To All the Yarnie People

[Baitball Blogger]

I want to make yarn lanterns and wonder if it takes gobs of yarns to make a dozen regular balloon size lanterns, or is it an affordable project with retail priced materials?

[blogslut]

1. It shouldn't require too much.

These days, an average skein of average weight yarn is about 250-350 yards - the thicker or fancier the fiber, the less you'll get in yardage. Pure cotton yarn costs more and yields less yardage than pure acrylic yarn.

Say your balloon has a 1 foot circumference, you'll get three complete wraps per yard. If you wrap the balloon 100 times, that would require roughly 34 yards.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Wonderfully thorough! Thank you.

Wish I could throw a DU Yarn party to help out with the project.

[blogslut]

6. Just remember to check the yardage on the label.

PROTIP: Don't forget the hardware/home improvement section of the store. They sell cotton and jute twine for less $$$.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Again, THANKS!

[uriel1972]

2. Feel the Yarn? ... nt

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Woolfully.

[uriel1972]

5. Just couldn't resist...

nobody realises how difficult it is to have been born a smart ass.

[csziggy]

8. It depends on how solid you want the lanterns

One video I watched on YouTube, the woman used a beach ball for a large one and a balloon for a smaller one. She used two balls of yarn total, about one and a half for the beach ball and the rest on the balloon. Hers were kind of open so if you wanted more solid things, you'd need more yarn.

A place to find really cheap yarn is at thrift shops. People get tired of their hobby or old ladies die and the materials get dumped at donation sites. I've seen a lot of yarn at thrift shops but never picked any up since I don't knit or crochet. But those yarn lanterns and balls look interesting, so the next time I'm at a shop and see yarn in decent colors, I might pick up some.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. I want to believe that it is a quick way to upscale holiday decorations

at affordable prices.

[csziggy]

10. Yarn is not that expensive - if you're doing it for decoration

You will want to select your colors. Now you can get yarn with metallic threads twisted into it, or multiple colors. For instance, JoAnn Fabrics has this holiday yarn: http://www.joann.com/bernat-happy-holidays-yarn/zprd_11327905a.html#prefn1=type&prefv1=Specialty&start=1

I'd suggest going to whatever stores are in your area and see what they have that catches your eye. Check for sales and coupons for whatever store you visit - you can save a lot that way. Michaels, JoAnn Fabrics, even the dreaded Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby, all have nice selections. Knitting is pretty popular so there may be a locally owned yarn store in your area.

And you are not limited to yarn - this video used rope:

I particularly like her method of dispensing it since that seems to make it really easy for one person to handle without getting too much glue everywhere. Compare to the mess this woman made:

This one has a slightly different dispensing method that might work as nicely:

[Baitball Blogger]

11. Excellent!

I am going to look into that metallic yarn. Sounds promising.

[lovemydog]

12. America did a song about you all:

This is for all the yarnie people
Messing around with yarn and stuff
Don't give up until you
Make balloon size lanterns
Turn your dreams
To light and fluff

[Baitball Blogger]

15. Very illuminating.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

13. For some reason I always get Yarnie confused with Kenny G.

[uriel1972]

14. oooooooo that's bad... nt