Monday, December 5, 2011

CHRISTMAS BALLS TUTORIAL

Three friends came over today and we did these Christmas balls. We had had it planned for sometime now but since I was trying to figure out things for my young women to do we just got together sooner. I do know that some of you have sent me a link to these balls, just so you know there is one out there. I am too lazy to go and look for it (no need pretending, it is what it is)....

So here is how we did ours. I had to redo my ball....I thought maybe I should just stick to sewing but I hung in there.

You need
styro foam ball
applique pins 3/4 inch
fabric cut in 2 1/2 inch squares (a Go cutter would come in handy for this)
ribbon and glue.
You fold in half. I ironed mine. I didn't the first one and well, if you iron it seems you have more control over your fabric. The gal who was teaching did not iron and hers turned out beautifully.
fold in half again
open up and then fold both sides to the middle
open up, find the middle.
If you want to hide you pin, you put the pin on the inside at the center point. If not, just pin on the outside.
You have to find your center point on both sides. She just put a regular pin on both sides and tried to eyeball the center. I did that at first and was sooooo off (one reason I had to start over). So when everyone left. I got out my measuring tape and found the circumference and went from there....worked out a lot better. So now that you have found the middle, you place the pinned fabric there. Now the gal that was showing us glued hers down.
This is what it looks like with all triangles in the middle. I placed pins at the bottom of the triangle just to keep the bottom of the triangle under control. Now when you go to put on your second row, you will take out the bottom pins because the next row will be overlapping and then just pin down the next rows bottom....easy...
You do the top and then the bottom, then add the second row, top, bottom, then last row. Oh...I almost forgot, I measured from the center to the tip of the next triangle on each one. The first ball, she said to just eyeball it...I did but for some reason it just looked bad bad bad. So measure I did, I am not ashamed....
Here is all three rows done.
This is what it looks like when it meets...yes...a mess but at least they meet.
Here it is all cleaned up with a ribbon around it.
How about some rick rack?
There you have it....
at

32 comments:

  1. beaquilterDecember 5, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    very nice, I've seen these before and want to try them, I've seen with a small square piece of fabric on the ball first then the triangle unit, maybe so if there's a gap, you can't see the ball? not sure why else it would be there.

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  2. Lee Ann L.December 5, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    Oh my! These bring back memories! I used to makes these for Christmas ornaments when I was a teenager. :-)

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  3. Stray Stitches (Linda G)December 5, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    Thanks for the wonderful tutorial!! I'll be saving this to try after the holidays.

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  4. JeniDecember 5, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Barb glad you hung in there...just love it...wish i was there learning how to do them

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  5. AnonymousDecember 5, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    Looks great, Barb! ;-)

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  6. DebiDecember 5, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Beautiful Barb..I tried making those several times before and never had the patience. Great job.

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  7. LynnDecember 5, 2011 at 4:46 PM

    Cute! I've always wondered how these were made. Thanks!

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  8. BetsyDecember 5, 2011 at 5:08 PM

    Looks so cool Barb.

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  9. Silvinha December 5, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    Congratulations for the beautiful work, Barbara. I pretty much do as well. good week

    http://tearpiaocupacional.blogspot.com/

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  10. ancsapancsaDecember 5, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    Thank you!

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  11. sandraDecember 5, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    Hi Barb, I have always wanted to make these but I think I need someone right beside me moving my hands so I can catch on. Really I find anymore sometimes just reading instructions isn't enough. Anyway really cute maybe I will attempt one if I have time. Blessings.

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  12. Lucy | Charm About YouDecember 5, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    Very cute! I'd not seen those, don't think I'd have the patience but the end result is cool :)

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  13. Sandie @ crazy'boutquiltsDecember 5, 2011 at 6:04 PM

    Very fun!! I've made these too and just love the outcome. :-) Have a happy week!

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  14. suemacDecember 5, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    The girls are going to have fun with this.

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  15. West Michigan QuilterDecember 5, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    Love that ball. Thanks for the tutorial. I'll have to show it to my daughter. I bet she'd like to do something like this.

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  16. JustCindyDecember 5, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Those are so cute!

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  17. SewCalGalDecember 5, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    Great tutorial. Are you going to have your Young Woman group make these? Seems like a great non-sewing project for them.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  18. CyndiDecember 6, 2011 at 12:29 AM

    I've never seen those before, but they are really cute! Good job, Barb. Nothing wrong with measuring, either. You know what "Norm" from "This Old House" always says...'measure twice, cut once." :o)

    XOXO,

    Cyndi

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  19. SparkyDecember 6, 2011 at 7:08 AM

    Oh wow now that is pretty amazing...I can do this...you made it look too easy...thanks sweetie

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  20. Joanne LendaroDecember 6, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    hahaha!! is there nothing you won't tackle??

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  21. Needled MomDecember 6, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Cute, Barb. I remember doing those in the past.

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  22. LindaDecember 6, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    Great tutorial Barb. I did these a few years ago and loved doing them. I'll have to make a few more for this year now that you've reminded me about them...These were fun and turn out so cute too. I know your young women will enjoy these.

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  23. ElizabethDecember 6, 2011 at 1:44 PM

    Oh, my goodness. That is SO cute! I'm going to have to try those. I'll let you know how they come out ;).

    xo -E

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  24. Jane's Fabrics and QuiltsDecember 6, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    That is so neat!!!

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  25. JeanneDecember 6, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    I've always wanted to make one of these. Thanks for the tutorial. Your little quilts are great, too.

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  26. Cathy @ CabbageQuiltsDecember 6, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    I too always wanted to know how to make one of these, yours is gorgeous. Thanks for the great tute. xo

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  27. Robin (RsIslandCrafts)December 7, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    You are so brave to try this. I made an acorn one using ribbon on an egg shaped styrofoam ball. I had the hardest time folding the ribbon and dealing with the tiny pins lol.

    Your ball turned out wonderful! I love the fabric you chose.

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  28. RhondaDecember 7, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Excellent tutorial and photos. I think I'll try this technique. Thanks for sharing Barb.

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  29. QuiltNut CreationsDecember 8, 2011 at 2:33 AM

    I love these; thanx for sharing the how to :)

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  30. AnnieDecember 8, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    I've often wondered how these were made. You've put together a great tut on them.

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  31. HelôZanardiDecember 11, 2011 at 11:08 PM

    I love this tutorial!!!

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  32. UnknownOctober 14, 2013 at 7:26 AM

    Hi

    This are brilliant. Is it possible to make them using a bigger ball? I have a 12cm one that I would like to use do you know what size fabric squares I would have to cut?

    Thanks

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