How to Create DIY Octahedrons for Himmeli Mobiles
Imaginative Crafts, Do-It-Yourself Projects and Video Tutorials by Robert Mahar, robert-mahar.com
This video tutorial is part of Robert’s Creative Live class Simple Himmeli Mobiles.

Materials:
Plastic coffee stirrers
Heavy duty thread

Tools:
Scissors

Directions:
1. Each octahedron is constructed from 12 individual stirrers — so count out 12 and set them in front of you.

2. Measure out approximately 1 yard of heavy duty thread.  Thread three stirrers and tie into a triangle formation, leaving a 2″ to 3″ tail.  Position the triangle on your work surface with the corner where you just tied your knot pointing away from you.

3. Thread two more stirrers onto the longest tail and tie to the lower right hand corner of your existing triangle.  The formation will now look like two triangles, the first pointing away from you the second adjacent one pointing at you.

4. Thread two more stirrers onto the longest tail and tie to the upper right hand corner of the triangle you just created.  The formation will now look like three adjacent triangles.  Continue this step two more time, until the formation looks like five adjacent triangle and you have just one stirrer left.

5. Thread your final stirrer onto the longest tail, stretch it across to the short tail created when you made your first triangle and tie the two tails together. Double knot and trim the tails.

6. You now have two loose triangular flaps – pull them towards each other and they’ll touch at their points.  Cut a short length of thread and tie these two points together.  You’ve just created the first octahedron for your himmeli mobile!  Learn how to construct a full himmeli mobile by viewing Robert’s Creative Live class Simple Himmeli Mobiles.