Happy Thanksgiving and Free Fabric Styrofoam Ball Pattern!

Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating! My favorite thing to do on Thanksgiving Day/Day after Thanksgiving is to make things! I love getting cozy at home with my yarn, fabric, fiber and lots of pumpkin pie and make all sorts of Holiday crafts.

I wanted to share this free fabric styrofoam ball pattern with you - this is something I love making, just can't make enough of them and it's easy enough to make with family (even my hubby gets in the mix and makes a few!)  You can use different colors of fabric for a harvest or holiday theme.  They can be used in the tree as ornaments by stringing ribbon in the bottom, hang them in windows, set along the mantle or placed in a bowl as table decoration.  Lots of lovely ways to use them!

Details behind the cut....

Supplies are easy, most of them you'll probably already have around the house.  You'll need -

• Fabric - your choice of colors and prints.  The amount you need depends on the size of the styrofoam balls you use and how thick you place the fabric.  My mileage is between 1/4-1/2 yard per ball.  I recommend starting with a 1/2 yard and see how much you have left and go from there.
• Rotary cutter mat, cutter and ruler
• Silver flathead pins
• Thimble
• Styrofoam/Polystyrene Balls your choice of sizes (I used 2 and 3.25 inches)

Start by cutting your fabric in 2 inch strips as shown above.

After you've cut the strips, cut each strip into 2 inch widths so you end up with 2x2inch squares

You'll have a nice pretty stack of squares!

Now, pull up a chair, put on a movie and let's get pinning!  Start by pinning a square of fabric to the top of the styrofoam ball on each of the four corners.

Now, you're going to learn how to fold the fabric squares.  Start by folding the fabric in half.

Next, fold the fabric in half again and hold it as shown above.  The open edge should be on the right and the bottom.  The top left corner should have the point.  (click to zoom in if you need to see it closer)

Now, pin.  Place the fabric on the ball covering part of the fabric square you already have.  Pin just the left hand corner with the finished point pointing up

Now, pin the second one.  You'll place a pin on the left hand side of the second square effectively pinning both sides of the first square, and the left side of the second.

You continue doing this around and around and finish the first round.

Start a second round slightly offset from the first and continue on your way, round after round.

Continue along to the bottom.  As the ball gets smaller, make the fabric squares closer and closer together.  When you get to the bottom, finish it as shown above.  A few squares stacked on top of eachother to create a finishing touch.

Voila!  You've made a fabric ball!  Gorgeous!

 

Here's a sampling of the latest balls I've completed.  Note how the changes in fabric completely change the look and feel.  Large scale prints, sparkly, leaves, trees and more.  Each one is unique and gorgeous!

Careful!  It's hard to make just one!

Happy Crafting All!

Comments

[rohanknitter]

Thanks!! Those are really neat!!

[Sarah H]

Very cute! If only I had enough pins and styrofoam balls on hand. Maybe over the weekend.

[DebbieB]

What a great tutorial - those are adorable!

[Hilary]

Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial, Keri! What a FUN holiday project. I want to make bowls and bowls of them. :)

[Katie K]

Very pretty and ingenoius1

[small house plans]

Thanks for sharing those cute and neat balls! Happy Thanksgiving, too! Eat well!

[Sam La Tricoteuse]

That's pretty neat indeed !

[Petra]

Very nice balls. The pattern works with wire edge ribbon also very well.

[Kristin Roach]

Oh these are so beautiful! I'm definitely linking up, what a great use for fabric!

[Beth]

Very cool and a great tutorial! They remind me of pine cones.

[Katie]

Thank you for sharing this idea! I'm thinking of using it for making a wreath...

Take care!

[Jennifer]

Thank you so much for the lesson. I received two of these in gold foil and plaid fabric as gifts years ago and always wondered how they were made, but didn't want to deconstruct mine in case I couldn't figure out how to put them back together. A coworker's mother made them. I use them on the Christmas tree each year and they fill in those hard to decorate spots so well. Now I can make a few more for next Christmas.

[Penny]

Wow, love it, I'm wondering what I can use in place of styrofoam? Thanks for sharing!

Penny

[kmckiernan]

I've been giving a lot of thought to a more environmentally sustainable version. I bet if you created a felted wool ball or a felted fiber ball (google wool ball dryer ball tutorial) you could create something substantial enough to put pins in.

If you make one I'd love to see it!

[Kristopher K]

Fantastic !!!

Thanks so much for posting :)

[Karen P]

I made these many years ago into pinecone ornaments for my tree ... used egg shaped styrofoam balls and instead of fabric, I used ribbon ... but this would be a great use of stash!!! (I also finished off the bottom by using narrow ribbon and making loops, attached them and them made a longer loop to hang it on the tree .... I'll try to remember to post a pic when I unpack my ornaments!) Great!! Love the tutorial... reminded me of such a fun time!

[Kerry]

These are really cool.. I'm a year late, but that doesn't matter, i'm just finding it. :) thanks for sharing!!

[amanda]

Great tutorial! I liked it so much that I linked to it on my blog, www.namesakedesign.blogspot.com.

[MlleOr]

Très jolies réalisations, bravo et merci pour le tutoriel !

[Daniela]

Beautiful work!

[Gail]

Thank you soooo much for this idea. I have been looking for something different to place around the house and these are certainly different and amazing. Thanks a million

[anabel]

beutiful toturial... I like it!!

[oonaballoona]

how awesome! i found you through a member at burdastyle. wish i had found you sooner!

[Jane McLamb]

I would like to have your pattern for the balls as I would like to make these for my tree next year

[Soldier Girl]

I love this technique off to get some pins this is fabulous