Saturday, July 23, 2011

YARN EGGS - Intro and first attempts

I have dedicated myself to a craft over the last few days.. and its Yarn Eggs/Balls. first inspired by this picture:
I think that these are really gorgeous!!

I have researched them pretty well and hope that this post is able to combine all those tips into something that works. And after working so long I was talking to my mom and she told me about how she used to make these all the time in the '70s easy peasy... if only it was the same for me and i could make these gorgeous things a reality in my world...

Some say glue, some say paper mache, some say hemp, others say yarn (some of it needs to be cotton), some say glue, others glue with water... WHAT WORKS?!?

The tools
What I Used:
Scissors, plastic bags, saran wrap, yarn, hemp, white glue, 
Aileen's Clear Dry Tacky Glue, balloons and paper mache (flour, water, sugar)

My attempts:

1. glue (with some water) and hemp
- the water makes it too runny and the yarn/hemp ends up falling off of the balloon. when i got it to slightly stick and dry the end product was way to malleable



drying

looks good no? 

turns out it was really squishy and wouldn't hold its shape


2. Aileen's tacky glue (clear dry) and acrylic yarn (couldn't find cotton)
-I found that this dried too soft so that the yarn ball could be squished really easily

recommended by one of the bloggers

again it slighty holds its shape but...

falls apart even worse... 

3. straight white glue and acrylic yarn ( and then I ran out of white glue)
-the shape is still fairly malleable and it takes alot of glue



this was the best so far and it even hangs but... its shape is slowly drooping more and more and overall it looks bad


4. paper mache (bowl and balloon)
-YAY! SUCCESS!!
-the bowl is a tidbit flimsy so I have yet to figure out what it can actually hold (scarves?) - it is made out of the yarn and that may have been what did it (maybe the yarn I'm using is too thin..? or it may be the acrylic thing)
and then we come to my happy moment when the hemp ball dried and was perfect.
- I will post the steps to this miraculous solution tomorrow in full detail




They make me really happy.

-I'm not sure but I don't think this is a craft for young children, I enjoyed doing it myself but parts were a bit tricky and finicky
-also not a craft for clean freaks, it gets messy but it is easy to clean up especially if you have newspaper underneath.


Here are links to many, many, many different attempts by other blogs:
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/yarn-eggs-670275/
http://pinterest.com/pin/70245040/
http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2011/02/173-unicorns-and-rainbows-party-part-1-the-details.html
http://twogirlsbeingcrafty.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-04-13T08%3A00%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=7
http://shopruche.blogspot.com/2010/12/diy-wonderland-decorations.html
http://www.craftynest.com/2009/03/hemp-pendant-lamps/
http://www.moredesignplease.com/moredesignplease/2011/3/4/diy-doily-lamp.html
http://thelongthread.com/?p=5760
http://a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com/2009/01/snow-day-and-yarn-basket.html

10 comments:

Jenn said...

These almost look like those expensive balls you buy at the interior decorating stores that are super expensive. Do you use these as decorations? I would - they are totally cute and if I ever feel crafty, I would love to try them.

ElisabethAndrée said...

Wow, what a fantastic idea and your balls are looking gorgeous! Splendid job:)

Kei said...

Those look really great! Lovely for decorating.

creativejewishmom/sara said...

Thanks for the sharing the details of your project, been wanting to do this too. Many suggest wall paper paste, I think you do need something with a non-runny consistency. Great to "meet" you and thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!

Unknown said...

Oh My! Love this. LOVE.

Molly said...

Thanks. I love love love getting comments.
I think they would be pretty easy to turn into lamps as well (see http://kim-toomuchtimeonmyhands.blogspot.com/2011/07/papier-mache-lamp-shade.html)
I am so excited to move and hang these from the ceiling in my new place! and to show you when its all done

avisiontoremember said...

Love it! I featured it on Check me out saturdays fav links post today. http://iamonly1woman.blogspot.com

Vanessa @ {nifty thrifty things} said...

Such a great idea and job!! :)
Thank you so much for linking this up to {nifty thrifty sunday} last week!! I would love it if you joined me again tomorrow! :)
xoxo,
Vanessa

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for posting this! I have a project coming up and I have been playing with this idea for a while. This information was really helpful and your end results are fantastic!

the blond lioness said...

You can use liquid starch on the yarn as well. If you leave a large enough opening at the 'top' of the balloon, you can make lanterns. It's a fun project and I've found that with the liquid starch, they last years! I've had mine since my daughters first Easter and that was in 1992. :)