Homemade Wikki Stix

Wikki Stix are strands of yarn covered in wax that can be formed into different shapes.  A lot of teachers and homeschooling moms use them to teach letter formation or just as another material to create with.  But....they can be expensive.  Amazon has them for $6.99 for 48 strands.  But I just made 200 strands for $2.49!

Here's how you do it!

You need yarn, a toilet bowl gasket (thus the $2.49) and an old candle.

Cut the yarn into your desired length.  Ours were about 8 inches.  Micah and Liliana did most of the cutting for me.

Melt the wax together using a double boiler system.  I used the entire gasket and about 1/2 c. of candle wax.  Do yourself a favor and use a coffee can instead of a pot or you'll be cleaning the wax out of your pot for a long time.

When melted, dip the strands of yarn in the wax.  Use a tweezers to fish them out.  Hold the strand over the pot until all the excess wax drips off.  (Don't skip that part.  I was in a hurry and just flopped them out straight onto parchment paper instead of letting it drip...later I had to sit there and pick wax off the strands which was a pain.)

Lay on wax paper or parchment paper to dry/cool.  It only takes a few seconds for them to harden up so they're playable.

Ta-dah!!!

Here's a few ideas of things you can do with the Wikki Stix!

Letter formation

This would be an army man going through a training course.  Micah has a one track mind.  If there aren't explosives involved, he's not interested.

Stick 'em to the window. 

Make jewelry.  Jeremy proposed!  I guess since he's recovering from surgery I can overlook the fact that he didn't get down on one knee.  ;-)

Make your guinea pig a harness and a bow.

And if you're a future PK, I guess you make Jesus on the cross out of Wikki Stix.  :-P  I can't believe he chose to make this.  He was really proud.  I guess we've been talking about Easter a lot.  Poor Jesus has a huge frowny face.  :-(  

A word of warning:  Just like commercial Wikki Stix...these can leave behind a residue.  If that happens, use a DRY paper towel to wipe it up.  At first I was really distraught about it not being completely mess-free and then I realized it's no harder to clean up than playdough or fingerpaint.  Sticking them on the windows kept Liliana entertained for 30 minutes and took me less than 2 minutes to clean up.