Knitted Baby Ball

The Knitted Baby Ball is the perfect toy for your little one to explore textures and colors while encouraging sensory development and hand-eye coordination. With its soft, squishy design, this knitted ball is not only safe for playtime but also easy for tiny hands to grasp and hold onto. Whether your baby is practicing rolling, tossing, or simply squeezing the ball, it provides a delightful tactile experience that is sure to keep them entertained for hours on end. Its bright and cheerful appearance will captivate your little one's attention while providing a cozy companion for playtime and snuggles. Get ready for endless giggles and smiles as your baby enjoys the playful fun of the Knitted Baby Ball!

Skills Needed: Cast On, Knit, Cast On Stitches at the Beginning of a Row, Cast Off Stitches at the Beginning of a Row, Cast Off.
Materials:
Size 10.5 knitting needles, 2 ounces of washable worsted-weight yarn, washable stuffing, several safety pins, and a sewing needle for yarn.
Note: What you are making is a knitted cube. When it is knitted, it will look like a cross. When it is folded, sewn, and finished, it will look like a box with a lid, until you put the stuffing inside and sew the last seams closed.
Directions:
Cast on 15 stitches.
Knit every row for 30 ridges. (A ridge equals 2 rows in the garter stitch.)
Cast on 15 stitches at the beginnings of the next 2 rows. You will now have 45 stitches.
Knit the 45 stitches for 15 ridges.
Cast off 15 stitches at the beginnings of the next 2 rows. You will now have 15 stitches left to work.
Knit the remaining 15 stitches for 15 more ridges.
Cast off all stitches leaving a 6 inch tail.
Finishing:
Play with folding the sides until you see the cube shape formed. When you understand how to form a "box", pin two sides together and start to sew the "box" into shape. Pin and sew the seams, one at a time. Do not sew the "lid" closed until you turn the shape right-side out. (You can hide the left-over ends of yarn inside the shape. Remember not to cut them too short or the piece will unravel.) Put the stuffing inside the "box" and sew the remaining edges together.
When the stuffing is inside the "box" it becomes a Baby Ball. Babies love to play with them. Washable yarn and stuffing make them easy to keep clean, too.