Whew, Crocheters!
It’s been a big adventure making these Hot Air Balloon Nursery Mobiles, hasn’t it? Well, it’s time to put it all together!
Welcome to Part III of the Hot Air Balloon Nursery Mobile Tutorial.
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Special Tools for Mobile installation
Sewing needle and white or light-colored sewing thread for attaching Balloon Tops to Baskets and hanging Hot Air Balloons and Clouds to mobile frame
12” x 20” Quilter’s Wooden Embroidery Hoop to serve as mobile frame
Small amount of Color H yarn (light blue for sky). See Part I for more information on tools and supplies.
Mug Hook for ceiling installation
Lighting Inserts (Optional, but so fun!) You can use battery-powered flameless tea light candles to add a charming lighting element to 1 or 2 of your hot air balloons by placing the candle into the balloon basket for easy access to turn on and off. For an even more authentic hot air balloon experience, use a flameless candle that has a flickering effect! This functions as a sweet nightlight for your little one or pretty piece of home décor OR since the tea lights won’t fit into the smallest balloon basket, another idea would be to use a small string of battery-included LED fairy lights which can be tucked up inside the Hot Air Balloon Top.
Are you ready to get this bad boy strung up and hung up?
Let’s do it!
ATTACH BASKET ROPES TO BASKETS
Use a yarn needle to thread each Basket Rope through every other space at the top of the Basket. Secure rope by tying the beginning and ending yarn tails in a knot to close the rope, and weave in the yarn tails inside the basket to hide them. Adjust the drape of the ropes to your liking. You can steam them gently to relax the yarn. Repeat for other 2 Baskets.
ATTACH BASKET TO BALLOON TOP
Use sewing thread to attach balloon basket to lower edge of Balloon. Weave or tuck any thread ends into the Balloon or Basket to secure. Insert optional lighting feature.
WRAP MOBILE FRAME
Use Color H (or any color desired) to wrap the entire embroidery hoop with yarn. Weave in beginning and ending yarn tails to secure.
ATTACH CHARMS TO MOBILE FRAME
To install your balloon mobile or installation, use sewing thread to thread a long hanging loop evenly through the top of your hot air balloon. Tuck the knotted end inside the balloon to keep it out of sight. I like to use a screw-in mug hook as a ceiling hanger. Hang hot air balloon from the thread loop. Repeat for other Hot Air Balloons and Clouds, hanging them at varying levels to please your eye.
CROCHET HANGING CORDS
Join Color H centered at the narrow end of the mobile frame and create mobile hanging chains by chaining desired length across long space of mobile frame. Repeat across width of mobile frame. Weave in yarn ends. Create another loop to go around these 2 chain cords that will allow you to adjust the position of the mobile once hung. Weave in all yarn ends.
STAND BACK AND ENJOY WHAT YOU’VE CREATED!
It was quite a maker’s adventure!
Thank you for joining me on this beautiful adventure into the clear, blue skies of Crochetland, I hope you’ll come back to find out what I’m making next.
Because there’s always a new adventure waiting on the horizon.
on a personal note…
I’ll leave you with a slideshow of photos that tell the story of a sunrise hot air balloon adventure I was able to take with my husband to celebrate our 10th anniversary, the inspiration behind this project.
Wishing you love and happiness in all your creations, and those for whom you create!
Yours in Stitches,
Sara
Use #sarakayhartmann to share your Hot Air Balloon Adventure on Instagram.
Visit me at sarakayhartmann.com for more inspiring crochet patterns!
Check out my first nursery mobile, the Crochet Butterfly Mobile!
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