Reusable water balloons make a splash

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This article was published 18/06/2021 (1610 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three-year-old Daniel MacEachern clutches an armful of multicoloured water balloons, careful not to drop them, as he skips across his Headingley driveway.

“We throw them at people,” he said with a chuckle. “Sometimes I really like the colourful ones. Sometimes I love the colourful ones.”

But these water balloons aren’t made from rubber or plastic — they’re made of yarn.

Mallory MacEachern constructs fabric water balloon toys that bring the fun without having to pick up tiny bits of plastic off the lawn or pull them from the mouths of curious pets in the aftermath of a summer afternoon battle.

MacEachern crochets thick yarn into spongey, tubular-shaped creations that absorb enough water to make a splash but are soft enough for kids to toss at each other safely.

“You can throw them multiple times and still get quite wet,” MacEachern said. “Lots of kids really like them, and they’re just so easy, and there’s no mess afterwards.”

The mother of two said the reusable nature of the handmade goods appealed to her and those who’ve bought the product or expressed interest online.

This balloon alternative ensures that no micro-plastics will clog drains or wind up in the city’s waterways. Instead, the balloons, which don’t have any lining, can be wrung out and tossed in the washing machine and dryer following a backyard showdown.

“I just thought it was a brilliant idea,” MacEachern said. “I think they’re beautiful, so I really enjoyed making them and kind of kept going with it.”

MacEachern learned how to make the balloons from a friend who picked up the craft last summer. It takes about eight minutes to assemble one, but she’s gotten quicker at it over time, she said.

The maker sells the balloons for $2 each through Facebook Marketplace, and recently, in-person at Headingley Foods. She’s sold approximately 550 since she started making them, and this month, she sold 107 in a single day.

“That was exciting,” she said. “The feedback’s been pretty good. As long as I keep getting orders, I’ll keep making them.”

MacEachern, who’s originally from Charleswood, said the hobby is a great way to keep her hands busy during moments of downtime — especially during the winter days of the pandemic. At the beginning of the summer, she’d accumulated a stockpile of the balloons.

Now that warmer weather is here, the toys are a way to keep young ones busy, active and outdoors while many recreational activities are on hold.  

Those interested in picking up a set of the water balloons can visit Coastal Prairie on Facebook or send an email to mallory.maceachern@gmail.com