At Sew Fun, we believe in supporting cottage industries and budding home sewing entrepreneurs. To this end, we offer Free Limited Licenses for our patterns. You can read more about our licensing program here.
We are proud to have Gramma J’s Sew Cottage as one of our licensees. Gramma J, also known as Judy, kindly offered to share this lovely story with us about a Garden Market where she had her hand crafts on display, including some colorful, cuddly toys made from our Baby Puzzle Ball pattern:
A lady holding a toddler came up to my booth and was looking at the balls. As I told her about them, she asked if she could take one down the lane to show her little girl. I asked if she had twins. She said “No. My other daughter is in that stroller down there. She is handicapped. She’s 3 years old, but is only 3 months mentally. She can’t grasp things yet. I’d like to see her response to this.” How could I say “No” to that? It wasn’t long before the Mother returned with a huge grin and “JOY” written all over her face. She said that in that short time, she saw responses from her daughter that she had never seen before.
I get so much satisfaction from this darling ball. I know that each one will bring positive developmental responses from each child who gets one.
Win a free Baby Puzzle Ball Pattern! To enter, please leave a comment in today’s post. Winner announced by end of day on Monday.
No time for sewing right now? You can visit Gramma J’s Sew Cottage at her ESTY shop for lots of Baby Puzzle Balls stitched up in adorable, baby-hugging colors.
About Gramma J’s Sew Cottage
My mind is always busy. With a love for the outdoors as well as a love for making a house a home, the creative part of my brain is always at work.
I love designing, creating and sewing. How we decorate our home is a reflection of us, from our walls to what we have on our beds and floors, and what we wear. It’s our personality and what others remember about us.
I love my family, they are my life. I am a very proud Grandmother of nearly 2 dozen Grandchildren and almost the same amount of Step Grandchildren. Wow, that’s about 3 1/2 dozen, and we haven’t quite started with the Greats yet! They all live away from us so I think it’s important that they always have something that has been handmade especially for them. One Grandson told me that when he used the blanket I made him it was like I had my arms around him. Oh, does that melt a Gramma’s heart! I wish every child could feel that special love, so when I’m not sewing for my own kids, I’m thinking of yours. Your home and your kids. I get pleasure from helping you with projects that you can’t accomplish by yourself. From inspirational thoughts for your loved ones to wake up to, to cheerful “Welcome” wall hangings…from seasonal décor, table cloths or runners or baby cuddle items and bath towels…I can bring the warmth of handmade love into your home.
Here are some other wonderful items from Gramma J’s shop! Click the photos for more details.




















Got a question?
Have just found your patterns, would love to make the Brainy Baby Ball!
I would love to make one of these for my friend/teacher in the next art room expecting a baby in December! Thanks for the giveaway!
Really sweet story – thanks for sharing! those balls look hard to make, but it would be fun to give it a try!
Today I’ve found I’m having a nephew next January, I’m sure he’ll love that ball!
Thanks
Too cute and looks like something fun to sew.
What a beautiful ball!
The ball and other patterns are so cute!
I have been looking for this pattern! How fun!
Thanks for sharing that story! I found you via Sew Liberated and am enjoying perusing your blog & shop!
I would love to make one of these for my 5 month old niece!
I’d love a chance to win this pattern.
I’m just under 9 months pregnant and ran across this website tonight. I’ve hit nesting mode full force and have been looking for either a doll or toy that I can make for the baby. This ball is wonderful and I love the story. I would love the chance to use this pattern! And thanks for the fun website!
I just stumbled across your blog this evening from Sew Liberated. It seems that I find out another friend is pregnant just about every week, and I just love spending my free time making them super cute, personalized, handmade items such as these as gifts! Love it, and I’ll be adding your blog to my feed so I won’t miss out on more great things in the future!
Gramma J’s Baby Puzzle Balls look so bright and soft. Loved the story! I would like an opportunity to “win” the pattern. (It looks rather difficult to make — I might just go to Gramma J’s website and purchase some of these vibrant looking balls.) This really is a Sew Fun site!
that ball looks so intricate! I would love to learn how to make one! thanks for the chance! and I make my own shower gifts so it would help alot!
annemolino at homail dot com
Jocelyn,
Congratulations! You are our winner of the Baby Puzzle Ball pattern! Please check your e-mail for a note about your shipping address.
Warm Stitches,
Jennifer
Sew Fun
I love the baby puzzle balls. Do they have bells inside?
Cinzia,
In the pattern, I didn’t mention putting in bells, but you certainly could! You can just take a good sized jingle bell, like 3/4″, wrap it in a bit of stuffing and bury it in one (or two, or three!) of the wedges. You really have to sew the bells INSIDE to prevent a choking hazard. The bells still jingle pretty well, even when buried in the stuffing. Also, in the Clotilde catalog, they started carrying squeakers just to go with this pattern! See here: http://www.clotilde.com/list.html?criteria=squeaker&x=22&y=3. They also carry the pattern. I’m definitely making some for my Christmas fairs this year with squeakers!
-Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer,
I hadn’t thought of the squeakers. Bells always concerned me because of the chocking possibility and I thought the stuffing would muffle the sound.
Cinzia,
I am Gramma J’s daughter, just looking through to read this wonderful article for the first time
Gramma J (as far as I remember) always puts bells in hers. She wraps them up and makes them very muted so that the ball is even appropriate to use in church, but gives just enough jingle to get the baby’s attention. Even our 3-year-old heard the very soft jingle and got excited about the bells