DIY Fabric Jingle Ball Cat and Baby Toy

This little fabric jingle ball cat and baby toy is the perfect size for little hands AND little paws.  Recycled sweaters, a few jingle bells and a little stuffing is all you need. However, if you want to make the CAT really happy, you can add a little catnip while stuffing. The cats go crazy.

cat and baby toy

I posted earlier this summer on how to make the larger sized balls. This is the same process, however, the pieces are just smaller. You can download the pattern for all sizes FREE HERE.

Here is a little quick video on the process of making the fabric jingle ball. For full written instructions, check out the post here.

Play Video

What you need

  • 8 small pieces of sweaters (You can use felted wool sweaters, cotton, fleece, and even regular knit fabric.
  • 1/4 cup Catnip herb (optional)
  • needle and thread
  • sewing machine (can be sewn by hand)
  • scissors
  • pattern

If you want to bring a smile to your kitty cat, dog or baby, there is still time to whip up a little fabric jingle ball for Christmas.

Jingle ball instructions

Make sure you are saving your felted sweater scraps. These balls are the perfect thing to make with your scraps.

Have fun sewing!

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Jan Howell

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

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Upcycled Sweater Birds

I love birds and especially at this time of year.  They are starting to appear in my yard and I can hear them chirping when I open my windows to air out the stale house air.  It has been a long winter here in Utah and the gray days are about to put me in the loony bin.  Seeing them flit around on the blossoming trees makes me so happy that SPRING is finally here.  HOORAY! It has been a while since I posted about these fun little upcycled sweater birds, so I thought I would re-post.

Upcycled Sweater birds

If you haven’t noticed already, I enjoy making things out of recycled and felted wool sweaters. I thought it would be fun to see if I could use up some scraps and make a robin, after all I had the perfect orange sweater that would be ideal for the belly.

Upcycled Sweater Birds

It was so much fun making the robin that I drew up a few other birds and after a few prototypes and some funny looking birds, this is what I finally came up with.  I just love my feathery (well felty) friends.

Upcycled Sweater Birds

Bluebird

 Do you have any blue sweaters kicking around that you aren’t wearing? These birds are really quite easy to make.

Upcycled Sweater Birds

Cardinal

Upcycled Sweater Birds

Sparrow

Upcycled Sweater Birds

You can stick a piece of paddle wire to their bellies then attach them to a basket,  plant, or wreath. They make a great PIN CUSHION, and kids love to play with them. I don’t have any cats, but I am sure they would go crazy, especially if you added a little catnip while you were stuffing them.

All you wool sweater groupies, get out your felted scraps and get sewing.  You can use fleece and even just a cotton woven fabric would work.  The pattern is available in my shop, and in my  ETSY shop.

 
Happy Sewing!
Upcycled Sweater Birds
Jan Howell

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Read More

Baby Gift Ideas – Upcycled Sweater Toys

Do you have a baby on the way, or know someone who does?  These little toys made from felted wool sweaters or fleece scraps make a fun compliment to any baby gift.

If you have been saving your sweater scraps……..this is a great place to upcycle them into a cuddly and cozy baby toy.

Sweater Balls & Blocks

These balls are so soft and squishy, just right for those little hands to hold. I insert a couple jingle bells inside to add a soft jingle,jingle when the ball is shaken.  The pattern includes a cute block pattern as well. They are really quite easy and fun to sew up. They really add charm to a baby gift!

 Sweater Pals

sweater bunnies

Little hands love to hold these bunnies and bears made from upcycled sweaters. Tuck one in a sack with some baby lotion and soap with his head and ears popping out. What a cute thing to take to a baby shower. This is a fun project using basic sewing machine and hand sewing skills.

Have fun sewing!

Share:

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Jan Howell

Jan Howell

Whether it’s a new recipe, a fun craft, or some handy tips for your garden and home, I hope to empower and inspire you with skills that you can use to create joy, improved health, and to do it in a simple way.

Read More