1.15.2009

How to make a taggie football

Boys don't get a lot of attention on Grace Violet. I'm sure it is due to the fact that I am a girl and tend to like girly things, and that I have two girls who surround me with even more girly things. But mostly I credit the lack of boyish crafts to the fact that guys tend to be difficult to craft for. Although, maybe I'm wrong, perhaps they do love appliqued tote bags, crayon aprons, and sugar scrubs

However, with a new nephew on the way any day now, I have had to force my mind to enter boy territory. I am proud to say that I not only crafted for a boy - but, I figured out a way to include ribbon.

Introducing, the taggie stuffed football. Perfect for chubby baby hands and drooly gums. And a father who plans to indoctrinate his son with Longhorn propaganda from the earliest stages.


My husband (a huge OU fan) had to look away in anguish as I brought UT fabric into our home.   


My first step was to cut 4 lenses. Lenses

That is the shape that you see below. 

I cannot tell you how deep I dug into the recesses of my brain, searching for the geometric name for this shape. I actually postponed the whole post because I had no idea what to call these 4 quarters of the ball.

After 2 minutes on Wikipedia, I had my answer. Lenses. 

Basically, to create my pattern for the lens, I drew a 7" line, then intersected it in the middle with a 3" line (forming a cross). Then, I freehanded the arc, starting at one end of the long line and going to the other. 

Basically, I cut out 4 cat eyes.


Next, I chose coordinating ribbons and cut them 3-4" long.


The ribbons form the taggies (that babies just love to chew on). I lined them up where I wanted. 


And pinned two lenses (right sides together) with the taggies tacked down. 


I sewed along one side, then, set that half of the football aside, and repeated with the other two lenses. 


Once both halves were completed, I stitched up the remaining two sides (leaving out taggies, but if I did it over again, I might have added more), leaving a small opening to insert filling.


It would have been cute to stuff a few jingle bells, so that the ball would rattle. Too bad I thought of that after I stitched the opening closed. 


Using embroidery floss (because of its thickness), I "laced" up the pigskin. I recommend lacing on the seam that was just closed up - it helps to hide any stitches. 


It turns out crafting for boys can be quite fun - I even have two more "guy" projects waiting for me on my desk. Except they don't include ribbon, so the motivation to get started isn't quite as high...

51 comments:

TLEB said...

I love this idea! I am not much of a seamstress, straight lines are about as much as I can handle, but I think I could do this! With a nephew on the way I think this will be a great addition to the shower gift. Thanks!

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Oh that is SO cool! And those little tags are genius! I'll be linking.

Autumn Leah Designs said...

This is adorable! I can't wait for Cashe to get his chubby little fingers on it... hopefully they are not too chubby until AFTER I have him though:) Thanks Kristin!

Rachael said...

hooray for boy crafts! Thank you!

boysmum2 said...

I love you blog, I am into all crafts and yes I have 2 boys.
Ok maybe this is a little young for them, they are 3 & 5 after all, but eagerly await your 2 projects you need motivation for because it might be something I could run up sometime

Jodie Allen said...

I LOVE this! My husband coaches at our local high school and would LOVE our son (7 months) to have one of these! great idea!

melody said...

This is great! Some "big" boys I know have been longing for one of my minky blankies but are too embarrassed to ask:). In a fuzzy fabric, this might be the perfect solution (sans ribbon for the oldest)!

Mrs. G said...

Way too cute (Hook 'em horns!). I hope I have time to get one made before my second grandsone is born (any day now....) Thanks for sharing!

akawest said...

Aw, that is adorable, just the thing for all the future quarterbacks.

Julie said...

That is super cute!! thanks for the tutorial. I have a 6 month old boy and my hubby is a huge Utah, Redskins, St Louis Rams,fan and I can't wait to make my cute boy a football taggie. I will post on my blog when finished. I now just need to decide what fabric to use.
thanks julie

Jenn said...

Adorable!
I think I may have to try one for the little guy I nanny for. His daddy was a college football player :)

Mrs. Olsen said...

I'm going to remember this for someday when we have a boy. What a great idea!

MammaDucky said...

Holy moly, that is SUPER CUTE!!! I love it. Hmmm, wonder if I know anyone having any baby boys...

Jackie Russell said...

Cute! Or is that handsome? Either way it is a great idea for a baby boy.

dreamingmama said...

You're just taunting me right now!! :) I have a broken,two week old sewing maching that desparately wants to make this for my daughter. She loves football, but it still too little for a pigskin of her own. Keep the boy tutes coming...I have lots of nephews!!! Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

A great idea! I have always wondered what 'taggie' projects were for. It never dawned on me the tags could be for babies! My wife and I have a three month old. I'll be showing her this...although, all I can say is, "Aggies all the way!" LOL!

Christina Weedon said...

Keep these ideas coming, please!! I love to make things for my little boy, but ideas are much more of a rarity than those for a girl.

This project will be a perfect match for the taggy blanket I made...

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

Super cute! But UT?! OU?! No no! Baylor. Repeat, Baylor. ;-)

I don't remember how I came upon your blog, but I'm really enjoying. You have great ideas, and I enjoy seeing what you've made!

Brandy said...

HOOK 'EM HORNS!!! I love this. I am going to make one for my son, who is almost two. He would love it as he still chews all the tags off of stuffed animals. Thank you for this!

Anonymous said...

Adorable!

Amy said...

LOVE the idea. I have a little boy and he would have loved this. He loved his little tag blanket and LOVES balls. Very clever.

Sherrie said...

That is so cool! As a mom of three boys I wish I had this when they were babies. TFS

Steph said...

Love love LOVE this idea! I have to make an Aggie one for my son asap:)

Beth said...

I'm one of your blog "lurkers"! I love this football! good job w the boy department. I thought this was going to turn into an announcement, btw! :)

Crystal said...

This is SO cool!!! I think I'm going to make one for our grandson for Valentine's Day. His dad will be thrilled if I can find some Edmonton Eskimos fabric but that may be a stretch. Thanks for sharing!

~♥~ Fuxicos e Retalhos ~♥~ said...

Adorei a dica e idéia

Parabéns,
Obrigada por compartilhar

2009 de muitas realizações a você

Abraços


Renata

Ps: não sei escrever em ingles

Megan said...

This is a great tutorial!

I plan to include it in my Friday Find section at OnOurWayOnline.com I know my readers will love it just as much as I do.

Easy and cost effective the perfect type of gift.

4under3 said...

I don't know french, and I haven't brushed up on my spanish lately..so I hope a comment in english will suffice. ;)

Love this idea!!

With a house of 2 football fans...I'll be attempting this one.

Tiff

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

What a darling idea Kristin. I think I am going to make one for my nephew who is due in about a month. Thanks for the wonderful idea!
Stay Cozy, Carrie

imebears said...

I applaud you on your ingenuity. What a great gift for your new nephew to be.

Anonymous said...

These are SO CUTE! I'm totally making some. Hopefully my GIRLS won't mind getting footballs. LOL!

Oh, and I gave you an award on my blog.

Anonymous said...

Awesome. I was trying to think of something for my friend's new baby boy. Love it!

Kelley said...

Your blog is amazing! I've nominated you for "The Fabulous Blog Award". Congrats. Visit pineapplehilldesigns.blogspot.com for details.

lisavengesta said...

i adore this! i want to make one for my nephew!! :)

Mommy Managing said...

Not only do I LOVE the taggie football, BUT "HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!!"

You made a great choice!

Jill -Forever and Ever House said...

Oh my gosh! That is "over the top" creative. You have outdone yourself Missy!

DM said...

That's cool. Finally something for the boys! Love you. Dad

Amber said...

Thats cute, but it'd have to be OU in my house if i had a boy!

Anonymous said...

Great choice of fabric,
HOOK'EM HORNS!

Anonymous said...

This is so adorable! We have several boys due soon at church - I'd better get busy!

Anonymous said...

So cute!

Lacing over where you stitched is brillant - I need to think of that when I make things since I can't invisible stitch very well and it shows. Must keep this in mind.

Rebecca U.

Anonymous said...

Great idea. I love your step by step instructions. You make it look very doable for someone who cannot sew.

My Trendy Tykes said...

I love it!

I featured you and your blog: http://mytrendytykes.blogspot.com/2009/02/touchdown.html

Jeff & Carrie Seeley said...

I have to agree with your husband...it is a great idea, but would look so much cuter in OU fabric!

Cheryl said...

What a cute idea! I can't wait to try this!

Thanks for sharing.

Daniel Mayfield said...

Holy Smokes! Thats a lot of comments on one post! I thought the football was really cool.

Stephanie said...

This is a great idea. I just posted the pictures of mine on my blog.

Holly said...

How much fabric should I buy to make this? I am so not good at gaging amounts. HELP. I love this idea and can't wait to put it in my BFF's baby shower basket. :)

aunt 'L' said...

OU!!!! Your husband will be happy to know that I made an OU football for my 5 month old grandson! LOVE IT! Thank you so much!

TLF said...

This is adorable!! I love it!!

Amanda said...

Great idea! I featured this today on my blog!

Amanda
todaystoptwenty.blogspot.com