Patchwork Puzzle Balls

Here's another one of the patchwork balls I've been making; a good "in front of the tv" project when I don't have a quilt to bind. I hand-stitch them. They really don't take long to make, once I got the first one figured out. The pattern is from Jinny Beyer's book, "Patchbook Puzzle Balls." I made one for Aurora, granddaughter-on-the-way, and then I started thinking how cool they are and wondering if my Sunbeams (4 year olds in my Primary class) would like them. Were the balls too babyish? It has been a long time since I've had munchkins this age; what DO they like? I couldn't decide, so I took one along to church on the Sunday that Michael was supposed to tell me if he was getting a new brother or a new sister in December. His mother had an ultrasound and the answer was known, but wanted Michael to have the thrill of telling his teacher the results. Unfortunately, by the time I saw Michael in class, he'd forgotten! Some thrill, hmm? Never mind, I had other sources so I'd already found out the answer anyway. I gave him the ball for his BABY SISTER and told him to hang on to it for her. No reaction from the other children until a week later, when Lucy came up to me, out of the blue, her hand on her hip and said, "I have a baby sister. You didn't make a ball for HER! I think my feelings are hurt!" Too funny! I think it was the hand on the hip that cracked me up. I maintained a serious exterior, though, and told her I didn't want her feelings to be hurt, so I'd bring a ball for her baby sister the following Sunday. When I gave Lucy the ball that day, Cameron said, "I have a baby brother! MY feelings are hurt you didn't make one for him!" Oookay, another ball to make and give away! By this time I was starting to suspect... I mentioned to both Lucy and Cameron that if they wanted to keep the balls for themselves, that would be all right too. They both admitted that is exactly what they wanted to do! AHA! Four year olds DO like the balls! Now I know! I told the rest of the class that I'd make one for each of them: Holly, Sadie, Grant, and Sophia.
Here are the Sunbeams, minus Sophia. They are a fun group.