I was reminded last night that I hadn’t been completely forthcoming. The fly shops call it “holographic tinsel” – typically charging between $1.50 and $2 for a small spool.
Joanne’s Craft’s calls it “Sulky Holoshimmer” and rather than the traditional size spool, sells it in the elongated bindle for $3.95 for 250 yards. It’s only available in the fine trout sizes (1/32”) under that label – but a little digging will likely find our medium and large variant.
That’s nearly seven spools of the fly shop size, which cuts your cost down to fifty seven cents per spool (30m).
I took the above picture at Joann’s showing 48 different colors. On closer examination I see duplicates, so it appears more than one size is available from the craft store. I was harried – and throwing elbows to keep the mob back, and may have missed this important detail …
Here’s the life-size view so you can see the pattern and effects. Copper (bottom left), Cranberry, and dark Green (top two) are especially suited for those oddball trout patterns that require a little flash.
I love these spools. The top lifts up exposing a small track that the tag end can be wound around – once the top is pressed down your the tag end is completely secure. Consider saving these spools once the tinsel is exhausted – I’d decant other tinsels or chenille onto them so you don’t tarnish the old metal style (with rubberbands) – and you can avoid the unfettered “mylar explosion” of the newer tinsels.
In this economy we’re making war on the two dollar item …
Tags: Holographic Tinsel, Sulky Holoshimmer, fly tying materials, bulk fly tying materials, war on two dollar items, fly tying
I bought a spool of that stuff for trim on rod wraps. crazy thing is, i don’t have a rod to build. might dig out the spool for some fly patterns now. saw a midge patter just the other day that used a small piece of something like this as the tail.
With 250 yards available, you can be generous with its application. Tails on shad or steelhead flies, etc.
I’d sure like to see that spool mechanism on fly tying threads, it would sure save us a lot of grief.
was that over by the sewing threads?
Interesting… that’s one where I feel the fly-shop pricing isn’t drastically unfair re-branding. I mean, its a much smaller distribution network, so of course the price is going to be higher.
Don’t get me started on “Frog’s Fanny” vs straight-dope hydrophobic fumed silica.
I’ve used the green for the tail on the zug bug pattern. It worked pretty good. I’ll have to add some other colors. I agree I’d love to see that top on other spools.
I’ll bite, how are you going to handel it? cut strips to wrap with what about tension?
ignorance speaking here so educate me….please daddy.
Using it as tails I see but 250yds…lots of tails.
Monty Montana
@Roughfisher – it’s in the embroidery section, surrounded by buttonhole twist silk, and rayon embroidery thread (heavy stuff). If you have trouble getting it you can buy it off the web – I think even Amazon.com stocks it (through a reseller). Just Google “Sulky Holoshimmer.”
@Monty – Sure, I whack off strips just like I would with standard tinsel for most ribbing, but you can make a bobbin for this with a chunk of paperclip… (see prehistoric cave scratching below)
(graphic didn’t work)
(Envision a wish bone, where the top is a loop made from twisted paperclip and whose legs terminate in right angles so they’ll insert themselves at each end of the spool.)
Just bend the wire to fit in the hollow ends and run it through the looped wire at the top. If you want tension, carve a penxil eraser to the same size as the internal spool diameter and thread it on one of the wires that hold the spool.
It’s crude, it works, and it’s cheap.
P.S. Monty – your stuff went out in yesterday’s mail.
The cost goes down significantly more if you watch your newspaper. That is if a newspaper is available in your area.
Joanne’s has an advertisement in every metro weekend newspaper that includes a 40-50% off coupon applicable to one item.
Even better, once per month you will find that they have a thread sale where all items are discounted by 30-40%. You can then purchase all the colors that you will think you will need. As always, this will be more than you actually need.
Great tip, TwoRod. My area is small enough to lack a newspaper of any consequence, but the metropolis close by is much bigger.
Grabbing two or three colors and spinning them together to make a variegated round tinsel can chew up plenty.
The cranberry, copper, and dark green are my current favorites – but come Shad season that’ll switch to the pinks and metallic colors.
Back here, off the right coast, the best that I could do was $4.95 a spool, on line.
When I go into the local craft store, the staff and patrons look at me with a certain off put strain. I feel the need to explain what I’m doing with the yarn and tinsel. But, I’ve found some very buggy stuff.
I just grab, pay, and get out.
@John – I’ve felt the same glare and at times it can weigh heavy. I’ve had to explain myself more than once – to the involuntary shudder of those asking.
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May I request you informing on how to fing medium or large variants of relevant material thanks
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