Needles 'n' Knowledge: Bats On Stands Assembly Tutorial

Spooky-fun Halloween decor.

Fancy cut bat overlays with optional contrast bat base,

offset main bat base (built up multi layers for strength)

with slotted back bat base to hold the dimensional "body".

Tall "Swirls" overlay design fits a commercial

jewels decoration by "Recollections", 11" tall.

Medium "Filligree" overlay measures

approx. 10.125" tall

Hex post (with optional 5/16" dowel inside for strength)

inserts through body at top and two-level stand

with riser at bottom.

Optional accent shapes (offset slightly) can decorate

base sides & top, riser panels.

ASSEMBLY: NOTE: Model being constructed here is
"Swirls" variation. Assembly is identical for both designs.
1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A main bat (overlay)
B contrast bat base
C body build up/reinforcement
D back body (with back body slots)
E back body E2 back body top cover

F main base shape (shown with side accent shapes)
G base side extention (with side accent shapes)
H top accent panel I base bottom cover
J riser (shown with accent shapes)
K pole shape L pole anchor build up circles (8)
M optional pole collar

2. If desired, swirl jewels from "Recollections"

Halloween set can be used to decorate the

swirls of the main bat (overlay).

(This set is seasonally available [2016] from

Michael's crafts. Labeled as "Bling Stickers',

with a bar code number 886946933455.)

Determine which portions of the various swirls

in the set fit on the large and smaller swirls of

the overlay, trim with scissors to separate,

then apply to the overlay.

Here you can see the right wing swirls in place,

and the mirror image left swirls section as its

main swirl may fit onto the swirls on that side

of overlay.

3. Position and attach the bat front (overlay) onto

the contrast base.

4. Prepare the back body shape by bending back

on all perforation lines for panels and tabs.

6. Identify the end of the body that should be placed

as "UP" by finding the arrowhead in an upper

tab.

7. Complete angle first top angle seam by

overlapping the straight edge over the adjacent

tab to perf line, and gluing in place.

Complete all angle seams for upper and

lower ends of back body.

9. Apply adhesive, then bend the top end
panel down into place and secure.
Repeat for the bottom end panel.

10. Insert the back body tabs - with

top end at top of body - into corresponding slots

on the back body.

On the backside of back body, bend the tabs

toward the center . . .

. . . using the body opening to reach fingers inside

to apply pressure to attach tabs to body.

NOTE it may be helpful to use a flat blade tool

such as this spatula to reach under to provide

a "press against" surface

11. Layer and join the body build up shapes,

one at a time, taking care to line up all cut edges

precisely. NOTE that it may be helpful to

use flat weight(s) to press the assembly during

the glue curing process to prevent warping.

12. Position and attach decorative bat body assembly,

center with offset margin all around, on the front

of the body build up stack.

13. Position and attach the buildup/decorative front

unit on the backside of the body back,

taking care to line up all cut edges.

As glue is curing, be sure to apply sufficient

pressure next to the angles of the body

to make sure back does NOT pull away.

14. Prepare the main stand base and the side extension

base shapes by bending back on all perforation lines

for cross bends and tabs except fold forward

on the horizontal line below the tab or top panel

perforation lines. (NOTE this creates the

upper platform side walls as shown near the

fingers on the right side of image.)

15. Position and attach the lower & upper long and short

accent strips to corresponding panels of the stand base.

Position and attach the top accent panel, making sure

that slots line up.

16. Join the side extension to the main stand base

by overlapping the side edge of the lower portion

of the extension at the corresponding lower tab

as shown.

17. Bend the first unattached section into position

to line up the diagonal edge at the

adjacent angled tab, and complete the seam.

Bend and adjust the two top portions of the seam

to line up edge at tab perforation, and

complete the seam.

18. Continue to complete the two-part seams all around

the base in the same manner.

19. Form the base side and extension into a ring

to bring the remaining seam edges together

like the previous side seams, and complete

the final sequence of seams to complete

the base.

20. Bend the top tabs inward, then bend the top

of the stand down into position, adjust edges,

and glue underside to tabs.

21. Prepare the riser shape by bending back

on all perforation lines at tabs and panels.

Position and attach the upper accent shapes

as shown.

22. Form the first angled seam by bending
the straight cut edge to overlap the adjacent
wedge tab to perforation line, and glue in place.
Complete the remaining 4 angled seams
in the same manner.

23. Form the riser into a tube to bring together
the straight edges and perforation lines.
Overlap the long upper edge and tab first
and complete the seam,
then position and attach the lower portion
of the seam.

24. Bend upper tabs toward center,

then bend top into position, adjust, then

attach to tabs.

Turn the riser form top down on a flat surface

then reach in with finger tip to apply pressure

to top panel underside to complete seams.

25. Insert the riser tabs into the slots on the

top panel of the base form . . .

. . . then bend tabs outward on the underside
of the base top, and hold in place
until secure.

26. Prepare the pole anchor form by

stacking and gluing the 8 circles together,

one at a time, making sure that the center hex

cut edges line up as exactly as possible.

27. Position and attach the anchor on the inside of the base
bottom, positioning so that the hex hole of anchor
lines up exactly with the hex hole of the bottom panel.

28. To give the stand more stability, procure metal washers

such as those shown here (Fender Washers 1.25" or so) . . .

. . . then hot glue one centered at each end

on the underside of base's roof.

Position and attach two more washers side by

side in the same position as first washer

on each end.

29. Bend the bottom tabs toward the center,

then bend the bottom panel into position and glue

to the tabs.

30. Prepare the pole shape by bending back on each

of the long perforation lines. Also bend top hex "lid"

and tabs back, and bottom tabs outward.

31. Form the shape into a tube to bring the long
straight edge to overlap the opposite tab
to perforation line, and glue in place.
NOTE it will be necessary to work finger pressure
up and down, along the entire seam to secure it.

HINT: It will also be helpful to insert a 5/16" diam.
wooden down as a form inside the tube
to help tighten the tube into its correct size,
to achieve alignment of the edge to tab perf line.

32. Measure and cut to size the wooden dowel

to the length of the pole excluding the top lid,

and also excluding bottom tabs.

Insert cut dowel and push in fully so that
the top is flush with the pole panel top edge.
33. Bend the top "lid" into position, bend tabs
to wrap around pole ends, and glue in place.