Easy Christmas Project

SO, how's everyone doing getting ready for Christmas? Hopefully better than I am!
I thought I might take a moment to share with you a fairly quick and definitely simple idea for a handmade Christmas gift.

The No-quilt Quilted Christmas Ball

Maybe you've seen these around before... I think I recall seeing things like these in the past.

I've never made them, though. So, far I have these two pictured above and half of another one made.

Cass is also making one of her own to give. It's such a great little project that even an eleven year old can do without any real help.

First step:

gather your supplies:
a 3 inch styrofoam ball,
(8) 3 inch squares fabric,
(16) 3 inch squares different fabric,
(16) 3 inch squares yet another fabric,
a mound of dressmaker pins (figure 2-4 pins per square)
and a nice, hot cup of tea ;)

Next:

push pin through center of wrong side of one of the (8) fabric squares

fold wrong sides together (in half)

now, make this on the ball, poking the pin into
what will be the center of your ball.
Be sure to affix another pin right about where
my thumb is holding the fabric
(into the ball, of course!)

place four triangles in total (other 4 will be used on bottom of ball)
continue by layering from a 16-fabric pile (8 for each 'side' of ball)

If you recall, I said 2 - 4 pins per square... that's because I try to be efficient with my pins (you can call it cheap). Some people like to pin down the corners of each triangle as they go. I find it just as easy to tack them under whilst I layer. 

It's not that difficult, even Cass seems to be handling it, so far. 

We'll see if she is able to keep up with that as the ball gets fuller.

once it looks like this, you'll start filling in between the white ones with more white ones
Remember, it's a circle, so don't place the next point directly between the existing two white points -
round your design!

Follow up with the third layer, 8 of the last fabric choice, layering between the previous fabrics, keeping the roundness as you go.

The last layer you may very well want to pin completely down on all points.

Your nearly finished ball should be somewhat symmetrical with the folds matching up fairly well from "side" to "side".

If you look carefully at my example below, you'll see just what I mean...

mine are perfect-LY WAY OFF !!!

Finally, get yourself a strip of fabric that when the raw edges are turned under, has a suitable width to cover the meeting place of the fabrics as well as all the pins that are there. Press the fabric before applying with hot glue. 

I plan to add a hanger of some sort to these and give them as ornaments.

I think they will make a great gift for bus drivers, mailmen and the like.

*****If this has been totally confusing for any of you... there is actually a good YouTube video of this project find it here *****

Remember that Christ has come to pay our ransom and that we need not feel guilt or shame lest we belittle what He has done for us. So, this season let us boldly pronounce the True meaning of Christmas to all those we meet!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !!!