Star Wars inspired Lightsaber Rattle

These fun Star Wars inspired felt lightsabers feature a rattling core for baby sized battles.

I have included the pattern and tutorial for both styles of felt rattles.  So if you are looking the perfect Star Wars baby gift the force is with you!

You will need:

10″ x 4″ Lightsaber felt- I used Glo felt and Aqua*

4″ x 6″ Felt for base and end cap, here I used Grey and Black*

For Classic style

4″ x 4″ Black Felt for Strip and Stripes*

For Button Style 

4″ x 4″ grey felt

Scraps of black and red for buttons I used Lipstick

Yellow Green embroidery thread

Stuffing

Mini Rattle Insert

Pencil or chopstick to help with stuffing and turning (optional)

Template at the end of post

*Matching Thread

Fold saber piece so long ends meet and overcast stitch along the side with matching thread.

Run a gathering stitch around the wand tip and pull to seal. Sew through a few times to secure.

Turn lightsaber using a pencil or chopstick.

Stuff lightsaber using pencil or chopstick to help if needed, add mini rattle near the base, more stuffing and set aside.

Sew pieces into place with a running stitch and matching thread as shown.Fold base so outside faces inward and overcast stitch along the long side using matching thread. Turn right side out.

 

Slip lightsaber into large opening on base and pull through until it is snug.

Stuff base and stitch bottom into place with an overcast stitch and matching thread.

Stitch around the base where the lighstaber and base meet to hold.

Stop by the shop: You can easily customize these felt Star Wars inspired baby rattles with any color or style you can imagine. Share your creations on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram I’d love to see what you make.

Happy crafting and may the force be with you!  ~Andie

Lightsaber template- print at full size

Lightsaber Template PDF

Wanna make more magic? Try these free patterns and tutorials:

Glowing felt firefly garland
DIY Ninja pouches and throwing stars

 

Wizard Wand Baby Rattles

These soft Harry Potter inspired felt wands feature a rattling core to make magic happen when they get into even the tiniest of hands. Just like the in the Potterverse no two wands are exactly alike. So if you are looking for the perfect project for an expecting Harry Potter fan or you’re just looking for a DIY baby toy even a muggle could love.  Skip the trip to Ollivanders and read on…

Potterheads and those of us who have studied wand lore know that the wand chooses the wizard that much is true. So I have designed these in 4 styles, you can easily mix and match these techniques and colors to create a one of a kind wand for your little wizard. The mini rattle core makes this a fun gift any tiny wizard will enjoy waving.

You will need:

Felt for wand a 9″ x 12″ sheet will provide you with enough felt to make any of the patterns with lots of scraps left over.

Vinewood- Light beige felt I used Pastry*

Willow-  Light Brown felt I used Mud Puddle*

Walnut – Dark Brown felt I used Saddle Brown*

Rosewood – Coppery Brown felt I used – Penny*

Stuffing

Mini Rattle Insert

Pencil or chopstick to help with stuffing and turning (optional)

Template at the end of post

*Matching Thread

Willow  Wand

Cut one wand shape, one handle and one handle top as well as an end piece from mud puddle wool blend felt. Overcast stitch along the length of the shape and flip so the knots and stitching face inward. Set aside.

Sew the handle top to the handle base with a running stitch, you will be sewing along the top later so you can leave that unsewn for now.  Fold handle pieces together with outside facing in and overcast stitch along the length of the handle.

Stitch end to the wider part of the handle piece with an overcast stitch and matching thread. Turn right side out and place a mini rattle insert into the base. Set aside.

Stuff wand shape using pencil or chopstick to help if needed. Fit wand into all the way down into the handle base. Overcast stitch the handle top to wand using matching thread.

Run a gathering stitch around the wand tip and pull to seal. Tuck in loose ends and sew through to secure.

Rosewood/ Vinewood Wands

Cut one wand, one wand base and vine carving from wool blend felt. Lay the vine carving shape along the wand and cut in diagonal lines as shown. Sew down along all the edges with a running stitch and matching thread. Fold wand inside out. and overcast stitch almost all the way up. You will want to leave an area open to add the rattle insert after you turn the wand inside out. This space will also make turning much easier.

*For Vinewood style keep the vine carving only on the base of the wand

Stitch end to base of wand and overcast stitch. Turn the wand using a chopstick or pencil to help. Stuff wand about 1″ up before adding the mini rattle and closing the wand.

Run a gathering stitch around the wand tip and pull to seal. Tuck in loose ends and sew through to secure.

Walnut Wand

Cut one wand shape, two cords and an end piece from saddle brown wool blend felt.  Lay cording shapes in lines along the base of the wand and along the length sew down using a running stitch and matching thread. Cut off any areas that hang over.

 Fold wand inside out. and overcast stitch almost all the way up. You will want to leave an area open to add the rattle insert after you turn the wand inside out.  Add base and flip the wand, add mini rattle and stuff. Close the tip as shown above.

Stop by the shop: 

You can easily customize these felt Harry Potter inspired wizard wand rattles with any color or style you can imagine. Share your wand creations on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram I’d love to see what magic you make!

Wizard wand template- print at full size

Wanna make more magic? Try these free patterns and tutorials:

Glowing felt firefly garland
DIY Ninja pouches and throwing stars

DIY Crinkle Starfish Toy

How to make a Felt Starfish Crinkle Toy

Babies love crinkle. I don’t know why exactly but they do, luckily crinkle toys aren’t hard to make.  Follow this simple tutorial for a  fun crinkle starfish no baby on land or sea can resist.

Whip up and these little crinkle starfish to keep little hands occupied during any summer soiree.  Although they seem tedious don’t skip the little french knots, they add texture that babies love!

You will need:

 2 sheets 9″ x 12″ felt or 1/4 yard of felt per starfish

(Summer House, Ice, Buttercream)

Embroidery thread in black for face and contrasting color for raised spots

Lead and Phthalate Free Crinkle material (1 toy size yard should produce 6 or more starfish)

A sewing machine, pins, scissors, a needle and thread

Starfish template (at the end of post)

Cut:

2 Starfish shapes from desired felt color

Step 1:

Create eyes and spots with french knots, stitch in smile with a back-stitch onto one side of your star fish.

Don’t make any knots in the seam allowance area of pattern.

Step 2:

Place starfish pieces together with the face facing inward. Cut a square of crinkle slightly larger than your project and pin it to the wrong side (the part that will be inside of your piece. Sew along outside of starfish as marked on the template.

 

Step 3:

After machine sewing down cut off excess crinkle scrap, don’t throw it away –  you can place this into toys with stuffing for a less dramatic crinkle. Cut notches along the seam to help the curves lay flat. Be careful not to cut through your stitching.

Step 4

Turn the whole thing right side out.

Push out corners with a pencil or chopstick. allow the crinkle to lay on the side it was sewn pushing a pencil or chopstick into it could cause it to rip.

The crinkle will stick out from the open area trim it back.

Step 5:

Close up the starfish with an overcast stitch.

*Note I used wool blend felt for these projects and so only spot cleaning is recommended. For more tips on cleaning felt see:

How to Wash Felt

Happy Crafting!

Stop by the Shop

Lizzie Borden Baby Rattle

Lizzie Borden- Baby Rattle Tutorial Pattern

Help your favorite little one remind their parents who’s really in charge with this killer baby shower gift!

You will need

*Red felt (Lipstick)

*Grey Felt (Grey Flannel)

*Beige Felt (Toffee)

Stuffing

Rattle Insert

*Matching thread

 Template (at the bottom of post)

To make the wood grain on my felt I used a stenciling technique I’ll be posting about later this week.

Begin by cutting  2 axe head pieces from grey felt, 2 bloody edges from red felt, and 2 axe handles and one axe base from beige colored felt.

Stitch bloody edge to each side of the axe head.

Be sure to attach in mirror opposites so that they come together correctly.

Attach each axe head to an axe handle using a running stitch and matching thread

Place axe heads together and overcast stitch the sides together using beige thread.

(click here for more on these stitches)

Leave bottom of Axe open, over cast stitch up the other side.

Connect axe heads with matching thread and an overcast stitch along the outside.

Leaving top open.

Add rattle insert to axe head –  lightly stuff and stitch axe head closed.

Stuff axe handle until it is stiff and attach rounded bottom with an over cast stitch.

And there you have it…

Did you have your heart set on a killer baby shower gift?

With a few tweaks Lizzie’s rattle easily becomes a fireman’s Axe.

You will need:

*Red felt (Lipstick)

*White felt (White)

*Yellow felt (Lemon Meringue)

*Beige felt (Toffee)

Stuffing

Rattle Insert

*Matching thread

 Template (at the bottom of post)

To make the wood grain on my felt I used a stenciling technique I’ll be posting about later this week.

Begin by cutting  2 yellow fireman’s symbols, 2 axe head pieces from red felt, 2 axe edges and backs from white felt, and 2 axe handles and one axe base from beige colored felt.

Attach White accents and fireman symbol to each axe head in mirroring directions.

Assemble as outlined above.

I hope you enjoyed this felt baby rattle tutorial.

 Happy Crafting!  – Andie