How to Make a Toy Dog Out of Knitting Wool
A wonderful dog toy can be made by felting. To do this you will need wool, yarn and an optional small bell. Dogs love to chase these balls and they are inexpensive and easy to make. Before you begin, gather wool and yarn. You can purchase raw wool from a farm or from a hobby shop or yarn shop or order it online. If you purchase colored, dyed wool, be sure that the dyes are not toxic to animals as you will be felting the wool into a chew toy and some of the dyes can end up being ingested.
Things You'll Need
- Yarn
- Wool
- Bell
- Nylon stocking
- Pot, 3 quart
- Boiling water
- Scissors
- Washing machine
- Dryer
Instructions
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1
Take a handful of the wool and use your hands to form it into a ball about the size of a tennis ball. Inset a small bell into the center and wrap the entire wool area with yarn. You can use any color of you that you like. The yarn will become blended into the wool, so you can be creative. Use colorfast yarns that are not toxic.
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2
Cut the foot off an old nylon stocking. The toe will remain, and this is what you will be stuffing the ball of wool into. You will need a piece at least 6 inches long.
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3
Stuff the yarn ball into the toe portion of the nylon stocking. Press as firmly as you can to compress the ball into the tightest space that you can. Then tie a knot in the stocking to hold the felted ball in place, as compressed and firm as it can be. Squish the wool around inside the stocking to make sure it is round.
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4
Boil the stocking in a pot of water with enough water for the ball to move around freely. A 3-quart pot is sufficient. Or you can throw the ball into a washing machine with a small amount of detergent. A short washing cycle is usually sufficient to felt the ball.
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5
After a half hour boiling in the pot, or a cycle in the washing machine, place the stocking into the dryer. Dry for a half hour or until completely dry.
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6
Cut open the stocking and remove the felt ball. Discard the cut open stocking. Throw for your dog and have a good time.
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Tips & Warnings
Cats also like these balls especially if they are made smaller. For a cat, make the balls the size of ping pong balls starting with a wool ball the size of an orange.
Do not add a bell if your dog is a strong chewer as he may be able to take the ball apart and swallow the bell.
