Ever since our little Bubba was born in September, I have been on the lookout for toys for him. Sadly, almost everything commercially available and marketed to ages 0 months+ is not necessarily age-appropriate for clumsy newborns and their tiny hands. Toys I found were either too thick to grasp; too heavy for the accidental, yet inevitable drops on the little one’s face; or overly stimulating with way too many colours, textures, and sounds in a single item.

I knew if I wanted him to play with something different, I’d have to create it myself.

{What I didn’t know was how hard it’d be to find a minute here and there to finish the project. What would have normally taken me less than a single afternoon took me almost three weeks with a brand-new newborn at home!}

As I suspected, this simple high-contrast black and white squeeze-and-suck ring has quickly become one of B’s favourite toys.

If you’d like to make a one just like that, you can follow these simple instructions. Or, let this pattern spark your imagination and create something truly unique for that special little person in your life.

{materials needed}

• size 5 DMC Coton Perle thread in black and white
• 2mm crochet hook
• fiberfill

{pattern}

Note: do NOT join rounds. Instead, work in a spiral. You may want to use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of a round.

With the white thread, chain 14 and use a slip stitch to form a circle.

{round 1; white}

single crochets around

{round 2; white}

3 single crochets – 8 half-double crochets – 3 single crochets

{round 3; black}

single crochet around

{round 4; black}

3 single crochets – 8 half-double crochets – 3 single crochets

{rounds 5-32}

repeat rounds 1 to 4 15 more times

{finishing}

After completing the last round, leave a 4-5 inch tail. Stuff the crocheted tube firmly with fiberfill, shaping it into a doughnut as necessary. When it’s stuffed to your liking, begin sewing the ends together. About two-thirds of the way, pause and stuff some more fiberfill in to ensure a firm join, and then finish sewing the ends together. Weave the end in and trim the excess.