Hi All!

I just finished the wrapping of my 2 first bendies -- one 1.5" and one 3.5". Anyway, I have a few questions:

1) The pipecleaners I got through AM are only 3mm, but the larger bendies call for 6mm. Do you just make them with skinnier bodies, or do you put 2 pipecleaners together to get a larger diameter? Other ideas?

2) Do you find that DMC floss is best (and shiniest)? I bought the bulk pack (100 skeins) of mixed colors in the generic brand, but they seem very dull and hard to "fan out" the threads.

Thoughts...?

I will post pics as soon as I get the clothes made <grin>!

Lori

For bigger bendies, I use two, one for the top and one for the legs. Make them both into a U shape, then loop one through the other and twist them together, with the open ends facing away from the middle. Then twist the bottom into legs and the top into arms/head holder. Does that make sense? I am sooo tired, I hope I am making sense, lol!

I am not sure on the generic floss, the only kind I have ever used is the DMC and I like it. It wasn't easy for me to fan out at first though, but with practice it has become second nature.

Thanks for your input. I guess I wasn't clear. It's the diameter of the pipe cleaners that was my question -- 3mm vs. 6mm. I used the method with 2 cleaners to make the larger bendie, but do I need to use 4 of them (2 stacked together for each part)? Or do you just have skinny bendies?

LOL!
Lori

Clothes cover the skinnyness (is that a word?) up. Or in other words, no, you do not need to twist 2 pipe cleaners together. You can if you want to :)

And I have used floss other than DMC and I donīt really see much difference. For fanning out, I find it is best if you donīt use too long pieces. Just about my arm length (fingers to elbows) seems to be my pick. Then it is easy to fan.

Every now and then I get some miscellaneous half used packs from thrift store and I have used brands that are no longer made and off brands. Some of the stuff is less shiny, which is one thing I like about my random floss. For some stuff I consider DMC too shiny, lol. But all my floss has to coordinate really well too, I am very picky about that. I can agonize for 10-15 minutes about what color to use to best match the felt (I have a giant tangle of floss-mess) :D

See, I told you I was exhausted, lol!

You can use some wool roving of fleece, wrapped around the bendy under the clothes if you don't want them so skinny ;)

On taller bendies I wrap more than once. For the legs I'll wrap once, then wrap going back down the leg...then back up again. Same with arms.

I've used different brands of floss. I actually like the not so shiny floss a bit better than dmc for wrapping. The not so shiny floss seems to tangle/knot more easily when used for stitching though.