squished.

Soft blocks

Soft rattle blocks are a quick, easy-to-sew gift for a new baby. Stack them up and knock them down, throw them in the air, and have some fun!

Baby Toys to Sew

These blocks would be a great gift paired with a handmade Lovey Dovey, a Flower Power Rattle, or a Baby Bear and Blankie. Use the same fabrics to make the whole gift coordinate.

Happy sewing!

 

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Comments

  1. Ann says

    February 13, 2014 at 10:01 am

    Abby, what a great little gift this would make. I think this mix of fabrics is a fantastic idea.

  2. Mirjam says

    February 13, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    Great and simple idea and tutorial! This makes a great babyshower gift and is a ideal project for using up some scraps 🙂

  3. Beck says

    February 13, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    A nice idea – thanks for showing us how it’s done 🙂

  4. Anne says

    February 14, 2014 at 10:40 am

    My daughter loved her fabric blocks when she was a baby! I’m loving all the ideas for customizing the sides! I’ve linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-soft-rattle-baby-blocks/2014/02/14/
    –Anne

  5. Abby Glassenberg says

    February 14, 2014 at 12:28 pm

    Thank you so much, Anne!

  6. gwen says

    April 8, 2014 at 8:58 am

    What a great tutorial. My mind was picking fabrics from my stash as I read it.
    Thank you.

  7. Abby Glassenberg says

    April 8, 2014 at 6:15 pm

    Awesome, Gwen. I think choosing some patterned and textured fabrics for this project is a lot of fun. Enjoy!

  8. janie says

    May 28, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    Were did you buy the rattle or what is call
    thanks
    janie

  9. Abby Glassenberg says

    May 28, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    Hi Janie,
    The rattles are available in my online shop right here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/106928560/3-pack-of-large-rattle-inserts?ref=shop_home_active_24
    Thanks!
    abby

    • Sara says

      September 6, 2017 at 5:08 am

      HI there everyone, I thought I share what I do to get those rattle insterts sorted. I live in an area where mailed shipments hardly end up getting in my hands????, so I just make my own rattle inserts. I got the idea when I was around 10 years old and was playing with some neighbors and we found some plastic colorful juice bottle lids. So basically what I do is; I take 2 same sized water bottle lids and close them together and sandwich in between them some beads (back then I used to use tiny pebbles) , you could use bigger beads or those tiny ones depending on the amount or noise you want. Then tape it closed so it doesn’t open. Fill it in the middle of the stuffing and TADA! You got your very own homemade rattle inserts.

  10. laura cereceda says

    May 21, 2016 at 2:56 am

    Fantastic idea for beginners. Easy and clear instructions. I will start today!
    Many thanks

    • Abby says

      May 22, 2016 at 10:30 pm

      I’m glad to hear that, Laura!

  11. Dawn marie Morgan says

    May 31, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    Where do you find the rattle inserts? The blocks look great and like a lot of fun.

    • Abby says

      May 31, 2016 at 7:58 pm

      They’re in my shop here: http://abbyglassenber.wpengine.com/product-category/fabric-supplies

  12. Sara says

    September 6, 2017 at 5:12 am

    Thank you so much Abby, for the easy step by step homemade blocks instructions, now I feel confident in making the bocks. I always struggledo with blocks. And used to find making stuffed sail boats much easier. I definitely will be frequenting your blog.

  13. Linda says

    June 21, 2019 at 3:54 pm

    Thank you for this pattern. Your tutorials are thorough and easy to read and complete. With a variety of textures and patterns this cube rattle is soft and captivating for little hands and curious minds.

    • Abby says

      June 22, 2019 at 8:03 am

      You’re so welcome, Linda. I agree that these cubes would be really neat with different textures!

      • Penny D Mohnkern says

        February 8, 2020 at 2:58 pm

        May I plz have the pattern? Thank you!

  14. Michelle Flashman says

    February 20, 2020 at 8:42 am

    May i please have the PDF?
    I teach middle school. My students are making stuffed 6 sided animals. You’re instructions look very helpful.
    How would you attach a tail and ears that extend out from the box?
    Thanks!

    • Abby says

      February 20, 2020 at 10:15 am

      To attach a tail and ears, sew them first, then place them on the squares aligning the raw edges. When you sew the squares together, the tail and ears will be sewn inside.

Welcome! I'm Abby Glassenberg and I'm glad you're here. While She Naps is a blog about designing and sewing stuffed animals and running a creative business.
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