Got Balls?

I love these balls.  They are so nice to hold and roll and are so easy to make.  And here is how.......

You need:

old pair of wool socks

un-spun wool fleece in various colors

felting needle

 Make the core by tying  a knot in an old wool sock, and wrap it around itself a few times.  You can also use the wool to make a ball and just roll it between your hands to form the core.  I have also started with a big bell for jingle or a round stone to give it some weight. 

Next pull the wool apart into long strips and firmly wrap it around the "core" until the ball is the size you want it to be.  Poke it with your felting needle to secure it in place and give the ball a nice round shape.  I like to start with the undyed wool (mainly because it is about a quarter of the price of the colored wool) and then use the dyed wool at the very end.  Keep in mind that the ball will shrink about 25% after it is washed. 

Now that your ball is firm and round, you can decorate it any way you like. Using your felting needle just poke in bits of wool or yarn. 

For the final step, stick your ball in a sock or piece of panty hoes and wash and dry in your washing machine on warm. This will felt and firm up the ball.

Where to get supplies?  My favorite local shop is New England Felting Supply (otherwise just google "felting supplies") and they have a web site and will ship to you.  Look under short fiber merino batt, they have amazing colors and 1-2 oz is enough to cover one softball size ball.  Your local yarn store may have some stuff too.  Once you start poking it is hard to stop, and then the possibilities are endless.