Baby Ball Softie Tutorial

This baby ball softie tutorial is a great stash buster and easy gift to make. Sometimes the simplest toys are the most amusing. Included inside the toy is a little jingle bell to add interest to the handmade baby toy. These softie toys can be made from a variety of fabrics. In the tutorial I use cotton, but fleece, minky, and jersey knit are just some of the options that will work. This cute toy tutorial has two template sizes and are beginner sewist friendly.

Materials to create a baby ball softie:

• Scraps that fit the pattern (I used Daysail by Bonnie and Camille for Moda)
• Printable template: Baby Ball Pattern
• Jingle bell
• Poly Fill
• Your sewing machine. I sew on  a BERNINA 1001 (that I’ve loved for over a quarter of a century). The current equivalent is a BERNINA 1008.

Seam allowances are .25″

Step 1

Cut out 6 of the provided template, lay out the pieces in the order you would like to sew them in.

Step 2

Begin to sew the sections together. After sewing the seam, snip notches into the seam, being careful to not to snip the stitches.  

 Continue to add sections and snip notches. When sewing the last seam, leave a 1 ½ inch opening for turning.

Tip:  When sewing softie toys use a shorter stitch length so the stitches can take the stress of stuffing and so the filing won’t leak between the stitches.

Step 3

Turn the ball right side out.

Stuff with poly fill—when you’ve stuffed it about halfway—lace a jingle bell inside the ball.

 Continue to stuff until filled and firm.

Step 4

Hand sew the gap shut using small stitches. You’ve completed your baby ball softie toy.

Tip: You can mix fabric textures to make it more fun and interesting. You can also add ribbon to the seems to make it a “taggie” toy.