The Crochet Adventure to Rattles

How a Bag of Rattles Took Over My Crochet Table

It all started with a bag.
Not the fancy, Instagrammable kind with tissue paper and a bow. No. Mine was a plastic bag — the kind you shove in a drawer, forget about and later find stuffed between old yarn balls and half-finished projects. Inside it? Rattles. Just round plastic rattle inserts. A whole family of little jingly balls in different sizes, staring at me like:

“Do something with us!”

At first, I thought: easy. A simple crochet covered ball, add one more on the other side... maybe add a flower. Done. Classic. Sweet. Boring. (Don’t tell my first rattles I said that)

But then my hook went a little wild.
“What if this rattle had… a knot?”
“What if it was rainbow?”
“What if I made a molecular structure out of it??”
Yes, I made a rattle shaped like a water molecule. But this is another story.

And just like that, my crochet table slowly transformed into a rattling orchestra.
Each one different: a dotted ball here, a stripe there, a soft gradient fading like a summer sky. The bag of plain plastic inserts? Gone. In its place: a collection of soft, colorful rattles with tails, knots and a personality of their own.

I call it crochet alchemy. You start with something simple -thread, hook, jingly core and suddenly you’re looking at a tiny, textured universe that begs to be shaken, explored, chewed on (by babies).

And here’s the dangerous part: once you start, you can’t stop. My brain keeps whispering new designs:
“A galaxy rattle with stars…”
“A rattle shaped like sushi…”
“A rattle that doubles as… wait, no, let’s not get too carried away.”

If I had unlimited hours in the day (and a few extra hands), I’d open a shop filled only with rattles. Wall-to-wall jingles. Visitors would need earplugs at the door.

But for now, I’m happy with my little growing collection - each rattle carrying the story of that silly plastic bag that sparked it all.

And maybe, just maybe, when you shake one, you’ll hear not only the jingle inside… but also the laughter of someone who turned “a bag of boring” into “a bag of joy.”

Why these rattles are special:

• Textural exploration: Soft crochet yarn invites little fingers to explore, pinch and grasp

• Sensory learning: Babies practice hand-eye coordination, tracking sounds and shaking with delight

• Customizable cuteness: Choose from Dot, Ombre or Rainbow designs—or pick your favorite colors

• Playful minimalism: The knot-on-the-tail rattle is pure charm—simple, sweet, and endlessly fun.

Tips for playing with a crochet rattle:

1. Let your baby explore freely—hands, fingers, mouth, eyes—all senses get a turn

2. Shake it, roll it, gently toss it… it’s a perfect companion for peek-a-boo or tummy time

3. Mix it with other textures and colors for a tiny sensory wonderland

These rattles are not just toys—they are little adventures waiting to be held. Minimalist, playful and handmade with care, they’re perfect first toys for tiny hands discovering a world full of color, sound, and wonder.

Some of these rattles escaped my table and found their way into my shop. If you’re curious to see them in their natural habitat (or want to adopt one), you’ll find them there, jingling happily.