Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 10:40:38 -0500
From: Royal Sorell <psorell@star.net>
To: NDame93@aol.com
Subject: Re: Star-Sculptured Balloon Drops

>
> I am doing 12 of the 4' star-sculptured balloon drops at an event on Tuesday.
>  I was wondering if anyone has used a running stitch on these instead of the
> chain stitch that is described in the instructions.

Kim

Don't use the running stitch!!!!

A running stitch will not go around corners and your drops would fail!

Do the chain stich as in the directions (practice one first) and then once the
bag is fully stiched, keep making the chain stitch for at least one foot.  This
will give you a bit of safety so that if the line gets snagged, you will have
that foot of chain stitch before the bag opens.  Also this extra chain stich
will help keep the weight of the monofil  line from pulling itself open.  Also
be sure that once the bag is full and stiched, you must put your fingers in the
holes and turn the knots toward teh inside of the drop bag.  Not only does this
make the drop look better but it prevents a balloon knot from getting caught in
the line and keeping the bag from opening fully.

I know that most running stich drops use a nice heavy weight (80 or 100 pound)
line, but I have had the best luck with a 25 or 30 pound mono line on a chain
stich because it is softer and easier to work with.  Don't worry about the line
breaking because a chain stich will almost unravel itself as you pull.  You'll
find this out when you practice.  Practive this with the star or heart drop
before you do the big ones, nothing beats experience!

Call me if you need any other advice!

Patty Sorell, Balloon Designs with a Twist!
Peabody, MA, USA