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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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 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!
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!
Abby, what a great little gift this would make. I think this mix of fabrics is a fantastic idea.
Great and simple idea and tutorial! This makes a great babyshower gift and is a ideal project for using up some scraps 🙂
A nice idea – thanks for showing us how it’s done 🙂
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
Thank you so much, Anne!
What a great tutorial. My mind was picking fabrics from my stash as I read it.
Thank you.
Awesome, Gwen. I think choosing some patterned and textured fabrics for this project is a lot of fun. Enjoy!
Were did you buy the rattle or what is call
thanks
janie
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
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.
Fantastic idea for beginners. Easy and clear instructions. I will start today!
Many thanks
I’m glad to hear that, Laura!
Where do you find the rattle inserts? The blocks look great and like a lot of fun.
They’re in my shop here: http://whileshenaps.com/product-category/fabric-supplies
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.
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.
You’re so welcome, Linda. I agree that these cubes would be really neat with different textures!
May I plz have the pattern? Thank you!
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!
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.