CraftSanity on TV: How to make a Hoop

I’ve been completely obsessed with hooping lately. So today on Take Five & Company I showed viewers how to make their own hoops.

Read my Grand Rapids Press hoop fitness story that was published Tuesday for more hooping resources and see a demonstration video by a local hooping performance artist.

Hoop Making 101

The beauty of this project is that just about everything you need can be found at your local hardware store.

Supplies:

* 3/4” 100 PSI poly tubing (This tubing is commonly sold in 100’ coils found in the plumbing aisle)
* 3/4” plastic connector couplings
* Ratcheting PVC cutter
* Electrical or duct tape in a color you like
* Hair dryer
* Rice and small funnel (if you want your hoop to make noise)

Step 1: Unroll some tubing and form a hoop that comes up just above your waist when the bottom of the hoop is resting on the floor. If you’re a beginner you may want to go a little bigger because bigger hoops spin slower and tend to be easier to maneuver

Step 2: Use the PVC cutter to cut the tubing.

Step 3: Heat one end of the tube with a hair dryer and insert coupling half way. (This is the hardest part of the project and requires a bit of muscle. Grunt if it helps, but remember you can do it!)

Optional Step 3.5: Use the funnel to add about a quarter cup of rice to the open end of the hoop.

Step 4: Heat the open end of the tube and insert the remaining half of the coupling to form a hoop. Keep pushing, until both ends of the tubing meet over the coupling.

Step 5: Use duct tape to cover evidence of the join for peace of mind.

Step 6: Get out your tape and start decorating your hoop. You can use duct and or electrical tapes to make a striped hoop, or completely cover your hoop with several layers of overlapping colors.

Done? Congrats! Now it’s time to start hooping. Click here for a YouTube video demonstration from Grand Rapids hooper, Audria Larsen, a.k.a. “Vivacious Miss Audacious.” If this all seems like too much for you, you can buy a custom hoop Larsen’s shop.