What’s your stress level this time of year? Does someone on your gift list need to chill out? This might be the handmade gift for both of you.
Sensory toys have become increasingly popular over the past few years. Stress balls and
Last spring, a teacher asked me to make stress balls for her class to help them while taking standardized tests. I had crocheted a stress ball for her the year before because I knew she had a few particularly troublesome students. She asked if I could make one like it for each of her 26 students. The problem was that she didn’t think of asking until the week before testing and there simply wasn’t enough time for me to make them.
I made them reversible–happy on one side, angry on the other.
So I came up with a faster solution. I made bean bags out of polar fleece. I started by tracing 3-4″ circles onto one layer of fleece using a Sharpie. Before sewing two layers together, I used black yarn to embroider eyes. By doing this before sewing, I was able to simply tie the two ends of yarn in a knot to secure. With right sides together, I sewed along the markings, leaving about 2″ unsewn and backstitching at the beginning and end. I trimmed the fleece to about 1/4-1/2″ from the stitching. I turned them right-side out, filled them with poly pellets (not too full), and then hand-sewed them closed. Twenty-six worry pets!
Here are some other options for knit or crocheted stress balls:
- Swirl Ball Mystery (knit)–I’ve made this one. It’s an easy 3-color garter stitch ball. It looks neat as an ornament, too.
- Out of Yarn (knit)–This looks fun, and it’s a good way to use up scraps.
- Ideal Sphere (crochet)–I’ve used this pattern a few times. You do have to pay attention since the increases and decreases aren’t stacked, but it does make a nice sphere.
- Puffballs (crochet)–Frankie Brown has so many clever designs.
- Jett the Octopus (knit)–This is my own pattern, so I’ve knit it approximately one million times. Ok, it just seems like it. But I did make 22 of them for my son’s class four years ago. I’m pretty proud of the fact that despite the number of arms, there are only 4 ends to weave in on the entire toy.
- Any small toy that fits nicely in the palm of your hand.
With the fleece toys, I wasn’t too concerned about the poly pellets escaping. I was just sure to keep my stitches small and tight. Besides, these were being used by third graders; even if the beads did come out, they shouldn’t be putting them in their mouths. But for knit and crocheted toys, I’m always more cautious. I found nylon knee high stockings on closeout a few years ago, so I stocked up just for this purpose. (Small balloons might work, too.) Fill the toe of the stocking with about half the amount of pellets you think you’ll need. (If I’m using a cut end, I tie a knot and then turn the knot to the inside before filling.) Then insert the pouch of pellets into your knit or crocheted toy. Continue filling the stocking with the desired amount. Tie a knot in the top of the stocking and trim. Depending on the size and shape of the toy, you may want to add fiberfill before and/or after adding pellets. Finish the toy as usual.
If you’d like to knit Jett the Octopus, or any of the other patterns for sale in my Ravelry store, you can take advantage of the Indie Design
I normally end my Bronwyn’s Handmade Christmas posts in November, but I do have one more super quick project up my sleeve. I’ll share that in the next couple of weeks. (You know, when I have nothing else to do.) Meanwhile, I wish you happy crafting, happy gifting!