How To Make Soft Fabric Baby Blocks | Simple Sewing Project
Are you looking for a unique and easy-to-make baby gift? In this post, I show you how to create soft fabric blocks that are perfect for little hands to hold, shake, and play with.
This is a fun and quick sewing project that even beginners can handle.
Fabric Blocks Materials You’ll Need:
- Six different fabric prints
- Quilter’s cotton works great, but you can also use corduroy, denim, flannel, upcycled sweaters, or t-shirts.
- Stabilizer: Fusible fleece is recommended, especially for lighter fabrics like cotton. Use heavier-weight fleece for quilter’s cotton.
- Pattern: Use the measurements given or you can download and print the pattern (which includes two different types of balls) I’ve provided a link below with various block sizes and additional fabric ball patterns.
- Pins/fabric clips (optional)
- Needle and thread
- Turning stick
- Iron/Ironing board
- Fiberfill stuffing
- Optional: A jingle bell to add a fun sound element.
Step 1: Prepare Your Fabric
Cut out six fabric squares, each 5×5 inches, and six pieces of fusible fleece, each 4.5×4.5 inches.
Attach the fusible fleece to the wrong side of each fabric square, centering it to leave a quarter-inch seam allowance around the edges.
(The bumpy side of the fleece is the side that is applied to the fabric).
Press the fleece onto the fabric using a wool and steam setting for a secure bond.
Step 2: Assemble the Fabric Blocks
Lay out your fabric squares in a line, arranging them to ensure that no two similar colors are next to each other.
Start by sewing the squares together, leaving a quarter-inch unsewn at the top and bottom of each seam.
This gap will be essential for assembling the block correctly later.
Step 3: Sew the Squares Together
Begin by sewing the sides of the block first. Place the right sides of two squares together and sew along the edge, backstitching at the start and end.
Repeat this process for the remaining squares to create the sides of your block.
Place the two side block pieces on the end of the row right sides together and sew a seam to make a circle (box).
(Leave a ¼ inch allowance at the beginning and end of the seam).
If you want to add a tag to the fabric blocks, this is a great time to do so. Baste the tag in place before sewing one of the side seams.
LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN TAGS/LABELS HERE.
Step 4: Sewing the Sides of the Fabric Blocks
Sew the side seams in the manner shown in the picture above. Leave ¼ inch at the beginning and end of the seams.
This will form a box.
Step 4: Form the Box
Once the sides are sewn, attach the top and bottom squares.
Remember to leave a small section unsewn on one side to allow for turning the fabric blocks right side out later.
Step 5: Sewing Top of the Box to the Sides
Now it’s time to sew the top of the fabric blocks to the sides.
Place one side piece together with the corresponding top side. Line up fabric edges and sew starting from the already sewn edge to the other sewn seam.
Leave an opening on one of the sides.
Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of these seams.
After sewing one side, flip the fabric pieces to align the edges of the fabric and the end of the corners. Do this for all sides to form a box.
Step 6: Turn and Stuff the Fabric Blocks
Turn the block right side out through the opening. Use a turning stick to push out the corners, making sure they’re crisp.
Stuff the block with fiberfill, adding a jingle bell if you like. Continue stuffing until the block is firm but still soft and squishy.
Step 7: Close the Opening
Thread a needle and use a slip stitch to close the opening.
For more detailed instructions on how to sew a slip stitch, go here, or watch the video below.
This stitch will keep your seam neat and invisible.
Once the seam is closed, tie off the thread, hide the knot, and trim the thread.
And there you have it, soft, squishy fabric blocks that makes a wonderful gift for any baby.
Get out your sewing machine, some fabric scraps, and a little stuffing, and make these adorable blocks for the next baby gift you need.
Look how cute the fabric balls are. Babies love these toys!
LEARN HOW TO MAKE A PENTAGON BALL AND A BABY BEACH BALL
Happy sewing!
Have fun sewing!
