amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Lori_Eustis · 02-25-2006, 10:37 PM

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

mom2kbeth · 02-25-2006, 11:20 PM

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.

Lori_Eustis · 02-26-2006, 12:17 AM

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

crazyestonian · 02-26-2006, 06:12 AM

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 don´t really see much difference. For fanning out, I find it is best if you don´t 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)

mom2kbeth · 02-26-2006, 09:51 AM

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

Dannielle · 02-26-2006, 12:07 PM

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.