How to make a paról

What you need:

10 bamboo sticks
A couple sturdy paper straws
15-20 small rubber bands
Floral wire
Scotch tape and/or glue
Colored paper (mulberry paper or vellum paper are good choices)

Steps

Step 1: Start with 2 pairs of sticks, and 2 small rubber bands.

Step 2: Use the small rubber bands to join each pair of sticks at the end.

Step 3: Spread the sticks out to form V’s.

Step 4: Interlock the V’s, as shown.

Step 5: Weave the V’s together, as shown, until the two sides meet to form the top of the star.

Step 6: Use a small rubber band to connect the top of the star.

Step 7: Weave the 5th stick through, as shown.

Step 8: Over and under and over…

Step 9: And under…

Step 10: Connect the final two corners with rubber bands.

Step 11: Straighten everything out until it looks like a star.

Step 12: Wait for mitosis to form two equal copies of the star.

Step 13: Cut a piece of straw, to the thickness of your paról. Usually I make it about the length of one of the sides of the center pentagon. Maybe a little more for a chubbier paról.

Step 14: You’ll need 5 pieces total.

Step 15: Cut a piece of floral wire, about as long as 4 of the straw pieces you just cut.

Step 16: Fold the wire in half to find the center.

Step 17: Wrap the wire around one of the inner corners of the star, as shown.

Step 18: Wrap the wire around once and let the two sides point up, parallel to each other, as shown.

Step 19: Repeat.

Step 20: Pass each pair of wire ends through a straw piece, as shown.

Step 21: Line up the other star and wrap one of the pairs of wire ends around the corresponding inner corner of the other star, as shown.

Step 22: Make sure it’s secure.

Step 23: Repeat.

Step 24: Pinch the outer points of the stars together, and secure with rubber bands

Step 25: Now that’s a sturdy frame! Decorate your paról by cutting pieces of colored paper and taping them to the frame. You can attach tails or tassels to the corners, put trim along the frame, or just keep it simple.

Ang galing! Hang your paról up from a high point of the room or in the front window. Maligayang Pasko to you and your family!