Baby Rattles

October 24, 2025 

Donna Richardson taught eight WIT members how to make baby rattles at a workshop at Yavapai College. She was very prepared with a whiteboard drawing of the basic steps and a handout for a reminder when making any future rattles. She also had some partially made pieces to show the group as she talked through the steps of the process. Then everyone went to their chosen lathe to make a rattle from the blank each had purchased from Donna. First, they made the handles, then formed the cap of the rattle, hollowed it and made a jam chuck to help with finishing and sanding the top of the rattle. Donna and Susan M. had brought rice, beans and corn to use as the percussion inside the rattle so each was tested to choose the best sound before gluing the handle and the cap together.