Christy Howden | Community Contributor

So you are mixing the family worlds for Thanksgiving. Hula hoop making is great activity to get the party started and create a memorable Thanksgiving holiday.

Don’t let anyone pooh-pooh the idea and say they can’t hoop; they just need a custom sized one. The kids’ hoops that are sold in stores do not work for adults since they are too small and require a much quicker movement to keep going than folks think. These hoops are very durable and heavier and will not kink, so they are especially great for adults who would like to strengthen their cores.

A trip to the home improvement store is required, but all the supplies can be purchased at one time at one place.

How to make a Hula Hoop

Supplies:

- Â¾-inch irrigation tubing 100PSI or so (one coil of 100 feet will make eight to 10 hoops)
- 1-inch colored tapes (get six rolls for one spool of tube) - electrical tape is available at hardware stores or duct tape online
- ¾-inch pipe connector one per hoop (Lowe’s has the preferred ones that disappear)
- A hand saw or PVC ratcheting cutter ($13)
- Scissors for snipping tape
- Pot of very hot water or heat gun or hair dryer

Cost to make eight to 10 plain hoops is approximately $30. The tapes will add to the expense as will the purchase of tools.

Instructions:

1. Cut irrigation tubing to size. Generally the hoop should come up to your belly button. The larger the hoop, the easier it is to keep it going around, so make a little bigger if you like (especially for kids), but the belly button guideline is a solid starting point for adults. Create a loop to the size you want, mark and cut with PVC ratchet cutter or hand saw.

2. Warm one end of the tube by placing in hot water for one to two minutes, insert one end of pipe connector, push all the way to centerpoint on connector.

3. If you would like to weight your hoop, you can use a funnel and add sand or rice to make it rattle. A weighted hula hoop will move more slowly and is easier to hula hoop, but it will hurt your mid section as it rolls around it until you have built up some core strength.

4. Warm the other end of the tube in boiling hot water two minutes. Quickly insert coupling from other end and push together as quickly as possible to make the coupling disappear into the tub. If necessary, use a hairdryer to warm tubing more if you are unable to slide tube together.

5. Decorate. Start tape at seam and at an angle begin to wrap around hoop. Keep the angle consistent for an even wrap. Go all the way around and star another color slightly overlapping previous color for a striped appearance or go the opposite direction for a criss-cross affect. Continue with additional tapes if desired.

6. Time to hoop! Give the hoop a spin around your waist. The longer the better, and also try reversing directions for some additional burn.

These hoops also make a great birthday party or Scout activity.

Christy Howden is co-owner of TaDaaStudio.com is always searching for and trying new crafts.