Commentary about works in progress, design & creativity
I made another EPP Ball, which I will give to my exercise teacher. These are super fun to make. I love having a hand project and babies and toddlers really like them.
I also like using the 5 inch squares I cut from scraps. I have a ready supply so I always have a lot of different fabrics from which to choose.
These are a little hard to photograph. It is hard to get all the different sides. The photos below give you a good idea of how it looks.
I forgot to post that I finished EPP Ball #9. I sent it off without taking photos, but my friend was kind enough to send me a few.
My friend said that the toddler loves the ball, which makes me really happy!
I am getting really fast at making these toys and was thinking that adding some embroidery over the seams would slow the process down.
I finished the eighth EPP ball and will send it off to the owner next week.
I had hoped that this would get me back to La Pass, but so far it hasn’t.
The Beanie Baby pellets kind of gathered on one side, so it doesn’t roll very well. I have been trying to move them, but they are proving stubborn. I have to rethink how I fill these in future. I like the Beanie Baby pellets to provide some weight, but be evenly distributed. I am not sure what happened this time.
I do like these little balls and can make them very quickly for friends’ babies.
It is good to have a small hand project to work on in the evenings. It is keeping me from playing too many games on my phone, which I think was making my hand hurt. I have a few more seams before I can pull out the paper and stuff it.
I have been playing too many games on my phone at night. La Passacaglia is languishing. My needlepoint project is languishing and my hands are hurting.
It has been awhile since I made an EPP ball. I have two babies that would enjoy them, so I started two new ones. I thought it would be a good way to ease back into EPP and, possibly, La Passacaglia.
I found a few more charm packs while I was searching for the Handbag Sampler last week and decided to use one, Victoria Findlay Wolf’s Play fabric for the two balls. One of the reasons I chose that charm pack is that it included 24 squares, which is how many I need for two of the EPP balls. I didn’t want any leftover charm squares.
I was able to baste all of the pentagons I need for the two projects last night. I can start sewing tonight.
I ending up giving away one of the EPP balls I made to a surprise baby of a friend. I had some leeway with the great niece/nephew due in October, so I made another one very quickly.
This one doesn’t have any novelty fabrics, but is still fun.
This EPP Ball #6 is also finished, though not due until October.
As I said in the previous post these go together very quickly. I was able to stuff a couple of them at the same time.
Someone suggested I made smaller ones and I was reminded of the juggling balls set I made for my niece.
EPP Ball #5 is finished also. I finished it a few days ago and already gave it to the baby of a friend.
I have said before that I really enjoy making these and it is still true.
The EPP Ball #4 is finished. I am pleased because the baby is due soon. I’ll have the quilt done as well by the time I need to send them off.
Even though the EPP Ball #4 isn’t finished, I made a start on EPP Ball #5. If I get this one done, I can stuff them both at the same time.
A lot of the fabrics are the same as EPP Ball #4, but I tried to make them a little different. The photo shows the arrangement of the second half of EPP Ball #5.
I have made major progress on the EPP Ball I started the other day. I had some bits of yarn from the scarf and a few threads that I already stuff inside, but I am going to stuff it more with some Fiberfill** I have.
The next step is to finish stuffing it and sew it closed. These do not take long to make and it is satisfying to see it come together so quickly. Progress!
**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, please click on the link in my post above. I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.
After finishing my knitted scarf, I decided to make another EPP ball. I have three babies in, or adjacent, to my life who will enjoy them.
I started sewing this one while chatting with my sister and my Mom. All of a sudden my sister looked at me and asked if I had done all that work while we were sitting there. I said yes and she was amazed.
It reminded me that sitting and sewing while talking is a great way to get things done. My grandmother was always working on something when I was a child.
Shortly after finishing EPP Ball #2, I finished Ball #3. As I said in the recent La Pass post, I was in desperate need of handwork. Yes, I have knitting, but I seem to have lost the directions and can’t find the name of the project, so I am stuck for now.
Thus, I quickly sewed up the gap for this EPP Ball.
As I said in the previous post for Ball #2, I will give this one to Dameon or Alita. I haven’t decided yet.
I was able to sew up the gap in the second EPP ball and it is ready to go to its new home. The birthday isn’t until October, so I have a little time.
I really enjoy making these. If I had some space, I might make one for myself. As it is, I will give this one to Dameon or Alita. I haven’t decided yet.
This project went way too fast. Not that I want to spend my life on one project, but I do like projects that I can grab and go.
As you can see, I have only the gap to stitch closed. I have the clips on the edges, because I wasn’t sure how else to keep them under control. I really have to look up how to work with the edges of the an EPP quilt or project. This research will be good for the Half Hexie Star project, which is waiting for a back.
I just used regular Fiberfill** to fill it. I was pleased to see that the Fiberfill**, brand name Poly-fil, was made from recycled materials. I didn’t stuff in any Beanie Baby pellets** in case one of the kids decides to chuck the ball at their parents. Beanie Baby pellets** are actually called Poly pellets or ‘weighted stuffing pellets’.
**N. B. : Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.