Every child likes to
play with balls.
There should be lots of balls – different colors, sizes, and
also from different materials - plastic, wood, textile, and wool balls.
Today I’d like to share how I make balls from wool yarn.
I will need:
- yarn, new or recycled from old sweaters, but it needs to be
woolen,
- couple of cheap nylon tights,
- string or cord,
- washing mashine.
Even different types of wool felt (full) differently but non
woolen yarn will not full.
Let’s prepare by rolling my yarn into balls.
Then I put the balls into the nylons one at a time and tie cords
in between.
Now my balls are ready for a cycle of intensive wash! If I have
an old pair of jeans needing wash – I throw it in, or a couple of plastic toys, old
runners, anything to help full my balls..
Cotton wash on 60 or higher.
Usually after the full cycle I take everything out, hang the
other laundry and check my balls. Here I take them out of nylons – yarn has
fulled into balls but they are still soft.
Now is the time to decorate them with embroidery, add wool
appliqué and keep fulling! I put the balls back into washing machine on spin cycle
and add some hot water and soap (not for wool). My washing machine can’t spin
them out, so the balls are bouncing
further fulling and getting tighter.
I check again and repeat previous cycle as I’d like them
even tighter.
When the balls are tight enough I switch the setting to
rinse and add a big towel to hold my balls in place as they spin. Ready! For a couple days I dry my balls out in warm
place with lots of air circulation.
So, here they are – bright, warm, soft, and safe for my home’s
furniture!
Don’t be surprised if the balls will be a hit with your kids
and pets alike!
