Fancy Pencil Holder! It's back to school again and we've got just what you need to dress up your desk. Using one of the Caron Collection's beautifully variegated threads you can create this sharp pencil holder using just one color thread.
Materials you will need:
2 - Skeins of Watercolours (we used a very variegated Peach Melba)
1 - 12 ounce empty can (washed and dried)
Scissors
Craft glue like Elmers or Tacky Glue (anything similar that starts out white and dries clear)
Ruler
A small piece of tape
Instructions:Step 1 - Get ready by opening up the two skeins of thread. You'll need about one and one half skeins per can.
Step 2 - Take the empty can and smear the whole outside of the can with the glue. (Using your finger to smear it works best.) Careful not to put on too much glue. The glue should cover the can evenly with no globs and just a thin layer. Note: If you put on too much glue when you wind the thread around the can the glue will come squeezing out between the strands.
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Step 3 - Put your left hand inside the can and start at the bottom of the can with your right hand winding the thread around the can.Try to wind the threads close together, not overlapping but just touching so that the metal of the can doesn't show through and the threads butt to each other.--
Step 4 - Continue winding the thread around the can until you reach the top. Once you've covered the entire can cut off the excess thread and press it down so that glue will hold the end of the thread down securely. Wipe off any excess glue beads around the edge with your finger.
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STEP 5: Next to finish it off we made a cabled braid. Using your ruler, measure a thread length of 32", and cut a strand of thread 4 times that length. Then double up the single strand so that it is now only half as long. And then double it again so you now have a thread that is 32" long. Make sure that it is even and both ends are the same length. Have your friend hold the side with the loose ends securely while you at the opposite end, the double looped end, insert a pencil and start twisting the strands together as tight as you can, working till the entire strand is tightly twisted. Make sure the thread is tightly twisted and that your friend doesn't let go of the thread or it will unravel and you'll have to start over.
STEP 6: Without releasing your end put your finger at the middle of the strand, holding it taut. Next, fold the strand in half giving your end of the strand (with the pencil removed) to your friend and insert a scissor in the middle as a weight. Once your friend is holding both strands, let go and the scissor will start twirling. The threads will twist around each other creating a cabled effect. Once the scissor stops twirling remove it and secure each end with tape wrapping the ends tightly to keep it from unraveling.
Step 7 - Now run a bead of glue around the top edge of the can over the first two or three rows of thread. Tie the cabled braid around the top of the can with a double knot, tie it as tight as you can and press it so that the glue bonds to the thread.
Step 8 - Remove the tape from the ends of the cable and cut the loops so that the cable ends become fringes. Voila! Load up your pencils and you're all done. Now you can admire your handiwork every time you do your homework.
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