Summer is upon us, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a bouncy set of simple beach ball plushes! The shapes are easy to cut out, and color combinations are endless, making this a project easy enough for kids (or any sewing beginner) to sew themselves.
This cute beginner kids’ sewing project is also incredibly easy to customize, and you can make them as mini or MEGA as you want to. Read on for some ideas for how to turn these cute little softies into other summer projects, decor, and unique gifts!
To make your own stuffed beach ball plush, you’ll need:
Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains Woodpeckers Crafts, Etsy, Blick Art Materials, Bookshop.org and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As affiliates (and Amazon Associates), we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*
BASIC SUPPLIES:
- 4 squares of felt ( we used two 8-inch squares and two 8-inch by 2-inch pieces)
- A needle and thread
- Polyfill, organic raw cotton stuffing, or similar to fill your softie
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
- Our simple beach ball template free printable PDF
- Instead of felt, you can use colored or patterned cotton fabrics – any size will work!
How to Make a Stuffed Beach Ball Plush – DIY Instructions:
Print our beach ball plush template or trace a plate or bowl.
You can print the free beach ball template we used to trace our beach ball onto felt, or you can use a plate or bowl.
For an extra-large beach ball pillow sofite, you can trace around a large mixing bowl or similar.
Cut out the simple beach ball shapes.
Cut out two circles for the front and back of your beach ball, two half-moon shapes for the sides, and an oval for the top.
Sew shapes to the front with a simple running stitch.
Sew the half-moons and the oval onto one of your circles using a simple running stitch.
Sew on the back, stuff, and sew shut.
Sew your other large circle onto the back of your beach ball, leaving a small opening for stuffing. Fill with polyfill or similar and sew closed.
Add fun details (optional).
Maybe you’d like to add a felt face, googly eyes, ribbon, yarn, or bric-a-brac to decorate your beach balls…add whatever you want to make them fun! We decided to keep ours simple and just make a couple more in various summery colors.
Want to make a whole set of beach ball softies? These are simple enough to cut and sew that you can easily make bunches for a festive summer softie garland or gift them as cute July birthday party favors.
Variations on our stuffed handsewn felt beach balls…
- Attach a ribbon to the top and use it as a summer door-knob hanger.
- Sew a small pocket to the back for secret summer notes.
- Sew a letter to the front for a monogrammed summer gift.
- Make it BIG for a beachy, squeezable pillow!
More Summer Sewing Projects for Kids
If you’re a fan of these colorful beach ball softies, you’ll definitely want to check out Crabcakes – our DIY crab softie is the most adorable beginner project (and made from upcycled supplies!). Or try a unique technique to make your own no-smudge chalk pastel DIY rainbow pillow!
If you’re not familiar with Sew A Softie and have kids interested in sewing (or would like to introduce them to it), be sure to visit the site for projects and how-to videos made with kids in mind. Developed and organized by my friend Trixie, Sew A Softie is a wonderful initiative that has gained a worldwide following, inspiring kids and adults to learn to sew.
Every year Sew A Softie hosts a couple of incredible month-long sewing hops with free patterns, prizes, and more. Creators like myself share projects, ideas, patterns, and inspiration (like the DIY bean bag gnome plushes we made last year!).
*A note about affiliate links: We strive to use simple, earth-friendly supplies that can be purchased locally whenever we can, but sometimes we find the best universally available options, a rare eco-friendly find, or a niche product only available on Blick Art Materials, Amazon, Etsy, or Woodpeckers Crafts. When included in our supply list, these products are affiliate links, and if you click through to make a purchase we receive a small commission that helps us re-order these supplies!
GETTING READY TO TRY this?
I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
