I am looking to buy some additional crocheted balls (just some 1") but am having a little difficulty finding a source online. I need them to be a color other than red. Morrissey in Canada carries some balls--any other sources? Maybe my search skills are off--this has been harder than expected!

Thanks--

Flimnar

Morrissey has them in many different colors. They are very fast to deliver.

Otherwise, check with Brett Sherwood. Also check with Jim Riser. Links are at the cups and balls museum. I know how you hate to visit that web site.

It is interesting (and sobering) to visit the Museum--thanks for sharing it online. I'm not a very good window shopper--when I see something really interesting, I want to buy it. A dangerous impulse when one is interested in magic......

Just curious--what kind of balls do you use?

Thanks again for the information.

Flimnar

The kind of balls I use depends on the cups. The kind I like are the Eric Evans balls, and the mini baseballs.

I think Dave Vanvranken (sp?) are selling monkey fist balls. Try sending him a PM here in the Café.

You spelled my name right! I'm impressed.

He was specifically looking for crocheted balls, but yes if you want leather monkey fists, come by and take a look.

Flimnar -- Take a look at Hank Lee's website, he carries the Morrissey crotcheted balls, and I believe they are also available in white or multi-color. See http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/customer/pr......p;page=1 They also carry them in 3/4" size as well. SETH

The 3/4" Morrissey balls are too small for good visibility, and the 1 1/4" balls are closer to 1 3/8" and just a touch too big for me to hide easily. Stevens Magic Emporium ( http://www.stevensmagic.com ) just received a shipment of 1" crocheted white balls that might suit your purpose. They run $20 a set, shipping included, and are very high quality. If you decide to order these balls and use them, order two sets; I waited on a back order for four months.

If you don't have any trouble performing sleights with 1 3/8" balls, the Morrissey balls are absolutely the best value for the money. Not to mention you'd be supporting a terrific company.

Curt

These are the felt balls I am currently making.

They are 100% felt.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/i......lors.gif

I will allow others to comment on them but I have beeen receiving very positive feed from everyone who has seen them. The colors above are the standard color selection.

They can be made to any size necessary. They can be made cheaper with a wooden plug or heavier with a lead plug. However, the consistantly best response is to the all felt balls after people have had time to adjust to them.

Another look at the natural colors with final load balls for comparison:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/i......c731.gif

I have a set of the blue ones. They are very nice and well made. They feel good in the hands.

It is the feel that is addictive Bill. Spongey and yet firm at the same time. Besides C & B a couple of guys are playing with them for Three-ball routines like Roth's.

How easy is it to classic palm a felt ball, lets say compared to monkey fist (which I do not have,) Mike Roger's baseballs (which are easy, but almost too sticky) or ordinary crocheted balls?

That I will say depends on your hands and technique. Dry hands are tough for any palming, but with any standard lotion like Vernon's Touch, Garcia's, etc. you should be fine. Of Course, it is impossible to do as spread a CP as you can with a flat edge coin but that is geometry.

Thanks Dave! I got a headache trying to figure out the right spelling!

I make felt covered balls myself, and they do tend to grow on you after a while. They take some time to break in, but once they do I think they offer the palming grip of knitted balls and the stability/ weight of solid core balls. The colors and sizes are almost limitless.

I've been using felt balls for a couple of years now (Payne from the Café got me started) and I think they are great. Especially wonderful for the ren faire look, with leather cups and chop cups, or just to have something unique.

Plus you can have matching load balls any size you wish. I've made them as large as baseballs before.

Using a solid core saves a lot of time and effort.

I have a feeling I'm going to try out DaveV's monkeyfist balls to see how I like those.

Check with RNT II. They have balls in a wide variety of sizes. I use their 1 1/2" white, crocheted balls for my chop cup routine. They also stock sets for C&B.

As of today I mastered a method to create adjustable felt chop balls. The method is simple and allows me a range of sizes. I can provide them from .9 to 1.5" in each of my four standard colors.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/i......lors.gif