Wash Mitt Ball-Creature!

These funky wash mitts are back at the dollar store!  Run -- do not walk -- and stock up before they are gone!  These things are made of the weirdest, most fun material to create stuff out of!

Anyway.

Today I will show you how I made a quick, easy, FUN ball out of one of these mitts.

Here's what you need:

~ one mitt

~ handful of stuffing

~ needle and thread

~ googly eyes (optional)

STEP ONE:  Cut your mitt open as shown.  You want to expose the seams without destroying that crazy fabric.

STEP TWO:  Using a seam ripper or fine-pointed scissors, cut the stitching to isolate the good part.

STEP THREE:  Fold your fabric in half and mark the center.

STEP FOUR:  Carefully part the "hair" and cut.  You are creating two long pieces.  Be careful not to snip any of the "hairs" -- it could cause a chain reaction to unravel an entire row of them!

You are going to sew your two pieces together in a T, as shown.

STEP FIVE:  Mark the centers of each side of the T, and lay them right sides together.  Be sure all the "hairs" are poked into the seam.  Sew.

STEP SIX:  Attach the other side the same way, as shown.

STEP SEVEN:  Carefully pin one end together as shown, again poking those little "hairs" inside the seam, and sew.

STEP EIGHT:  Turn it right side out!

STEP NINE:  Stuff with a handful of polyester stuffing and sew the opening shut with a needle and thread.

Now you have a funky ball to toss around...

...or, add googly eyes and turn him into a little friend to keep you company at the office!  It is very addicting to style his "hair" and give him different expressions!

I call him BeardFace!

Note:  I don't know how well this material holds up, so be careful about giving these to small children -- and certainly not with googly eyes!  :o)