How to make a fabric ball

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one ball, 14 cm across)

• Main fabric (cotton or double gauze) — 6 panels; scraps are fine (about 10 × 24 cm each)
• Toy stuffing — about 60 g
• A bell (optional) — 1, always wrapped in fabric before it goes in
• Hand-sewing thread for the ladder stitch

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Baby” → “Fabric ball” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the finished diameter and the number of panels. Presets cover small, standard and large.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Lay the pattern on the wrong side of the fabric and trace both the cutting line and the finished line. Line the grain up with the grainline.
2. Cut the pieces
   Cut 6 panels. If you are changing colors, 3 colors × 2 panels puts matching colors opposite each other.
3. Transfer the notches
   Mark the middle of each panel, at its widest point. Matching those keeps the seams from creeping.

4. Sewing

4-1. Join the panels in pairs

1. Place two panels right sides together and sew one curved edge.
2. Make three pairs. The edges are curved, so match the notches first and then pin closely.
3. Trim the seam allowance to 5 mm and clip it every 1 cm along the curve.

4-2. Join the three pairs

1. Sew the pairs together in turn to make a ring.
2. Leave about 7 cm of the last seam open for turning.
3. All six panels meet at a point top and bottom. The fabric piles up there, so go slowly.

4-3. Turn and stuff

1. Turn right side out through the opening, easing the points out with an awl.
2. Add the stuffing a little at a time, starting at the points. Fist-sized handfuls keep it even.
3. If you are adding a bell, bury it in the middle of the stuffing — wrapped in fabric first.

4-4. Close the opening

1. Close the opening with ladder stitch.
2. Machine stitching would show on the outside, so hand sewing is the reliable choice here.
3. Roll it between your hands to settle the shape.

✏️ When you think no more stuffing will fit, add one more handful. Too little and it collapses and never reads as round. But do not pack it until the points stand up hard — that puts the strain on the seams. About 1 cm of give when you press it is right.

5. Tips & variations

• Always wrap the bell: wrap it in a scrap before burying it. If a seam ever gives, the bell still cannot come out on its own.
• Change the panel count: more panels, rounder ball. Five gives a slightly faceted shape.
• Vary the textures: mixing toweling, corduroy and gauze means it feels different each time it is grabbed.