<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.5.4 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:02:57 GMT--><rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rss="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:cc="http://web.resource.org/cc/"><rss:channel rdf:about="http://www.purlbee.com/fabric-beach-balls/"><rss:title>Fabric Beach Balls</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.purlbee.com/fabric-beach-balls/</rss:link><rss:description></rss:description><dc:language>en-US</dc:language><dc:date>2009-07-05T19:02:57Z</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.squarespace.com/">Squarespace Site Server v5.5.4 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</admin:generatorAgent><rss:items><rdf:Seq><rdf:li rdf:resource="http://www.purlbee.com/fabric-beach-balls/2008/8/16/fabric-beach-balls.html"/></rdf:Seq></rss:items></rss:channel><rss:item rdf:about="http://www.purlbee.com/fabric-beach-balls/2008/8/16/fabric-beach-balls.html"><rss:title>Fabric Beach Balls</rss:title><rss:link>http://www.purlbee.com/fabric-beach-balls/2008/8/16/fabric-beach-balls.html</rss:link><dc:creator>purl bee</dc:creator><dc:date>2008-08-16T03:02:18Z</dc:date><dc:subject></dc:subject><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://purlbee.squarespace.com/storage/ballsinbasket.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218136585805"></span></span>These fabric balls are the perfect handmade baby gift, multicolored, soft and round.....what's not to love!&nbsp; Sewers of all levels will have fun making these toys that will be worthy of passing down from generation to generation.<br>&nbsp;Enjoy! --Page<br></p><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://purlbee.squarespace.com/storage/beachballexterior.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218481068502"></span></span></p>
<br><h2>Materials</h2><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/Beachballmaterials.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218130505601"></span></span></p>
<p>We recommend 1/4 yard of each fabric to leave room for error.&nbsp; <br></p><p>These are the fabric I used:<br></p>
<h2>Large Ball</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/3151">Nani Iro White Tossed Flowers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/4219">Yuwa Honeycomb in Red</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/3134">Kaffe Fassett Shot Cotton in True Cobalt</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/3977">Carolina Chambray in Royal</a></li>
</ul>



<h2>Medium Ball</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/3151">Nani Iro Pink Blooms</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/4219">Yuwa Honeycomb in Pink</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/4219">Yuwa Honeycomb in Aqua</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/4020">Net of Jewels in Carnelian</a></li>
</ul>



<h2>Small Ball</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/3151">Nani Iro White Scattered Dots</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/1710">Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in Daffodil</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/3134">Kaffe Fassett Shot Cotton in Persimmon</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/fabricdetail/4219">Yuwa Honeycomb in Blue</a></li>
</ul>



<p><span><h2>Other Materials</h2></span></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/2058">Cotton Stuffing</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/accessories_notions_list/74">Cotton Thread</a> that blends with chosen fabrics&nbsp; - We used #1040, #5910, and #6800</li>
<li><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/accessories_notions_list/36">Fabric scissors</a></li>
<li><span><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/1619">Applique</a><a href="http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/1619"><span class="-a" tag="a">&nbsp;needle</span></a></span></li>
</ul>


<br>
<h2>The Pattern</h2><p>Finished Measurements</p>
<ul><li><strong>Small ball:</strong> approximately 5-inches diameter</li>
<li><strong>Medium ball:</strong> approximately 7-inches diameter</li>
<li><strong>Large ball:</strong> approximately&nbsp; 9-inches diameter<br></li>
</ul>


<p>Download <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/smallmediumball.pdf">this template for the small and medium balls</a>, and <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/largeball.pdf">this template for the large ball</a>.<br></p>
<p>You will need to cut eight fabric pieces total&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;each&nbsp;ball.&nbsp; We used two each of four different fabrics for&nbsp;ours. <br></p><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/beachballcutouts.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218130777047"></span></span></p>
<p>Fold fabric in half by lining up the selvages so that you can cut two pieces at a time.&nbsp; Lay template on the fabric and&nbsp;trace with a pencil.&nbsp; Cut the fabric on the drawn line.&nbsp; Repeat this process with the remaining fabrics so you have eight pieces total.</p><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/beachballpairs.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218130843632"></span></span> </p>
<p>Pin the cut pieces in pairs right sides together, carefully aligning the points and edges. <br></p><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/beachballchainsewing.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218130889884"></span></span></p><p> <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/sawtooth-star-tutorial/2006/8/31/a-note.html">Chain-piece</a> the pairs, sewing past the points at each end using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.&nbsp; You don't need to backstitch because you'll reinforce these seams when sewing the pairs together.&nbsp; Be sure to make smooth curves as you are sewing so that the ball will be nicely rounded.&nbsp; After chain-piecing, carefully cut the threads between each pair.&nbsp; Press the seams to the side of the darker fabric.</p>
<p>Pair the pieces once more, aligning their cut edges with right sides together and pin them together.&nbsp; Sew them together to create two half-sphere shapes with four pieces each.&nbsp; Press seams to the side of the darker fabric.</p>
<p>Turn one half-sphere right side out, and tuck it inside the other half-sphere, with right sides together.&nbsp; Align the points and edges, and pin the two pieces together.&nbsp; You'll want to begin&nbsp;one of your seams 1-&nbsp;inch from the point&nbsp;to&nbsp;leave an opening for&nbsp;you to&nbsp;turn the ball&nbsp;right side out and&nbsp;to stuff it.&nbsp; Take care not to sew over the nice points you've made at the ends when stitching the previous seams.&nbsp; Your top seam should just intersect the point where the previous seams meet.</p><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/beachballstuffing.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218131023292"></span></span></p>
<p>Turn the ball right side out through the opening, and stuff it firmly, making a spherical ball.&nbsp; <br></p><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/beacballblindstitch.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218131142281"></span></span></p><p>Fold and finger-press the edges of the opening 1/4 inch to the inside to create a clean edge.&nbsp; Using a blindstitch, carefully hand-sew the opening closed, stitching just inside the fold for an invisible seam.</p><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/beachballpointssewn.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218131297527"></span></span></p><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/beachballcircles.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218131219924"></span></span></p>
<p>Cut two circles for each ball to sew at each end.&nbsp; We recommend using the darkest solid fabric&nbsp;for this&nbsp;since it is a way to cover the part where all the seams come together which isn't always perfect.&nbsp;&nbsp; We cut a 2 -inch circle for the large ball, a 1 3/4-inch circle for the medium ball, and a 1 1/2-inch circle for the small ball.&nbsp;&nbsp; Fold and iron the edges of the circle approximately 1/8-inch.&nbsp; Hand-sew the circles on each end of the ball using a hand stitch.</p><p><span class="full-image-block"><span><img  src="http://www.purlbee.com/storage/ballstack.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1218136692626"></span></span></p>
<p>If the balls have gotten a bit misshapen while sewing on the circles, manipulate them back into a nice spherical shape and you're good to go!</p>]]></content:encoded></rss:item></rdf:RDF>