Change is Good!

Joan's Needle has changed its name to Bucklebee! You'll find the same excellent information here by the same author--only the title has changed. So sit back, relax, read, enjoy. You're in the right place.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Soft Ball for Babies

My washing machine is hard at work felting a blue wool ball for a special baby.  The ball is knitted, then felted, stuffed and sewn shut.  I'll hand felt the seam stitching into the body of the ball.   The knitting pattern is so simple.  I used a double strand of 100% wool yarn with no plies that resembles a hand-spun, and size 8 needles.
The ball is shaped with short rows, which makes it a very fast project. 

Cast on 28 stitches.
Row 1:  Knit 20
Row 2:  Knit 12
Row 3:  Knit 14
Row 4:  Knit 16
Row 5:  Knit 18
Row 6:  Knit 20
Row 7:  Knit 22
Row 8:  Knit 24
Row 9:  Knit 26
Row 10:  Knit 28
Repeat this pattern 10 times, for 100 rows.  Bind off knitwise, loosely.  Felt by machine, or hand felt.  Sew 1/2 of the side seam, stuff firmly, sew almost closed and check to make sure the ball is stuffed to the firmness you desire.  Close seam.  Using very hot tap water and a drop of soap, handfelt the seam stitches into the body of the ball.

I'll post some pictures when the ball is complete!

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