Brenda Martin wrote to ask us: "I am trying to make an ironmonger’s shop and would like to know how to make a ball of string."
Well Brenda, this method gives a realistic end product but isn’t for people who hate getting sticky! It is necessary to take your time and curb your natural impatience and it is useful to look at a full-size ball of string so you can see how it crosses over at either end.
You will need:
- Crochet or tatting cotton in a suitable string colour. Thicker cotton is easier to handle
- A wooden or ceramic bead about the same colour as the string: round, barrel-shaped, or oval will be fine
- Two cocktail sticks
- Tacky glue, preferably thick
1. Spread a little glue inside the hole of the bead. Push the loose end of the cotton inside the bead and wedge it in place with one pointed end of a cocktail stick.
2. Spread glue thinly in a circular band between the holes of the bead.
3. Holding the cocktail stick in one hand, wrap the cotton round the bead in the glue, and back to where it’s wedged. Leave to dry.
4.Remove the cocktail stick and prepare to get sticky fingers!
5. Spreading glue over the bead a little at a time, wrap the cotton round from top to bottom, crossing over at the top until the entire surface is covered. Push the rounds of cotton together as you go so that none of the bead shows. It is sensible, but not entirely necessary, to let the glue dry after every two or three rounds or they will slip out of place.
6. Finally spread a little glue round the ‘waist’ of the bead and wrap the cotton horizontally round.
7. Allow the glue to dry and cut the cotton off from the ball of thread.
VG
