Giant Spider Web

You can't have a giant spider without a giant web. It just isn't done! We decided on a web approximately 13x15 feet.

[photo] There's just something about a giant spider web that hits you at an instinctive level.

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Let's weave a giant web!
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Materials

The web is composed of three sections: outer frame; radials; and spiral.

The frame and radials are made from cotton rope, about 1/4" in diameter. The spiral is made from cotton string, 2 or 3 ply.

The exact materials are not critical, but we decided that cotton was important because it easily takes up paint and dye. Synthetic fibers don't color well, and are often slippery and don't hold knots well. A blend with cotton in it would probably do OK.

You probably want the web to stand out in the dark. We decided to illuminate it with black light, giving it a blue-white glow. Some cotton may require treatment with RIT Fabric Whitener and Brightener to get this effect, some will do this straight from the store.

You will also need a large quantity of fabric glue, available in craft and sewing stores. 

 

Technique

The overall technique is simple: tie a bunch of knots, and dab them with fabric glue to make sure they don't slip.

We used clove hitches just about everywere. But just about any knot will do. If you are utterly clueless about knots, borrow the Boy Scout Handbook from the library. Or maybe get a Boy Scout to help out.

In order to help, the fabric glue must touch both pieces of string that are tied. If you just squirt the glue on the outside, it won't help. I like to put a generous squirt of glue between the coils of a knot, and massage the knot with my fingers to get the glue inside. It's messy, but effective. 

 

Procedure

Start by treating your materials for the desired effect under black light. David brought over the rope and string. He had gone to great lengths to marinate all of it in RIT Fabric Whitener and Brightener. The resulting blue-white glow under black light looked great. Then we ran out of string and got some more from Home Depot. It turned out to glow exactly the same intensity and color without the marination step!

[step 2 - radials] Spider web construction starts with a large rectangle made from rope. A loop is tied in each corner, to be used in hanging the web.

Once the perimiter is set down and secured with stakes, it is time to place the radial lines, also of rope.

Here, master haunter David is getting a little help from Erin in placing the radials. Each endpoint is secured with a clove hitch, official knot of the Wolfstone Spider Web Team.

When all the radials are in position, use a piece of string to tie them together in the middle.

Make sure everything is tight, and then anoint all knots with fabric glue, so they won't slip. Wait until all the glue is dry before proceeding.

[step 3 - circular weave] Once the radials are solidly in place, a single continuous length of light string is positioned to spiral out and form the bulk of the webbing.

This is also the bulk of the work, taking hours to complete.


[final product] When you hit the edge, stop. Skip some around the outer edge and pick up the spiral with another piece of string.

Each length of string is secured at each end with a clove hitch, dabbed with fabric glue. Wherever the string crosses rope, the string is looped around once and dabbed with fabric glue.

Here is the final product, waiting for the fabric glue to dry. Note that the web is not perfectly symmetrical, and has occasional gaps - just as you might expect from a natural web.

[final product] The loose ends of rope and string will be trimmed off after the fabric glue is dry. When the web is complete, it can be rolled up for storage. 

 

Related Pages

Make sure you visit all of the pages for the spider project:

Please check out the giant web:

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