Some year I want to hand make all the gifts I give for Christmas. This year I'm not doing that, however I am making a few gifts, one of which is Anna Maria Horner's For Kicks Patchwork Ball (found in Seams to Me). I sewed this cute toy up yesterday, and I must say it was pretty fun!
You start by cutting out all the hexagons and pentagons, 32 pieces in all! I used my mat and rotary cutter to do this, making it go fairly fast.
Then I started sewing together the hexagons and pentagons. This part was a bit tricky at first, but once you sew a few together you figure it out.
Don't forget to stop and refill your coffee cup!
And never, absolutely never embark on a sewing project without one of these dandy's. A seam ripper is a seamstresses best friend!
After I got all the pieces sewed, with just two pieces left open, I stuffed the ball with Poly-Fil. Make sure to stuff the ball really well; otherwise it won't hold it's shape when being played with.
Then I hand-sewed the ball closed. And it's done! Now I have a nice handmade toy to give my little sisters for Christmas, and it only cost me an afternoon and a few dollars.
Sewing Books I enjoy:
How adorable! I also love the idea of homemade gifts for Christmas time. I want to do that too. I think it would be really cute to wrap them all in brown paper and string! Brings my mind right to Little Women, for some reason. Probably because of the scene where Jo gets her book published. :) Thanks for sharing with us, hun. <3
Posted by: Lady Jess | Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Ashley that's so cute! I'm gonna put that on Pinterest if that's OK with you.
Posted by: Ginger Schooling | Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 04:45 PM
Jess, I love that scene!
Ginger, yes you can totally put it on Pinterest.
Posted by: Ashley | Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 05:02 PM
I can see Hady saying "Mine" in my head. :-)
Posted by: Emmy | Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 08:56 PM