Balloon sword

Materials: a balloon and an air pump.

Buy balloons on Amazon (paid link): 

https://amzn.to/3ghxhW6

 Buy an air pump on Amazon (paid link): 

https://amzn.to/3mW1DyJ 

There are some basic rules for balloon twisting. You twist bubbles starting from the mouth/nozzle end of the balloon and pushing the air to the flat tail. Twist all bubbles in the same direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise). Stretch the bubbles slightly apart when you twist them. This reduces the friction between bubbles and prevents bubbles from popping up. Twist each bubble at least two times; it will keep the air inside of the bubble. Always hold the twisted bubbles until you have securely locked them in the lock twist. To make the lock twist means to connect both ends of one bubble or both ends of a chain of bubbles in one twist. Without the lock twist the bubbles will untwist. The hardest part is to hold a number of unlocked bubbles in one hand; here is a hint to help this. You need to hold only the first and the last bubbles of the chain of any number of bubbles. Don’t squeeze the bubble but just hold it in your hand. You may help yourself by holding the bubbles with any part of your body. Hold the bubbles in your hands, between your knees or under your armpit. You may also ask some one to help you to hold the bubbles while you twist and secure them in the lock twist. Inflate and tie off the balloon leaving up to 1/4 inch of the flat tail (Pic 1).

Twist the first two—inch bubble. Hold the mouth/nozzle end of the balloon in your left hand—palm up(if you right handed) at the point where you decided to twist the bubble. It’s point A on the scheme (Pic 2).

Put your right palm down next to the twist point (Pic 3).

Hold the balloon in your both hands (Pic 4).

Turn your left hand inward and your right hand outward (Pic 4a and 5).

You have made the first bubble. Hold the first bubble in your left hand. Hold the rest of the balloon with two fingers (the thumb and the index finger) of your left hand (Pic 6).

Hold the first bubble in your left hand—palm up and the rest part of the balloon in your right hand—palm down (Pic 7).

Turn your right hand outward (Pic 8).

Hold the first bubble and the rest of the balloon in your left hand (Pic 9).

You have made two turns to twist the first bubble. Twist the second twelve—inch bubble. Keep holding the first bubble in your left hand and fold the balloon in your left hand. Hold the folded balloon at the point where you decided to twist the second bubble (point B on the scheme) between the thumb and the index and the middle fingers of your left hand (Pic 10).

Take the rest of the balloon in your right hand palm—down (Pic 11).

Turn your right hand outward (Pic 12).

You have made the second and the third bubbles. Hold the first and third bubbles in your left hand (Pic 13).

Hold the first and second bubbles in your left hand palm—up. Hold the third bubble in your right hand palm—down (Pic 14).

Turn your right hand outward (Pic 15).

Hold all three bubbles in your left hand only (Pic 16).

You have twisted the second bubble with two turns. The next step is to lock both ends of the second bubble in one lock twist. Hold the first and third bubbles in your right hand palm—down. Hold both ends of the second bubble in your left hand palm—up (Pic 17).

Turn your right hand outward (Pic 18).

You should force the free (unlocked) end of the first bubble between the second and the third bubbles (Pic 19). This step is marked with arrows between points A and B on the scheme.

As always you have to make a couple of turns to secure the twist. Hold the first and second bubbles
 in your right hand palm—down and both ends of the second bubble in your left hand palm hand—up (Pic 20).

Turn your right hand outward (Pic 21).

You have locked both ends of the second bubble in one lock twist. All twisted ends of the three bubbles are locked. Fold and push the free end of the third bubble through the loop of the second bubble (Pic 22 and 23).

Adjust the size of the handle of the sword (it’s the loop of the third bubble) by pushing the third bubble through the loop of the second bubble as far as you desire (Pic 24).

You may straighten the blade of the sword by bending it in the opposite direction (Pic 25).

Congratulations, you have made the sword (Pic 26). 

Have fun and happy twisting :)