I mentioned that I would be willing to share how to make fleeve pompom type balls. I tried to keep it simple, explain things as best as possible, and provide many pictures since most people are visual or mix-visual learners.
Thumbnails and medium quality pictures used in consideration for the few people that do not have a broadband connection.
Materials needed:
Sharp scissors
Cotton or hemp string (natural string opposed to nylon)
Ruler or measuring tape
Light weight fleece (minimum of 12"x6" - 23x16cm)
Optional:
Needle and thread
If you have some leftover fleece laying around the house, that's perfect. Otherwise look in the remnant bins at Wal-mart or fabric stores. You won't need a lot of fleece. What is important, though, is that the piece of fleece is widest on the cross grain. If getting a remnant or a piece cut for you remember that the selvages (selvedges for those using the British spelling) on fleece are on the straight (lengthwise) grain.
Shows the cross grain in the first picture, it has more give or stretch to it. The second picture shows the straight grain which is less stretchy. This is important because it can mean the difference between your cat being able to pull the ball apart and possibly eat pieces of it.
Our goal is to make a ball similar to this;
Sure you can buy them for just a dollar or two, but you can make them in a few minutes and probably for just a few cents.
Once you've figured out which way is the cross grain you need to cut along it. The intent is to make a strip that stretches along it's length, and not it's width.
Lay out your fabric and place your ruler or measuring tape on top.
3 inches (8cm) works nicely. You'll eventually trim some excess off, but you need the extra material now to make it easier to handle.
As you cut, move the ruler back. You don't have to get it perfect, hence no markings, but at least roughly even looks nice.
Cut your strips. They need to be around 9 inches long (23cms), you need two of them.
If you wish you can use two different colors or patterns of fleece.
The next step is to make a staggered fringe along both sides leaving a section down the middle uncut. 1/4th inch to 3/8ths inch width works well for fringe width (just under a centimeter).
An easy way to keep the width of that section even and uncut is to place your thumb on the center of the fabric as you cut. You should get about a 1/2 inch or so uncut space.
After both strips are cut line them up on, one atop the other, as evenly as possible.
Pick up the strips and start rolling them up as tightly as possible. The fleece should stretch.
*Optional Step
You can stitch the rolled fleece together to help keep it tightly rolled. I think it adds some strength. Don't try to force the needle all the way through the center, you'll either end up needing a pair of pliers or getting it stuck. Just stitching through the outer two layers is enough.
Get your string now, you'll need about a foot of it so that you can get enough force to tie it tightly enough.
Loop the string around the center.
Tie it as tightly as possible, then put another knot in it. Trim off your excess string.
Fluff up your ball! You can leave it at this stage, your cat can paw it around, kick, carry, and fling it fine... But it won't roll like a ball.
To make it a nice tight ball you need to start trimming that excess off.
Trim around it shaping it into a ball. It doesn't need to be perfect, but fairly even will help it roll further.
Fluff again and you should have something that looks like this.
Very similar to the store bought one.
Other ways to make the balls are to use three strips instead of two. The steps are the same but you don't need to make the strips quite as long. Once trimmed down it makes a denser ball.
There's also some little toys that can be made from too-small of pieces of fleece, if anyone wants pictures and instructions for those.
All toys, if made correctly, should be machine washable and safe. One idea is since they're cheap and easy to make they'd be great for shelters or rescues that have open cat rooms.
Thumbnails and medium quality pictures used in consideration for the few people that do not have a broadband connection.
Materials needed:
Sharp scissors
Cotton or hemp string (natural string opposed to nylon)
Ruler or measuring tape
Light weight fleece (minimum of 12"x6" - 23x16cm)
Optional:
Needle and thread
If you have some leftover fleece laying around the house, that's perfect. Otherwise look in the remnant bins at Wal-mart or fabric stores. You won't need a lot of fleece. What is important, though, is that the piece of fleece is widest on the cross grain. If getting a remnant or a piece cut for you remember that the selvages (selvedges for those using the British spelling) on fleece are on the straight (lengthwise) grain.
Shows the cross grain in the first picture, it has more give or stretch to it. The second picture shows the straight grain which is less stretchy. This is important because it can mean the difference between your cat being able to pull the ball apart and possibly eat pieces of it.Our goal is to make a ball similar to this;
Sure you can buy them for just a dollar or two, but you can make them in a few minutes and probably for just a few cents.
Once you've figured out which way is the cross grain you need to cut along it. The intent is to make a strip that stretches along it's length, and not it's width.
Lay out your fabric and place your ruler or measuring tape on top.
3 inches (8cm) works nicely. You'll eventually trim some excess off, but you need the extra material now to make it easier to handle.
As you cut, move the ruler back. You don't have to get it perfect, hence no markings, but at least roughly even looks nice.
Cut your strips. They need to be around 9 inches long (23cms), you need two of them.
If you wish you can use two different colors or patterns of fleece.
The next step is to make a staggered fringe along both sides leaving a section down the middle uncut. 1/4th inch to 3/8ths inch width works well for fringe width (just under a centimeter).
An easy way to keep the width of that section even and uncut is to place your thumb on the center of the fabric as you cut. You should get about a 1/2 inch or so uncut space.
After both strips are cut line them up on, one atop the other, as evenly as possible.
Pick up the strips and start rolling them up as tightly as possible. The fleece should stretch.
*Optional Step
You can stitch the rolled fleece together to help keep it tightly rolled. I think it adds some strength. Don't try to force the needle all the way through the center, you'll either end up needing a pair of pliers or getting it stuck. Just stitching through the outer two layers is enough.Get your string now, you'll need about a foot of it so that you can get enough force to tie it tightly enough.
Loop the string around the center.
Tie it as tightly as possible, then put another knot in it. Trim off your excess string.
Fluff up your ball! You can leave it at this stage, your cat can paw it around, kick, carry, and fling it fine... But it won't roll like a ball.
To make it a nice tight ball you need to start trimming that excess off.
Trim around it shaping it into a ball. It doesn't need to be perfect, but fairly even will help it roll further.
Fluff again and you should have something that looks like this.
Very similar to the store bought one.
Other ways to make the balls are to use three strips instead of two. The steps are the same but you don't need to make the strips quite as long. Once trimmed down it makes a denser ball.
There's also some little toys that can be made from too-small of pieces of fleece, if anyone wants pictures and instructions for those.
All toys, if made correctly, should be machine washable and safe. One idea is since they're cheap and easy to make they'd be great for shelters or rescues that have open cat rooms.
. Thanks so much for the detailed guide, I'm off to the craft store! 
I think I want to make some real soon!! Can you get fleece at a place like Michaels or do i have to go to the fabric store? Actually now that i think of it both those places are about the same distance from me so I could do either.
The one time I was in one I was enthralled by the aisle of paint brushes (they had a lot of them) and their bead section. 
)
Some people may get the basics of your idea, but need to see a couple pictures to fully understand how you refill the feathers. Learning types vary between people, but generally pictures help almost everyone. 
