Project : Soccer Ball Key Chain

Materials
1 piece of 14 count white plastic canvas cut to 6" x 6" size
1- DMC #3 Perle cotton Blanc (white)
1- DMC #3 Perle cotton #310 (black)

6" black round cord elastic
6" x 6" piece of white felt
glue

#18 tapestry needle
black fine point permanent marker
small scissors

Note: Any type of thread can be used, including tapestry wool in white and black, which is usually used on plastic canvas.

Directions
Step 1 Print out the line drawing of the soccer ball. Carefully trace the outline, Figure 1, of the soccer ball onto the plastic canvas using a very light touch with the marker. Put an "x" in each area that will be black.

Figure 1

Step 2 Cut a 36" length of white thread. Thread the needle with one of the cut ends of the thread and pull the thread through the needle so that the eye of the needle is in the middle of the thread. Take the two cut ends of the thread and tie a knot in them. Place a waste knot in the top of the canvas away from your starting point. You may start in any of the white areas of the soccer ball.

Step 3 Using Figure 2 as a guide for the Horizontal Satin Stitch bring your needle up from the back of the canvas at point 1 and down at point 2 from the top of the canvas. Continue on in the same manner, up at point 3, down at point 4, until all of the white areas are stitched, covering the lines drawn with the marker as you go. You will need to stop stitching when you only have a little thread left, ending your thread. Then begin again with another piece of white thread and a waste knot.

 

Figure 2

Step 4 Now thread your needle with a 36" piece of black thread, just as you did with the white thread. Stitch the Horizontal Satin Stitch in the areas of the canvas that you marked with an "x".

Step 5 Now thread your needle with an 18" piece of black thread, not doubled over this time. Run the needle under a half dozen black stitches on the back of your canvas, being sure not to pull the thread completely out. This is to hold down your thread. This technique is used instead of a waste knot. Using Figure 3, bring your needle up at point 1, down at point 2, continuing in this fashion until all corners of the black areas of the ball are connected.

Figure 3

Step 6 Take the black elastic thread and tie a knot in one end, threading the other end through your needle. At the top of the ball, bring your needle up through the canvas from the back. You will need to leave the knot in the elastic. Bring your needle down in the next hole over from the front to the back. Unthread the needle and tie a knot in the end of the elastic, again on the back. This is your hanging loop.

Step 7 Glue the piece of felt to the back of the canvas. Once it is dry, very carefully cut out your soccer ball, being careful not to cut any threads.

Step 8 Take three pieces of white thread, 20" long each and tie a knot in one end with all three knotted together. Braid the three strands of white thread, knot the three together at the end. Take your braid and carefully glue it all the way around the sides of the soccer ball to cover the rough edges. Cut away any excess braid, including the knots.

Step 9 Once all the glue is dry you are done. You can now hang your needlepoint soccer ball on the zipper of your school backpack.