With a marking pen, mark your straw into 1 cm lengths, one straw makes at least 19 lengths.  With a sharp pair of scissors or craft knife, cut the straw into pieces.

Take your length of yarn, double it and thread the two free ends through your tapestry needle.  Take the needle through the hole in the centre of the straw, then pass the needle through the loop at the other end of the yarn.  Continue winding the yarn all the way round the straw, keeping the strands as close together as possible.  Carry on covering the straw until you have used up all the yarn in the needle.  Cut the yarn close to the finished ball to finish off.

You can make your own ball bands if you wish.  Or you can click on the 'Printables' link to access an assortment of different ball bands I have made.  I have also included some mini crochet patterns you can print out and pop into your mini workbasket if you wish.

Cut out the ball band.  Then run a blade of your scissors down the length of it to give it a slight curve.  Place the band round your ball of yarn, add a dab of PVA glue to hold.

Click on the ball of wool for the link to the ball bands