Jurassic Park is the only movie I saw where people clapped at the end. And that was during a screening in 2018. There was no reason, no one was there related to the movie, it was just that good.
Yes it starts with a core made of fabric scraps, and then wrapped in thinner and thinner yarn and then finally thread.
I would say making the ball itself takes me about an evening, and then several hours for marking and embroidery. I usually make these in short sessions and I finish one in a week or two.