Replies

1. 
   user-238478 | Jan 15, 2007 10:09am | #1

   I am not at home.. so I can't look at the book to get the correct title or author... but I recently purchased at my local JoAnn's a book on making quilt pattern balls... spheres or what ever.  Author used traditional quilt patterns and adapted the shapes to make round balls..  when stuffed very full and very firmly  they are quite round to judge from the photos.  I am not a quilter.. but they were so unique and fun to look at, I bought the book on sight.  Books fabric.. who can have too many!

   Maybe a topical search on amazon.com will turn up the title. One of the patterns in the book made a soccer ball design.  made of 5 sided and 6 sided blocks.  The book had patterns to trace and also a geometry lesson to draft own blocks to get the size ball you desired.

    

   Really neat book.  I think it will answer your question.

   Nancy R.

1. 
   user-238478 | Jan 15, 2007 10:26am | #2

   Patchwork Puzzle Balls (Paperback) by Jinny Beyer

    

   found it in Amazon .com      I didn't note the price  but now you can look it up and see if it will meet your needs. 

    

    

   Nancy R.

2. 
   Becky-book | Jan 15, 2007 04:23pm | #3

   It is not exactly a soccer ball, but I made this pattern in order to make soft balls for my 'grands'

   cut 12 pieces.  mark the corner seam points and stop stitching at the mark.  I usually start with one block and sew a block to each side of it then connect all those blocks, do it again, then connect the two halves of the ball leaving one space open to turn and stuff.

   Hope this helps,

   Becky

   PS the photo has 2 sizes of pattern, choose 1. You may need to work on the photo with an editing program to get it the size you want (my small pattern is 3.5 inches at the widest point)

   Edited 1/15/2007 8:29 am ET by Becky-book

   
1. 
   Cherrypops | Mar 26, 2007 06:18am | #10

   Found it! Thank you. My son had a 'soccer ball' theme party yesterday for his 5th Birthday. CherryPops

3. 
   Teaf5 | Jan 18, 2007 02:00am | #4

   If you have a soccer ball in the house (we have dozens, in all sizes!), you can easily trace a pentagon and hexagon off it using waxed paper. You can do this even with a photo of a soccer ball. Then look at the number and arrangement of those two shapes (it's easiest to do this with just one half the ball and double it for the whole) and cut out the correct number of light and dark panels.If you have any soccer families nearby, they will probably very gladly give you a "dead" ball that you can cut apart for even more precise pattern pieces... have fun!

1. 
   CLeoCre8 | Jan 18, 2007 03:43pm | #5

   I never thought of that. Thank you all so much for the wonderful leads. I can't wait to get started!

1. 
   Susannah | Jan 19, 2007 01:40am | #6

   Instead of tracing the pentagons and hexagons off a soccer ball, you might try a protractor and ruler to get the pattern with greater precision.  I made some soft patchwork balls quite a few years ago, and the first one I tried was a disaster because the template I used was just a little bit out (it looked alright, but the sides were not the exact same lenght).  I got out my high school geometry set and drafted a pentagon from scratch, with correct angles and sides.  The next ball was perfect.  You should be able to get a protractor (for measuring angles) from a stationary or drafting supplier.

   regards

   Susannah

1. 
   Teaf5 | Jan 20, 2007 08:52pm | #7

   Geometry was my least favorite math class of all time, but I use the principles all the time while sewing.  Great idea!

4. 
   barbsewandsew | Feb 01, 2007 12:42am | #8

    ...a little late finding this discussion but .....Just finished making a soccer ball and used a layout I found on the internet so in case you haven't already finished yours I would be glad to send the link. Barbara

1. 
   CLeoCre8 | Feb 01, 2007 01:50am | #9

   I would appreciate the link if you could send it to me. Thank you

   Cleo