The bar is the oddest “wheel” that comes with Spirograph sets. This video is just an introduction to it, demonstrating hole 1 in both rings. With ring 144/96, the bar produces a 12-pointed pattern. With ring 150/105 it makes 21 points. So using … Continue reading →
I made a video to demonstrate a design from the Spirograph instruction booklet that uses the oval wheel in ring 150/105. Hole 13 is off-center and makes an asymmetrical pattern, but when you flip the oval wheel over, it makes … Continue reading →
Lots of people seem to be interested in videos of the designs in the Spirograph booklets getting made. So here’s another, using wheel #80 in ring 150/105. I used my own choice of colors, of course, which is half the … Continue reading →
I just made a new video in which I draw a couple of the designs in the booklet that comes with the new Spirograph and also older models. There are 4 wheels that give you a 7-pointed design when used with … Continue reading →
I created the pinwheel GIF animation below in Adobe Photoshop. Technical details: I scanned the image and cropped it to be square and centered. I duplicated the first layer and rotated it one degree, duplicated the new layer, rotated, and … Continue reading →
A quick video retrospective of 50 years of Spirograph commercials and artifacts in a minute and a half. I particularly like the headline, “Toy for children sets adult world on fire.” As many posts on this site demonstrate, it isn’t … Continue reading →
Making Spirograph designs is a bit like riding a bike. Once you get it, you won’t likely forget it – at least that was my experience, because I learned it as a child, and had no trouble coming back to … Continue reading →
A reader, Paul, asked a question on another post: I found my son’s Spirograph glitter set that we purchased as a Christmas gift in the the early 90s (I think). His daughter is trying to learn how to use it. … Continue reading →
I made another video demonstrating how to make a 5-pointed pinwheel design. This design is not for beginners – I’ve labeled it “Intermediate”. See more tips below the video. You can use this technique with other wheel and ring combinations. It works … Continue reading →
