| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| vintagechica |
Posted - Mar 22 2007 : 11:30:06 AM
Would anyone be interested in making some juggling balls (also called hacky sacs) for some children in Nicaragua? I have made about twelve so far, but would like to have at least 50.
A friend of mine has started a feeding center in the Nueva Vida refugee camp there and would like something other than candy to give to the kiddos. I came up with the idea of hacky sacs. This would provide an opportunity for actual interaction in the form of playing a game with these children as opposed to just handing them a bunch of nasty stuff that will rot their teeth...no dentists.
I can post more info. if anyone is interested.
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sunshine |
Posted - May 11 2007 : 7:28:42 PM
just wondering how many you ever got
have a lovely day and may God bless you and keep you safe
my bloghttp://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/
my web store http://vintagethreads.com/ |
| smoothiejuice |
Posted - May 04 2007 : 6:22:45 PM
How many hackies ended up being made? This is so cool, I wish I would have seen it sooner. Maybe Carmen and I might like to make some for the local women and childrens shelter. I am not too good at adjusting patterns, can anyone tell me exactly what worked for them. Great idea...Jess |
| vintagechica |
Posted - May 01 2007 : 12:37:43 PM
Did anyone send any hackies? If you did, please shoot me your snail mail address so I can get you your thank you gift.
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 31 2007 : 11:15:44 AM
Kelly, I went back and looked at the hook I am using. It's a G hook, size 6 but says that it is 4.25 mm.
Maybe that will help.
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| vintagechica |
Posted - Mar 29 2007 : 8:25:11 PM
If you did not get an email with the mailing address, let me know and I will get it to you. We have over 40 people total mailing hacky sacks, wooohooo! But I might have missed a few people here and there.
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| FarmGirl~K |
Posted - Mar 29 2007 : 6:51:00 PM
Thanks Erin, I'll try that & see how I do. Good idea with the muslin tube.
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 29 2007 : 4:37:38 PM
remember to put the pellets into a baggie or make a small cloth bag to hold them so that they don't fall out of the balls. If you are using beans, rice or some other filler that can spoil if the bag gets wet, then definitely put them into something waterproof like a sandwich baggie and close the bag so that water can't get into it.
If I have time, I'm making a long tube from muslin and then sewing across the bottom, filling it with one bag's worth of pellets, and then sewing another line across. Then I'll cut that off above the stitch line, and repeat until my tube is all used up.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 29 2007 : 4:32:29 PM
I'm using the same cotton and a size 6.25 hook. (You can also use the 5.0 hook...)
Here is the corrected pattern I am using and they are now coming out the right size...
Beginning...
Begin : Ch 4, connect with sl st to form a circle or ring.
Round 1 : Ch 2 (counts as 1st Sc), 6 Sc into a circle/ring, join with sl st at top of 1st Sc.
Row 2 : Ch 2, Sc into same space, Sc into each of the sts around, join with sl st at top of the first Sc.
Start increasing...
Row 3 : Ch 2, Sc into same space, Sc into next st, (2 Sc into next st, Sc into next st) continue pattern to end, join with sl st.
Row 4 : Ch 2, Sc into same space, Sc into next 2 sts (2 Sc into next st, Sc into next 2 sts) continue pattern to the end, join with sl st.
Row 5 : Ch 2, Sc into same space, Sc into next 3 sts (2 Sc into next st, Sc into next 3 sts) continue pattern to the end, join with sl st.
Row 6 : Ch 2, Sc into same space, Sc into next 4 sts (2 Sc into next st, Sc into next 4 sts) continue pattern to the end, join with sl st.
Middle of ball... (I'm using three rows, you may be able to use five...)
Row 7-9 : Ch 2, (Sc into next st) continue Sc to the end of the round and connect as you did previously. (SC all the way across)
Start decreasing...
Row 10 : Ch 2, Sc into next 4 sts, ( Pick up next two stitches on hook and treat as one st. Sc into next 4 sts) continue to the end of the Round and join with sl st.
Row 11 : Ch 2, Sc into next 3 sts, ( Pick up next two stitches on hook and treat as one st, Sc into next 3 sts) continue to the end of the Round and join with sl st.
Now fill with plastic pellets, beans or birdseed if you cannot get the pellets. Wrap the pellets or birdseed with some cling wrap or put into a sandwich bag and close, and then place the bundle into the ball and continue on.
Row 12 : Ch 2, Sc in next 2 sts, ( Pick up next two stitches on hook and treat as one st, Sc into next 2 sts) continue to end of Round and join with sl st.
Row 13 : Ch 2, Sc into next st, (Pick up next two stitches on hook and treat as one st, Sc into next 1 sts) continue to end of Round and join with sl st.
Row 14 : Repeat Row 13.
Complete the ball by closing the remaining hole with a final sl St. Tie off firmly and push end of yarn into center of ball.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
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| vintagechica |
Posted - Mar 27 2007 : 02:05:26 AM
Let me check ...
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A sure way to avoid housework...live outdoors.
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| FarmGirl~K |
Posted - Mar 26 2007 : 8:04:40 PM
I have been trying to get one of these together, but mine is ending up huge. I have even gone down to a size 5 hook. I am using the peaches & cream cotton yarn. I just keep pulling it apart. Any suggestions?
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 26 2007 : 2:35:24 PM
I'm using the first crochet pattern listed in the list I gave you above.
Quick hacky sack pattern http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1667
I have adjusted the pattern slightly (for anyone who wants to use that pattern)... It's real quick - I made mine in maybe ten or twenty minutes and was able to use the big cotton thread...
Just use a crochet hook that is 6.25 instead of 7.0. Make a circle of only 4 stitches for the initial ring, close with a slip stitch, and then only make 6 stitches in the ring instead of 9. Then just follow the pattern as shown. The only other thing I did was to make only 3 rows of single stitches in the middle of the ball, instead of the five it says to make. (This is lines 7-12, I think.)
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
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| vintagechica |
Posted - Mar 24 2007 : 4:03:49 PM
The yarn sounds fine (exactly like you would use for a dishcloth), but maybe it is the pattern. Which one are you working from? And yes they should be a little bigger than a golf ball. I dont really car exactly how big, but softball size does sound a little big. I have heard of using embroidery thread. A couple of the crochet patterns use embroidery thread. Are you crocheting them or knitting?
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A sure way to avoid housework...live outdoors.
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 24 2007 : 1:17:22 PM
Can you measure one of the balls you have made, please, so we know what size to aim for... If I remember correctly, aren't these balls about golf ball size? Maybe a tad bit bigger...
I am doing the first pattern in the list that I gave above and I'm using the suggested hook but my ball is about four inches wide, which I know is too big - about the size of a softball. I'm also using cotton thread like you would use for dishcloths...
I'm going to drop down a couple of sizes on the hook, but I may have to find a smaller yarn or try one of the other patterns.
Has anyone tried making these using (8 strands) embroidery thread?
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 24 2007 : 10:53:49 AM
Actually I have a couple of sites that I look to first when looking for crochet or knitting patterns - these links were all compiled into a list on their sites. For the Hacky Sacks, look on the "Toys" pages... There may be even more links that I missed.
Crochet Pattern Central http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/
Knitting Pattern Central http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| vintagechica |
Posted - Mar 24 2007 : 10:29:38 AM
More info. is now up on the blog including patterns. Erin, many of the ones you found were also some that I had found too. We must both use google, LOL!. Thank you again for your help with this.
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| vintagechica |
Posted - Mar 23 2007 : 11:31:23 AM
beans...lima, kidney, black, white, etc. work well. I have even used macaroni noodles, lol~
bless you erin or all of the links! off to check them all out.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A sure way to avoid housework...live outdoors.
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 23 2007 : 11:03:41 AM
What are you using to stuff them? I think I have some plastic pellets laying around somewhere, but for those who don't, what should they use?
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 23 2007 : 10:58:38 AM
There are so many patterns out there for these (also called footbags).
Crochet versions
Quick hacky sack pattern http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1667
Frog hacky sack http://barney.gonzaga.edu/~aburton/froghack.html
Another quick pattern http://www.craftdesigns4you.com/freecrochetball.htm
Stars & Stripes Hacky Sack http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/13kids/jpfhackysac1.shtml
Spiral Footbag http://home.swbell.net/amjack/hackyspi.htm
Ball Tutorial http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=59352.0
Here are some that look like animals - http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=46825
Knitted versions
Hackey Sack knitted version http://shazzaspatterns.blogspot.com/2005/11/hackey-sacks.html
Swirl ball (use smaller needles and yarn to make it hacky sack size) http://www.knitlist.com/99gift/swirl-ball.htm
Small Balls http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=1275
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| vintagechica |
Posted - Mar 23 2007 : 05:05:54 AM
Erin, thank you! I would need them delivered (mailed) by the end of April. My friend is leaving for Nicaragua the first week of May. Is your pattern for knitted balls or crocheted balls?
Thanks again farmgirls, you are have the biggest hearts around...really!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A sure way to avoid housework...live outdoors.
Visit me anytime at my blog:
www.vintagechica.typepad.com |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Mar 22 2007 : 10:28:16 PM
I have at least one more hat to finish, plus one more doll, but I'll try to fit in some hacky sacks as well... When do you need them by?
I also have a pattern for them as well... will try to find the link to it...
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| cmandle |
Posted - Mar 22 2007 : 7:12:58 PM
(Same post as the comment I just left on your blog! Covering my bases!)
Yes, of course! Count me in. I do need a knitting pattern though. I'm a little skeptical that a knit hacky will be tight enough? I guess I could just go down a few needle sizes to make the fabric bullet-proof.
This is coming from a very experienced hacky-sacker. I've kicked the sack enough times to know that it sucks when the little beads start to fall out! :)
Catherine
http://yogurtandgranola.blogspot.com |
| shelle |
Posted - Mar 22 2007 : 4:11:55 PM
I would also like to see the pattern.
Shelle
http://janzenfamilyjournal.blogspot.com/ |
| vintagechica |
Posted - Mar 22 2007 : 3:30:12 PM
I have posted a little more info. on my blog.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A sure way to avoid housework...live outdoors.
Visit me anytime at my blog:
www.vintagechica.typepad.com |
| Mikki |
Posted - Mar 22 2007 : 11:55:28 AM
Sounds like a lot of fun, please do post a pattern.
~~Blessings, Mikki
http://burningmeadowsprings.blogspot.com/
http://strawberriesnapronstrings.blogspot.com/ |
| shmeg |
Posted - Mar 22 2007 : 11:37:20 AM
Please do post more info, pattern, etc. That sounds like fun.
-Megan |
