Magnetic Fishing Toy

I love making gifts rather than simply buying them, so when my nephew was about to turn three I started prowling the internet for something fun. One toy that caught my eye was a magnetic fishing pole with fabric fish. Several sites had versions of it but none that I completely liked. I decided to make colorful felt fish, each with a metal object inside to be picked up by a magnet on a string.

Because I also like recycling and using what I have, I first searched my house and garage for supplies. I found nearly everything needed, including a strong magnet removed from one of my old Sonicare toothbrush heads. All I actually had to buy were a couple of felt colors I didn't have on hand.

I wasn't originally planning to make an Instructable so I don't have pictures of several of the steps, but I've tried to explain as clearly as possible. Please comment if you have questions.

Materials:

• 10 colors of felt
• 10 colors of 6-strand embroidery floss to contrast with the felt colors
• 10 metal picture hangers
  
• 3/8" dowel about 18" long (9mm by 45cm)
• Screw eye to fit in the end of the dowel
• Sturdy cotton yarn
• Strong magnet
• Empty cereal box
• Hot glue sticks

Tools:

• Pencil
• Tapestry needle (has an elongated eye and a sharp point)
• Scissors
• Sharpie marker to contrast with the felt colors
• Hot glue gun
• 3D printer, or access to one

I sketched a fish shape on an old cereal box. then cut it out for a template. I drew around the template with a Sharpie twice on each color of felt and cut out all the fish pieces. I hot-glued a picture hanger between each matching pair: the orange fish picture shows the placement of the picture hanger, as well as the size. After that I blanket-stitched around the edges, using a tapestry needle threaded with contrasting embroidery floss.

I used TinkerCAD in designing a 3-D printed holder to encase the Sonicare magnet. I decided early on to make the magnet holder in two halves to be hot-glued together with the magnet inside. I thought that between the glue and and the sturdy body of the holder, the chance of the the magnet accidentally getting loose would be almost nil. That's important, because swallowing a strong magnet can be very dangerous for a child.

I made several designs in TinkerCAD before deciding on this one: no sharp points or edges and balanced to hang nicely from a string: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/eAEtLi5dDbv-soni... Also pictured are three of the designs I didn't use.

I pried the magnet off the Sonicare head with a small screwdriver. Pretty easy.

I printed the parts in blue PLA on my 3-D printer. After putting hot glue into the square holes and on the flat faces of the two plastic parts, I inserted the magnet and pushed the two halves together. After the hot glue cooled, I scraped off the excess that had oozed out and sanded the now-complete magnet holder to remove any rough edges.

I cut the dowel to about 18" (45cm) and sanded it quite smooth so that little fingers wouldn't get splinters. After inserting a screw eye into the end of the dowel, I tied about 14" (36 cm) of heavy cabled cotton yarn between the screw eye and the magnet holder. At each end I tied multiple knots to secure the yarn firmly.

I was lucky enough to stumble on a bright little metal bucket at a thrift store that would neatly fit all of the toy's pieces. Well, almost all: the long dowel made the bucket tend to tip over. I cut a scrap of 1/2" PVC pipe to fit the height of the bucket and hot-glued it vertically along the inside wall. The white pipe wasn't very attractive, but that that point I'd run out of time for painting before the kid's birthday.

With the dowel inserted in the pipe, the balance of the bucket was a little precarious, but OK. My nephew loved this toy: after the party he was not only happily pulling fish off the floor, but picking each particular color as his dad called it out. Hmm, I suppose that makes this toy educational as well. ;)

• Some versions of this toy have magnets in the fish and a large steel washer as the "hook". It doesn't matter as long as you have metal and magnets to attract each other.

• Don't get hot glue on the edges of the felt fishes where the stitching will be, because solidified hot glue is really hard to get a needle through. Ask me how I know. :(

• If I made this again, I'd paint/sew/glue numbers on each fish to make it even more of a learning toy.

Project alternatives:

• Pick different fabrics for each fish, which is a great way to use up scraps. With fabric that frays, make the fish template bigger to get a seam allowance for sewing the fish inside-out.

• Rather than blanket-stitching the fish together, use overcast stitch, running stitch, or whatever you like.

• Decorate the fish: sequins, glitter glue, fabric paint, etc.

• Not into hand-sewing? Glue the felt fish together right up to the edges so they stay tidy.

• Try felt glue or fabric glue instead of hot glue.

• Use any sturdy string or line: kitchen twine, thin rope, ribbon, etc.

• Drill a hole near the end of the dowel to tie the string rather than a screw eye.

• Go to TinkerCAD to modify my design to fit your magnet, or create your own holder.

• Don't have access to a 3D printer to make the magnet holder? Try oven-baked clay (Fimo) or Sugru.
  
  • In any case, attach your magnet very securely so it can't be pulled off and swallowed.

• For more ideas, Google "magnetic fishing toy".

I hope that you enjoyed this Instructable. Remember, the best gifts come from your heart and hands.