Thread: Ostrich Fan question

Hi ladies,

I'm a burlesque newbie in NYC, I have a fan construction question I hope someone can answer. I bought a pair on Sally Rand Jr sized fans on ostrich. com a few months back, they we're the least expensive ones on the site-I bought the ones that came assembled. Anyway when I got the fans, they seemed a little cheap looking (and they we're NOT cheap btw). So I disassembled them and hotglued in two more sets of ostrich feathers to the back side of the staves and now they look much more lux but for the life of me, I CANNOT figure out how to re-string them so that the staves stay even;y spaced ! Do I need to make a knot after each stave ? Is there an easy way to do this ? The holes on the staves are pretty small and hard to find behind the feathers. Also I find that fishing line is hard to work with. What do you ladies use ? Any tips ?Thanks in advance for any advice or assistance.

-Beelzebabe, The Siren of Sodom

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I have those fans, and I've made a couple of sets from those staves.

For the wire, if you can't find fishing line, try going to craft shops and buying clear nylon beading thread. You might need to buy quite a thick, heavy line, but it's strong and works well.

First of all, arrange the staves so that they are evenly spaced. If you tighten the bolt, they should stay in place as long as you don't put too much force on them. Cut a decent length of the nylon thread, longer than you think you need, and thread on end through one of the small holes on the end stave. If you start on the left hand outer stave, I would use the right hand hole, and I would use the lower set of holes. With the thread through this hole, tie it around the edge of the stave, using a double or even a triple knot and pulling it tightly to make sure it is fully secured. The take the free end and thread it through the right hand hole of the next stave. Knot the thread - a single knot will do here - and pull it tight. Then move on to the next stave, again, using the right hand hole. Keep on threading and knotting, using the same hole in each stave, until you get to the final stave, where you do exactly the same but use a double or triple knot again. Once you're satisfied that the thread is knotted securely, cut off any excess.

Hope that helps!

Thank you that's really helpful. It's hard to navigate around the feathers though, isn't it ? Ah the high price of glamour : )

Originally Posted by beelzebabe

Thank you that's really helpful. It's hard to navigate around the feathers though, isn't it ? Ah the high price of glamour : )

Yes, it is! Be patient, use pliers or tweezers if you have to, but you'll get there in the end ^_^

I used a thick needle on the end of my fishing line when I threaded mine, made it a lot easier! xxx

I will try that. Thanks !

ok not meaning to hijack but didnt seem worth creating a new thread...

when i see staves online on ostrich.com etc...is there one set of staves (ie one fan) or two in a pack???

It seems such a dense question i know!!!

Looks like each set gives 12 acrylic staves which=1 fan. So you need 2 kits. and your feathers (or whatever materials your making fans from)

thanks...have looked at them but it isnt letting me see how much they are or add them to a basket,....may just give up on them and look elsewhere...

Originally Posted by Miss May Hemm

ok not meaning to hijack but didnt seem worth creating a new thread...

when i see staves online on ostrich.com etc...is there one set of staves (ie one fan) or two in a pack???

It seems such a dense question i know!!!

There should be two listings. One is a STAVE listing - you get one stave, as in, one piece of plastic. The other is a KIT listing - you get twelve plastic staves, nut, bolt, and assorted washers, plus wires and fishing line. If you want to buy enough to make a pair of fans, you need to buy two kits.