How To Make A Stress Ball With A Sock: 8 Easy Steps - WikiHow

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How to Make a DIY Stress Ball Using an Old Sock in 8 Easy Steps Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Find a sock of any size. 2 Use rice, playdough, beads, or other socks to fill your stress ball. 3 Fill the sock with your chosen material. 4 Add essential oils for extra stress relief. 5 Pinch the sock shut with your fingers. 6 Sew or tie your sock to form your stress ball. 7 Cut off the extra sock fabric. 8 Decorate your stress ball. + Show 5 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Things You'll Need Related Articles Expert Interview References Co-authored by Liz Park and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: July 24, 2025 References

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This article was co-authored by Liz Park and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Liz Park is a Slime Expert. She owns and operates Slimey Pallets, an independent online marketplace that sells slime, slime-making supplies, fidget toys, and other fun knick knacks for all ages. They are known for their signature SuperClear slime, glitter slimes, water slimes, and slimes that resemble a variety of popular foods, including mochi, fried eggs, and sushi. Slimey Pallets has built an online community of slime enthusiasts that includes 100K Instagram followers and 71K TikTok followers. This article has been viewed 22,969 times.

Stress balls are a great way to let out built up frustrations, but they can be costly. Why pay for something that you can make with things you have in your house? Stress balls are easy to make and you won’t need to run to the store for supplies. A DIY sock stress ball will give you a fun craft to work on and some much needed stress relief. Follow these steps to learn how to make your very own stress ball with a sock.

Steps

1

Find a sock of any size.

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1. Relieve stress by repurposing old socks. You can buy new socks for the project, but why do that when you probably have a bunch lingering in the back of your sock drawer? Pick a sock with a colorful pattern that’ll help you smile on those stressful days. Wash the sock you’re going to use, and just like that, you have the start of your stress ball.[1]
   • The size of your sock doesn’t matter. Just keep in mind that the size of your sock will be the size of your stress ball.
   • A solid colored sock may be best if you want to add designs to your stress ball later.
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2

Use rice, playdough, beads, or other socks to fill your stress ball.

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1. There are so many possibilities when it comes to fillings. Would you like a stress ball that’s squishy? Hard? Moldable? Choose between rice, playdough, beads, or other socks to fill your sock.
   • Rice, beans, or other dry foods will give your stress ball that classic pleasing squeeze. If you want a range of textures to play with, add beans and rice to your sock.
   • Playdough will give you that satisfying and moldable squish that is similar to a slime stress ball.[2]
   • Beads will be harder to squeeze but give you something more to play with in your stress ball. You can also find different shaped beads for added texture and stimulus.
   • Socks will make your stress ball firm and feel more like a regular ball rather than a squeezable sack.

3

Fill the sock with your chosen material.

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1. Whatever you pick, your stress ball will be great. Just add your chosen texture into your sock to start forming your stress ball.
   • If you choose rice, beans, or beads, use a funnel to fill your sock. The more you fill the sock, the firmer your stress ball will be, so make sure you leave enough room to let you squeeze.
   • No funnel? No problem! Place the sock inside a glass and wrap the opening of the sock around the rim.
   • If you choose playdough, fill a plastic sandwich bag with playdough, close the bag after letting out the air, and then place the bag of playdough inside the sock.
   • If you choose socks, roll one sock into a ball. Then take another sock and roll it into a ball around another sock. Repeat this with 5 socks, ending with the sock you want on the outside of your stress ball.[3]
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4

Add essential oils for extra stress relief.

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1. Another layer of stress relief can help melt your stress away even faster. Essential oils are a great addition to your DIY stress ball. Pick your favorite soothing scents and add a few drops into your filled sock.[4]
   • Lavender, orange, cedarwood, eucalyptus, spearmint, and cypress are common stress-relieving oils.
   • If you’re using playdough, add the essential oils to the playdough before putting it inside the plastic sandwich bag.

5

Pinch the sock shut with your fingers.

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1. Push the contents of your sock down. Gather the leftover sock fabric together with your fingers. Pinch the sock shut so nothing spills out of the sock.
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6

Sew or tie your sock to form your stress ball.

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1. How you close your stress ball is totally up to your preference. Close your stress ball with a needle and thread or pick out a rubber band or string you really like. No matter what you choose, your stress ball will be awesome!
   • Wrap a rubber band around where you’ve pinched the sock until it’s tight and secure.
   • Tie a string around the opening tightly and secure with a knot.
   • Sew your sock shut with a simple straight stitch, making sure to tie a knot at the end so your stitching doesn’t move.[5]

7

Cut off the extra sock fabric.

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1. If you don’t like the tail hanging off your stress ball, no worries! Simply cut off the excess material with a pair of scissors once the knot is secure. Just be careful not to cut too close to where you’ve sewed or tied off the stress ball.[6]
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8

Decorate your stress ball.

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1. Your stress ball might be for stressful times, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be cute! Add a smiley face to your stress ball with permanent marker to remind you to smile even on the hardest days, or tie a ribbon around the top for some added flare.
   • Glitter glues and stickers can add texture to the outside of your stress ball.
   • Fabric paints are another great way to add some personal touches. Paint a pattern around your stress ball or write out your name in a fun font.

Community Q&A

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• Question What would happen if you don’t put the Play-Doh the plastic bag? Samantha Top Answerer It'll dry out and ruin the sock and may increase your level of stress! Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 14
• Question Why does it have to be in a sock? Samantha Top Answerer It can be made with other materials as well, like worn-out fabric from other clothing or brand new fabric. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 7
• Question Can you add shaving gel? Samantha Top Answerer If you want to, go for it! Add anything to help remove stress! You can even use foam if you want to! Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 7

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Things You’ll Need

• Sock
• Scissors
• Rice (preferred)
• Beans (optional)
• Beads (optional)
• Playdough (optional)
• Plastic sandwich bag (optional)
• Rubber band (optional)
• String (optional)
• Needle and thread (optional)
• Marker (optional)
• Ribbon (optional)

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about sensory development toys, check out our in-depth interview with Liz Park.

References

1. ↑ https://psychreel.com/how-to-make-a-stress-ball-without-a-balloon/
2. ↑ Liz Park. Slime Expert. Expert Interview
3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdGxyRGzVRg
4. ↑ https://oneessentialcommunity.com/aromatherapy-stress-balls/
5. ↑ https://youtu.be/0SwkqmdKX68?t=85
6. ↑ https://psychreel.com/how-to-make-a-stress-ball-without-a-balloon/

About This Article

Co-authored by: Liz Park Sensory Development Toy Expert This article was co-authored by Liz Park and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Liz Park is a Slime Expert. She owns and operates Slimey Pallets, an independent online marketplace that sells slime, slime-making supplies, fidget toys, and other fun knick knacks for all ages. They are known for their signature SuperClear slime, glitter slimes, water slimes, and slimes that resemble a variety of popular foods, including mochi, fried eggs, and sushi. Slimey Pallets has built an online community of slime enthusiasts that includes 100K Instagram followers and 71K TikTok followers. This article has been viewed 22,969 times. 29 votes - 84% Co-authors: 7 Updated: July 24, 2025 Views: 22,969 Categories: Crafts

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Liz Park Sensory Development Toy Expert Co-authors: 7 Updated: July 24, 2025 Views: 22,969 84% of readers found this article helpful. 29 votes - 84% Click a star to add your vote

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