Whiteley Creek Homestead

I thought a spider web would be nice… a really BIG one. After selecting the perfect opening on my front porch,

I gathered supplies. I purchased the twine at our local Ace Hardware. Even though the prices are a bit higher than the bigger stores (e.g., Fleet Farm, Home Depot, Menards), I love the small town coziness I feel as soon as I walk in the door. This project and Ace were a good match. It felt right. 

In one hour's time, Dick and I had completed our project.  

Here's how we did it. Choose a frame in a location where the spider web wil be frequently seen. Using a retractable metal tape measure, mark the halfway point along the top and bottom and left and right sides. Insert a cup hook at each marking. Secure a length of cooking twine between the cup hooks creating a vertical and horizontal framework. Cut a long length of string and begin forming a spiral by tying the string onto the vertical and horizontal support strands. After circling round and round several times and you see a spiral forming, add in secondary supports at the top and bottom by measuring and marking so that you end up with four equal segments. Insert a cup hook at each marking. Cut a length of string and knot it firmly at the web's center. Stretching the string in a diagonal direction, tie a knot everytime you intersect with the spiral. When you run out of spiral, pull the string firmly and secure to the cup hook. Repeat with the remaining diagonal supports. Adding in the diagonal supports after completing a partial spiral allows you to tighten up the strings that have sagged. To complete the spiral, cut another length of string and continue circling around and tying a knot at each vertical and diagonal support. When completed, slide the knots so the lengths of string are taut. A drop of waterproof glue on each knot will prevent them from shifting in the wind.