Fellowship of the Things

Ball Pieces
I have found this project to be a great use for all those random upholstery samples that I always seem to end up with ever so many. The samples always felt like such a waste, because the back had paper glued on. 

Any upholstery like material, tight weave fabrics, work great for these balls.
Keep your small scraps after larger projects; less waste!

You can pretty much use any fabric and each piece of the ball can be different. However, I recommend that you stick to similar weights and stretch for the six pieces, as mixing thin and thick or stretchy and non-stretchy can be very frustrating to work with and end up with a wonky shape at the end. 

Stuffing
Whatever fabric you choose, save all your tiny scraps and bits. In fact, save all your scraps and bits from other projects to use as stuffing. Less waste, and less cost as you don't have to buy polyfill stuffing. 

If your fabric is thicker or stiffer, just cut it down to smaller pieces so it isn't lumpy inside the ball.

TEMPLATE TO BE ADDED SOON!

Note: This template was adjusted from several online free templates to come up with the size of ball that I was most happy with. Please feel free to enlarge the template as needed to make your ball a different size.

I recommend cutting on a slight diagonal to the bias. This will help create a rounder ball shape. I am not a master at fabric, so I can't tell you why... I just know that it's true.

You will need six pieces per ball and they do not need to be the same fabric.

Don't forget to save every little bit of scrap left over for your stuffing.

Match up two pieces with the good side of the fabric facing together.
Pin them along one long edge, and then stitch one side from point to point.

Match the third piece to one of the two pieces from the previous step. Make sure the good sides of the fabrics are facing together.
Pin them along that one long edge, and then stitch that one side from point to point.

When complete, you should have something resembling a half dome.

Repeat steps three and four with the remaining three pieces.
When complete, you should have two half dome constructions.

Turn one of the halves right side out and match the top point where the three pieces come together with each half. Pin the two halves together, working along the edge so they match up. 

Sew the two halves together, leaving a gap on one side approximately 2" wide.

Carefully pull the fabric through the gap in the side to turn the whole ball right side out, so the good side of the fabric is now on the outside.

Stuff the ball with your random tiny fabric scraps. Any scraps will do.
If your scraps are heavier or stiffer fabrics, feel free to cut them down a little smaller so they don't create lumpy spots in your ball.

Stuff until the ball is the desired firmness.

Fold the fabric at the gap inside and then stitch the gap shut. 

I am bad at hand stitching, so I just use a whip-stitch, but I have been told a "ladder" stitch is good for hiding the stitches where you closed the gap. 

When done, your ball should be hefty enough to throw, but soft enough to bean someone in the head with. 

Best of all, if you used scrap fabric, these cost pretty much nothing to make!
So, you should make more!