Last week (or so), at the class at Laurel Hill, I was reminded of the value of stretching while making a Zentangle. We'd made our first tile, and I had everyone stand up and do the "breathe and stretch" thing. The sighs around the room were my reminder.
I also find that I can sometimes develop a "death grip" on my pen. I relax, but my fingers often continue feeling cramped.
So, I've dipped into my yarn stash and made a cranium ball. I've recently learned that these are actually hyperbolic planes, but my language brain has always been stronger than my math/engineering brain so I will continue to call them cranium balls. They are just the right size for squishing and scrunching fingers into. I'm going to make a batch and let people use them during class.
Scruncho-scruncho.
Great idea! I sometimes find myself totally stiffened up (happens even from just sitting). I've been trying to look for ways to remind myself to relax my muscles. This might help!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat idea. I haven't heard of cranium balls. Looks crocheted?
ReplyDelete--Margaret
Very good idea! Do you have a pattern for this? Will you share?
ReplyDeleteI love beading these - I never thought to crochet one! Brilliant!
ReplyDeletesounds like a great idea, Please! would you share instructions to make them. I have had surgery on my hands and need to keep my fingers moving.
ReplyDeletethanks. zenpen
You can sell them to us!
ReplyDeleteThought I'd leave you my link so you could see what I did with your trentwith tangle pattern, thanks for posting it was lovely to do
ReplyDeletehttp://postcards-and-stuff.blogspot.com/2011/02/trentwith.html
To all who want to make cranium balls... It's pretty simple.
ReplyDeleteStart with a ring of crochet chain stitches. Eight is a nice number. Join the first and last stitches to form the ring.
Make eight single crochet stitches into the ring.
Once you make the eighth single crochet stitch, you are on your way. Into the top of the first single crochet you made, make 2 single crochet stitches. Make two single crochet stitches into the next stitch and the next one and the next one... In other words, keep increasing by making 2 stitches in every stitch until you get the curly ball you want.
It doesn't take very long before the ball starts to form! As always, if you have a question, shoot me an email.
thanks for the pattern for cranium balls. I have one started and am anxious to finish so I can give it the "squeeze test".
ReplyDeleteZenpen
these balls really work! I must admit that I had to try mine to be convinced, now I have given the directions to several friends and they are busy making their own and some for friends-these balls are going to spread all over the west. A huge thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletezenpen