Twisting with 160s - Twisting Tips for Beginners and Seasoned Twisters

by Linda Berman

Hello everyone. I just returned from the World Clown Association International Convention in Orlando Florida. As a dealer selling my 160 twisting books, 160qs and Qualatex pocket pumps, I spoke with many convention participants who told me that twisting is hard for them.

I suggested that 160 twisting would be easier for them because of the size of the balloons and the reduced volume of air inside (compared with a 260). Many of the people had tried 260 twisting. I watched them inflate the miniature balloon, tie a knot and start twisting with a huge smile on their face because the balloon was easier to work with.

I did notice that many of these people kept changing the direction of the balloon in their hand as they twisted along with me.

In my book, "Marvelous Miniatures for Beginners," I suggest that people decide to twist either to their right or to their left and to be consistent as they twist. You will use both hands for twisting but you first need to determine the most comfortable position for twisting.

(All the directions in my book are for right-handed inflating and twisting. Left-handed twisters may need to modify the directions.)

Note: I am right handed in all activities. My right hand is much stronger than my left. As a twister, I find that it is less confusing and more natural to do all the hard part, the pinching and twisting with my stronger hand.

When teaching beginners to twist balloons, I have found that people had the most trouble if they were using their weaker hand for the pinching and twisting.

I recommend the following:

If you are right-handed. hold the balloon so the knot is facing to the left and the tip is facing to the right. You will hold the balloon in your left hand and do all the pinching and twisting with your right (strongest) hand. As you twist the balloon, you will be moving from the left side to the right side of the balloon.

If you are left-handed, hold the balloon so the knot is facing to the right and the tip is facing to the left. You will hold the balloon in your right hand and do all the pinching and twisting with your left (strongest) hand. As you twist the balloon, you will be moving from the right side to the left side of the balloon.

It is very important that you always twist the balloon the same direction otherwise the twists might untwist - especially when you are twisting multiple bubbles.

Scissors are a very import tool when twisting detailed multiple balloon designs with 160s. The extra length of the 160s allow for speed since in most cases you will be cutting the balloons and trimming the excess. Many of the people in Orlando asked me about using envelope-type cutters. I recommend a pair of 5" scissors (see photo) with very short blades so you can get very close to the bubbles for cutting. The brand name I prefer is Fiskars. These scissors have both openings the same size so I don't have to struggle to get my thumb in the larger opening. I tie the scissors with a 160 to my balloon bucket so I can easily find them.

Another photo shows the brightly colored 16" balloon sticks I use as handles that I mentioned in last month's column. Check with your balloon distributor for the sticks. I prefer the colored sticks but some distributors only sell them in white.

I am very excited about teaching 160 twisting at the Millennium Jam 2001 balloon convention in Belgium in a few days. With my new camera, I will be able to record the event. But do check Balloon HQ and the TMJ web site for lots of photos and updates. I'll share my experiences in next month's column.

You can find single and multiple-balloon 160 designs in my books, "Marvelous Miniatures," "More Marvelous
Miniatures," Even More Marvelous Miniatures," and "Marvelous Miniatures for Beginners." The books are available from me
and from many dealers.

You can contact me at heartthrob@pacbell.net or balloonlady@pacbell.net or at (626)581-7690. I live in Southern California in the Pacific Time Zone. You can write to me at PO Box 50574, Pasadena, CA 91115 USA.

See you next month.