$4.50

How to Buy

How to Buy

It's Almost A Ball

PATTERN DETAILS

RELEASE DATE:  September 2002. 

DESCRIPTION:  It’s almost, but not quite, a ball. It’s really shaped like an English candy called a humbug (or so I’ve been told). But no matter what the shape is called, this is a wonderful toy for baby or a toddler, especially when it includes a rattle. And as a beanbag, it’s great for games and the small size is perfect for juggling (confirmed by juggling friends - Thanks, John & Burke!). There are several variations of the pattern – it can be small or large, it can be longer than it is wide or not, and it can also be fulled (felted) or not.

SIZE:  The size varies with the size yarn and needles that you choose. The unfulled models shown in the photo are made of sport weight yarn and the large "long" humbug is 6.5 by 4.5 inches. The small "short" humbug is 2.5 by 2 inches.

SKILL REQUIRED:  Advanced beginner – you must know how to work 2-color intarsia.

MATERIALS:

• YARN:  Equal amounts of 2 colors of yarn of the fiber of your choice (washable is good for a baby toy). If you wish to full (felt) your humbug, you must use 100% animal fiber that is NOT machine washable. Yardage needed varies depending on size of yarn and needles you choose. For example, for the sport weight yarn models in the photo – for the "long" humbugs, I used about 12 yards of each color for the small and about 40 yards of each color for the large; and for the fulled (felted) large humbug I used about 50 yards of each color.

  • Main color  – solid, heathered, variegated, hand painted colors, etc.

  • Contrast color – solid or heathered colors. It’s best not to use yarns with multicolors within the same yarn for the CC or the side seam might be too obvious.

• NEEDLES:  Choose a size to make a firm stockinette fabric (check the ball band for suggested needle size). I find it best to use about 1 needle size smaller than I would for a sweater made of the same yarn. If you want to full (felt) the humbug, you can use a needle size 3-4 sizes larger than you would otherwise. For example, for the sport weight yarn models I used size 3 needles for unfulled humbugs and size 7 needles for fulled humbugs.

• MISCELLANEOUS:

  • Darning needle to weave in ends.

  • Waste yarn for a stitch holder (optional).

  • A yard of smooth cotton or other unshrinkable yarn if you choose to full your humbug.

  • Optional rattle – small pill or other plastic bottle, 2-3 small buttons or dried beans, waterproof glue

  • Stuffing – carded wool fleece or polyester fiberfill or dried beans or rice (dried beans or rice makes the object unwashable)

GAUGE:  Unimportant, just make sure the stockinette fabric is firm (but not stiff). For example, my stockinette gauge with sport weight yarn is about 40 stitches per 4 inches on size 3 needles, on size 7 needles it’s about 23 stitches per 4 inches.

 outside, before seams sewn

inside, before seams sewn 

How to Buy Pattern