Hula hoops
June 30, 2011
Every morning this week, Kate and I have been hanging out together while Jane is at drama camp. Originally, Kate was supposed to be at camp, too, but because of a scheduling snafu, it didn't happen. In an effort to make her week fun, we came up with a list of some projects and activities that the two of us could do together. After reading Elizabeth's post which was part of Amanda's Soulful Mothering series (such a lovely group of posts, don't you think?), we decided to make our own hula hoops yesterday morning.
It was just as easy as it looks in the video. Seriously. The only downfall was that we weren't able to buy the pipe by the foot, so I now have enough pipe to make hula hoops for the entire neighborhood. Ok, that may be a slight exaggeration, but I did have to buy a 100' coil of 3/4" poly pipe which will make 10 hula hoops. Suffice it to say that we will be making these for birthday party gifts for the next year. If you can find a local hardware store that will cut the pipe by the foot, it really is a low-cost project. We used a combo of duct tape and electrical tape to decorate the hoops, a lot of which we had on hand.
The finished hoop is great. It's heavier than the ones you buy at the toy store making it easy for even this 40 year old to do. Seriously. I really thought that I had lost my hooping mojo as I cannot get the cheap plastic ones to stay up. Not the case! It was all the hoop, not me. Very reassuring, I tell you. So naturally, I'm going to need my very own, especially since it's a great ab workout. Or maybe because I want to use that super sparkly silver tape. Or maybe both.
I love hula hooping but I totally agree, they aren't heavy enough! Besides, with a heavier one, you'd get a better workout, right? I never thought to make my own but this is fantastic, especially with all the awesome patterned duct tapes out right now. SO FUN!!
Posted by: Shannon | June 30, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Ooh, the fun I had with my hula hoops when I was in grade school. I had a yellow one with a small red stripe and a red one. I could twirl one over my head while keeping the other one going on my waist. It was a blast! Thanks for the memories.
Posted by: Nancy | June 30, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Since you have so much extra pipe lying around try making an extra large one, something larger than you think you could possibly hula with - I tried one of those at a fair a few years ago and it's a BLAST to get that one spinning. I would say it was almost 5 foot across? I had a hard time holding it up, it was so wide. But super fun.
Posted by: Jamie | June 30, 2011 at 12:39 PM
They look brilliant. I loved that tutorial. Very cool indeed.
Posted by: Claire | June 30, 2011 at 01:10 PM
so fun! My kids were hula hooping last night - I bet they'd love this project.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | June 30, 2011 at 01:17 PM
Where did you get your tubing?? I've been looking and haven't had any luck. I'm even willing to buy the whole 100' roll! I went to a couple of hooping classes at my yoga studio and it's fun (well, except for the bruises . . .)
Posted by: Anna in Atlanta | June 30, 2011 at 03:39 PM
I would love to know where you got your tubing! I saw that post too, and promptly went to the store to buy some supplies and had no luck! I went to 5 (seriously) hardware stores and got a lot of strange looks from the guys working there when I told them what I wanted and why:) You said "poly pipe" is that what you asked for? Is that Pex? Sorry, I know this should be simple, but I'm confused!
Thanks!!!!
Posted by: Janelle in PA | June 30, 2011 at 03:44 PM
I bought the tubing at Lowe's. It's in the plumbing department. Ask for black poly pipe.
Posted by: Erin | house on hill road | June 30, 2011 at 03:58 PM
Yes, I asked for poly pipe. I bought it at Lowe's in the plumbing department. It only comes in black, but in two weights. I went with the 160 over the 100 at the recommendation of the employee whose girlfriend also makes hula hoops!
Posted by: Erin | house on hill road | June 30, 2011 at 04:00 PM
Love it! We have been wanting to make our own, since a friend let me borrow hers. She had assured me that with my own hoop, I could keep it up. She was right. We now have the supplies and are ready to make our own hoops today.
Posted by: Heather | June 30, 2011 at 04:45 PM
That video had me inspired to make hula hoops too!
Posted by: Jenn | June 30, 2011 at 05:14 PM
What a totally cool project!!!
Posted by: krista - Poppyprint | June 30, 2011 at 06:09 PM
I have been wanting to make one for a couple of years! Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: weedwacker | June 30, 2011 at 06:22 PM
we have made hula hoops too, and love to learn new tricks off of http://www.hoopgirl.com/. she's amazing and we love how we can watch one trick at a time until we can master it! have a blast! :) hooping is a laugh out loud activity for sure.
Posted by: kat | June 30, 2011 at 09:04 PM
I have a few hoops I've made over the years in my backyard as well! We also had to buy enough hoop for the neighborhood ;) But that's OK! You can make different weight ones, and ones with small pebbles in it! Or with WATER, for a little weight! (not too much though!)
Posted by: Caroline | July 02, 2011 at 03:30 AM
We're having fun with hoops here too! Great fun and great exercise.
http://www.prettylittlenest.com/2011/06/were-like-mayberry-with-twist.html
Posted by: Christina | July 02, 2011 at 11:36 PM
Thank you!:)
Posted by: Janelle | July 04, 2011 at 08:03 PM
We watched the same video with serious excitement! Store bought hoola hoops always end up no longer a circle around here..(cough cough boy in the house) This is so on our list for this week.
Posted by: gina | July 05, 2011 at 12:46 PM
We did this, too! We found a 50 foot roll at Home Depot, so we made one for each of us.
Posted by: Visty | July 06, 2011 at 03:34 PM
I just created a spectacle in the ACE hardware of Knoxville, TN. It went something like this: found tubing - not enough. Found 10" lengths of BLUE or RED water supply tubing. Super strong ACE man forced connecter together for me. DONE. I tried it out, he tried it out, other employees came by (swearing they couldn't do it) and also did some hula hooping. It was hilarious. Thanks for the idea.
Posted by: lisa | July 06, 2011 at 04:07 PM
nice
Posted by: Cu Ni Tubes | March 07, 2017 at 01:30 PM
great
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