Sew a basket full of soft rattle balls in a rainbow of colors (or do all black and white!). These are a great toddler toy, and they’re also fun juggling balls for older kids.
To make a soft rattle ball you’ll need:
- two 8″ x 5″ scraps of fabric (I used fleece, but almost any sort of fabric will work)
- fiberfill stuffing
- all-purpose thread
- chalk for marking
- a rattle insert (optional, but fun!)
These balls are constructed just like real baseballs. The template is in my book, Stuffed Animals, and I’ve also uploaded it here on my blog for you. Print it out and you’re ready to go!
Trace the template onto the two pieces of fabric and cut them out. Transfer the markings to the fabric with chalk.
Align the two pieces at the markings. Place a pin at the intersection. Then begin pinning the edges together. Keep going, pinning all the way around.
Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, stitch around the entire shape. Be sure to leave an inch unstitched for turning and stuffing. Clip the seam allowance.
Turn the ball right side out. I love hemostats for this job, but you can use a chopstick or your fingers. Now stuff the ball firmly.
To make it rattle, slide a rattle insert inside while you’re stuffing. Push bits of stuffing all around it to pad it and keep it from shifting. Close the opening with ladder stitch.
Make a bunch more. Have fun!
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Margo says
Very cute! I like the colors you chose. I still have a couple of rattle inserts so I’ll have to try this out.
onel says
oh, wow! these are wonderful! Love the colorful balls 🙂
Margaret says
What a cute idea for a soft toy for a small child. I am looking forward to making these colourful balls.
Deanna {sewmccool} says
Love the shape of this ball – like a tennis ball, but more kid-friendly and prettier! Didn’t know we could download the book templates online. Thanks for sharing! Hope your book is doing well!
Anne says
These are SOOOO adorable!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later today that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-soft-rattle-ball-baby-toy/2014/05/29/
–Anne
Kristi Theus Whitaker says
Where did you get the rattle inserts? Thanks! Love the tutorial.
Abby says
I sell them here in my shop: http://whileshenaps.com/product-category/fabric-supplies
Anne Evans says
Thank you so much for the pattern book, it’s very generous of you 🙂 I was looking for a ball pattern.
Regards
Anne
Abby says
Enjoy, Anne!
Susan Bretherton says
Hi, I love this pattern and have made a couple. Just wanted to ask, what stitch did you use to sew up the seams on the inside? I used back stitch to ensure they don’t come apart but some of the stitches do show when I turned it inside out and filled it. They still look nice but I want them to look as perfect as yours! Thanks
Abby says
I use ladder stitch. Here’s a 2-minute video tutorial I made showing how: http://whileshenaps.com/2013/10/how-to-ladder-stitch-joining-softie-parts-with-invisible-stitches.html
susan says
Hi, thanks for this but I meant on the inside before you turn them the right way. I used ladder to close up which was great.
Abby says
Oh, sorry! It’s just a whipstitch.
Ana Sullivan says
Thank you for the free pattern. I have pinned this to my Making Baby Things Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/thelostapron/making-baby-things/
Amy Benson says
What size ball does this pattern make?
Abby says
It’s about the size of a real baseball.
Bettina says
I used the pattern to make “snowballs” for our Cub Scout pack. Thank you for sharing your pattern. It was the perfect size for my project. I used a discarded white t-shirt and a throw pillow we no longer used, so it was a great thrifty project. The boys loved their indoor snowball fight.
Abby says
Oh how awesome!
Mary Yoder says
Thank you for your free pattern. We are planning on making hundreds of these to go into the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. A wonderful charity that spreads the gospel to children all over the world.
Abby says
Thank you, Mary.
Marie says
I asked a friend for an old baseball two years ago. We took it about and used it as a pattern and I made dozens of these for snowball Christmas gifts. We all had a great time with them. I like the idea of the rattle in the center and I think I’ll make a few more this way. Young toddlers would love them.
Abby says
Awesome!