Have you made this? Send your picture to feedback AT canadianliving DOT com and we'll post it in our photo gallery!

Soft Play Blox
These adorable play blox are made from embellished felt squares fitted onto foam cubes. Crafted from recycled felt made from old sweaters, they are easy for little hands to manipulate and they provide exciting textures, colours, and tactile sensations to stimulate baby's developing senses. The blox can safely be thrown around or pounded on. Just be sure to sew the appliqué squares on tightly. Simple to wash when needed, the blox are a fun way to develop your design and appliqué skills. Consider making up your own motifs to reflect themes in your baby's environment. You can explore using other types of felt for the appliqué, too -- felt scraps remaining from other projects, handmade felt, or purchased wool felt. Let your creativity soar.

Finished measurements: Each block will measure 4" (10 cm) square.

Materials
• Recycled felt in an assortment of bright colours, cut into 4-1/2 x 4-1/2" (11 x 11 cm) squares (see more about making recycled felt on page 2)

Note: Each block requires 6 squares (a set of 6 blocks requires 36 squares).

• Additional felt pieces/scraps for appliqué
• Six 4" (10.2 cm) foam cubes

Note: For all-natural blox, substitute 1 pound wool roving for foam cubes (the wool will need to be packed tightly for the blox to keep their shape).

• Yarns and embroidery floss in colours of your choice

Notions
• Sharp-end tapestry needle
• Embroidery needle(s)
• Sharp scissors
• Straight pins
• Cardboard for template
• Chalk for marking squares from cardboard template

Sewing techniques
Embroidery stitches: Blanket/buttonhole, whipstitch, french knot, simple running stitch

Click here for appliqué pattern templates.

Starting out
Cut a 4-1/2" (11 cm) square template from cardboard. This will allow a 1/4" (6.35 mm) selvedge for sewing around the entire edge of the squares. Lay the template on the recycled felt and mark around it with chalk. Cut the squares using sharp scissors. Choose a variety of colours and textures to make things really fun. You can modify the number of squares needed, based on the number of blox you wish to make. For example, if you only wish to make four blox, and each block requires six felt squares, you will need 24 squares.

Select your appliqué motifs from the templates given or make up your own simple designs based on a theme for your nursery, a story, or items that are part of your daily life. They must be made in simple and fairly large shapes to fit within an approximately 3-1/2" (8.9 cm) square. Use the same motifs over and over if you like, or make each unique.

Choose two appliqués for each block; for the set of six blocks, you will be making 12 appliqué squares. Select which colour squares you will use for the appliqué pieces. Cut out the needed appliqué shapes in the colours of your choice from your additional felt and felt scraps.

Making the play blox
Using embroidery floss and embroidery needle, or strong wool yarn threaded through a tapestry needle, sew your appliqués to the chosen squares. Use the blocks shown as suggestions for placement and colours. You can use a whipstitch, a running stitch, a buttonhole stitch, or invisible stitching to apply your designs. Be sure to sew all pieces on securely, especially small ones, to protect them from curious, prying little fingers. Play around with each to see how they look. They will be cute no matter what! Treat this project as a learning tool and experiment.

Assembling
Once the appliqué squares are completed, begin to assemble the blocks as follows:

• As shown in the illustration below, using a sharp tapestry needle, strong wool yarn in a colour of your choice, and either whip stitch or blanket stitch, sew side 1B to side 2A.

• Next, sew side 2B to side 3A as above.

• Then, sew side 3B to side 4A.

• Finally, bring the sewn piece into a circular shape, and sew side 4B to side 1A. You will now have the exterior of a block.

Take one of the remaining unembellished squares and put it in place at the top of the square you have created, as if you were placing a lid on a box. Pin the top into place. Sew around the entire edge of the square, sewing it into place with the wool yarn and the same stitch you used on the sides. Secure the yarn well and bring your loose end to the inside of the box you have made. If necessary, use a blunt-tipped object (such as a chopstick) to make sure your corners are nice and sharp on the outside.

Page 1 of 2

Excerpted from Nature Babies by Tara Jon Manning. Copyright 2006 by Tara Jon Manning. Excerpted with permission from Potter Craft. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced excerpt with permission in writing from the publisher.