How to Make Flower Sticks for Juggling: A Practical DIY Guide

To make a flower stick, you need three wooden dowels: one centre stick and two shorter handsticks. You attach a tassel or fringe to each end of the centre stick, then wrap the centre stick and handsticks with tape so they grip each other. The whole build takes one afternoon and uses hardware and craft-shop materials. It needs only basic tools: a saw, sandpaper, scissors and tape. The tassels are what make a flower stick a flower stick. They slow the stick's rotation and make it more forgiving than a plain devil stick, which is why many beginners start with one.

This guide covers flower stick construction from start to finish. It explains the choices you will face, the trade-offs between materials and how to adapt the build for children, groups, small budgets and outdoor use.

What is a flower stick?

A flower stick is a juggling prop. It consists of a centre stick with a tassel, often called a flower, at each end. You control it by tapping and lifting it with two handsticks. The tassels add air resistance and some weight at the ends, so the stick turns more slowly and predictably. Devil sticks and flower sticks are closely related. A devil stick usually has a tapered or weighted shape instead of tassels. A flower stick relies on the fringe to steady its spin.

Home-made flower sticks cost less than shop-bought ones. You can set the length and weight to suit the player and choose your own colours. They may not feel as refined as a professionally balanced set, but a careful build is perfectly usable for learning basic tricks.

What materials do you need to make a flower stick?

You need wooden dowels, material for two tassels, tape for grip and a way to fix the tassels firmly in place. Everything can usually be found in a hardware store and a craft or fabric shop.

Basic materials list

Dowels: one thicker dowel for the centre stick and one thinner dowel, or two short lengths, for the handsticks. Hardwood dowels such as beech or ramin are less likely to bend or snap than soft pine.
Tassel material: ribbon, strips cut from an old bicycle inner tube, leather or faux-leather strips, or thick wool or cord.
Grip tape: cloth sports tape, tennis or badminton overgrip, self-fusing silicone tape, or rubber tubing for the handsticks.
Fixing materials: strong tape such as electrical or duct tape, and optionally small cable ties or a dab of glue.
Decorative tape (optional): coloured vinyl or electrical tape to finish the ends and make the stick easy to spot on grass.

Tools

A small hand saw or a hardware-store cutting service
Medium and fine sandpaper
Sharp scissors or a craft knife and cutting mat
A tape measure and pencil

How long should flower sticks and handsticks be?

A common starting point for an adult is a centre stick of about 60–75 cm (roughly 24–30 inches) including the tassels. Handsticks are usually about 40–50 cm (roughly 16–20 inches). These figures are a rule of thumb, not a fixed standard. Players adjust them to their height, arm length and preference.

For dowel thickness, the centre stick is usually noticeably thicker than the handsticks. Something in the range of about 12–20 mm suits the centre stick, and about 10–12 mm suits the handsticks, depending on what your shop stocks. A thicker centre stick is easier to hit. Thinner handsticks are lighter and quicker to move.

For younger children: make the whole set shorter and lighter so it is easier to control and less likely to bump into faces.
For a shared family set: choose a middle length that teenagers and adults can both use. Make one extra child-sized pair of handsticks if you have room in the budget.
If you are unsure: cut the centre stick slightly long. Trimming a few centimetres later is easy, but adding length is not.

How to make a flower stick step by step

This method uses simple tools and no specialist skills. Allow time for any glue to dry before the first practice session.

Measure and cut the dowels. Cut one centre stick and two equal handsticks to your chosen lengths. If you cut them yourself, mark all the pieces first so the handsticks match.
Sand every end and surface. Round off the cut ends with medium sandpaper, then smooth them with fine sandpaper. Splinter-free ends matter because the sticks will be gripped, dropped and picked up many times.
Prepare the tassels. Cut your tassel material into strips of equal length. The tassels on both ends must match in length, amount and material so the stick stays balanced. Make two identical bundles.
Attach a tassel to each end of the centre stick. Lay the strips evenly around the last few centimetres of the dowel so they hang beyond the end. Bind them tightly with several wraps of strong tape. For extra security, secure the bundle with a cable tie under the tape or a small amount of glue. Tug each strip firmly. A loose tassel will work free during practice.
Cover the binding. Wrap a neat layer of coloured tape over the fixing point. This tidies the join, protects it from wear and helps the stick show up against grass.
Wrap the centre stick for grip. Spiral your grip tape along the length between the tassels, overlapping each turn slightly so no bare wood shows. Keep the tension even so the surface has no lumps. Finish both ends of the wrap with a few turns of tape so they do not peel.
Prepare the handsticks. Wrap the handsticks with silicone tape, rubber tubing or overgrip along most of their length. This tacky surface lifts and catches the centre stick. Some players leave a short bare section at the hand end, while others wrap the full length.
Check the balance. Rest the centre stick on one finger at its midpoint. If it tips to one side, add a few wraps of tape near the lighter end, or trim a little from the heavier tassel, until it balances.
Test and adjust. Try some basic tapping back and forth. If the stick slides off the handsticks too easily, add a grippier wrap. If it feels sluggish, shorten the tassels slightly.

Which tassel material is best for flower sticks?

The best tassel material depends on durability, cost and the conditions you will play in. Heavier, longer tassels slow the spin more, which helps beginners. Lighter, shorter tassels make the stick livelier.

Tassel material	Advantages	Drawbacks	Best suited to
Ribbon or fabric strips	Cheap, colourful, easy to cut and attach	Light, can fray, gets heavy and limp when wet	Low-budget builds, children's sets, indoor or dry-weather play
Bicycle inner tube strips	Durable, water-resistant, adds useful weight, often free from bike shops	Dark colour unless taped, can smell of rubber at first, harder to cut neatly	Outdoor play, beginners who want a slower spin
Leather or faux-leather strips	Good weight, hard-wearing, attractive finish	Costs more, real leather dislikes rain	A longer-lasting set you plan to keep
Wool, cord or frayed rope	Soft, easy to source, forgiving if it hits someone	Tangles, absorbs water, sheds fibres over time	Quick craft sessions with young children

What tape gives the best grip on flower sticks?

For flower sticks, grip comes from friction between the handsticks and the centre stick, so the two surfaces should complement each other. A common pairing is a slightly textured tape on the centre stick and a tackier silicone or rubber surface on the handsticks.

Grip option	Where to use it	Trade-offs
Cloth sports or hockey tape	Centre stick	Inexpensive with a good feel, but it gets dirty and loses grip when wet
Tennis or badminton overgrip	Centre stick or handsticks	Comfortable and grippy, but costs more per metre and wears out with heavy use
Self-fusing silicone tape	Handsticks, sometimes centre stick	Tacky, washable and copes with damp conditions, but it is more expensive and fiddly to wrap neatly
Rubber or silicone tubing	Handsticks	Gives a consistent surface, but it must be a snug fit and can be hard to slide on
Plain electrical or vinyl tape	Decoration and fixing only	Cheap and colourful, but too slippery to rely on for grip

How much does it cost to make flower sticks at home?

The cost depends mainly on the tape and tassel material, because dowels themselves are usually inexpensive. You can scale the build up or down without changing the basic method.

Minimal budget: standard dowels, ribbon or inner tube tassels and cloth tape. Ask a bike shop for discarded inner tubes and use tape you already have at home.
Mid-range: hardwood dowels, inner tube or faux-leather tassels, overgrip on the centre stick and silicone tape on the handsticks.
Group or school set: buy dowels in longer lengths and cut several sets at once. Share rolls of tape across all builds, which usually brings the cost per set down.

How can you turn flower stick making into a group or family activity?

Making flower sticks works well as a shared craft before a park day. The work splits easily into simple jobs. The trick is to do the fiddly preparation in advance so the session stays fun.

What to prepare beforehand

Pre-cut and sand the dowels so no one needs a saw during the session, especially with children present.
Pre-cut tassel strips and sort them into bundles of equal size for each stick.
Make one finished sample so everyone can see the goal.
Set out one kit per person or pair with dowels, tassel bundles and a share of tape.

How to divide the jobs

Younger children can choose colours, hold strips in place and add decorative tape.
Older children and adults can do the tight binding, the grip wrapping and the balance check.
Finish with a short test session so everyone tries their own stick straight away.

How do you take flower sticks to the park?

Flower sticks are light and easy to carry, so they fit naturally into a park day or picnic outing. A little planning keeps the sticks in good condition and keeps practice from clashing with the picnic.

Packing tips

Carry them in a tube, umbrella bag or long tote so the tassels do not tangle or snag on picnic gear.
Pack a small repair kit: a roll of strong tape, a few spare cable ties and small scissors. A loose tassel can then be fixed in a minute instead of ending the session.
Bring a cloth to wipe off grass or mud before putting the sticks away.

Choosing a practice spot

Pick a flat, open area of grass away from picnic blankets, paths, dogs and young children who might wander close.
Leave enough space around each player for a dropped stick to bounce. Dropping is a normal part of learning.
Grass is kinder to dropped sticks than paving, which can chip the ends and scuff the tape.

How does weather affect home-made flower sticks?

Wind, rain and heat all change how flower sticks behave, and some materials cope better than others.

Wind: tassels catch the wind, so the stick drifts more on blustery days. Practise with your back to the wind or choose a sheltered spot behind trees or buildings.
Rain and damp grass: cloth tape and fabric tassels absorb water and lose grip. Untreated wood can swell. If you often play outdoors, choose silicone tape and inner tube tassels. Dry the sticks fully at home before storing them.
Heat and sun: some tape adhesives soften in strong sun, and the ends can start to lift. Keep the sticks in the shade between sessions rather than lying on hot ground or in a car.
Cold: rubber and silicone feel less tacky when cold. A few minutes of handling warms them up.

How do you keep flower sticks in good condition?

Home-made flower sticks need occasional small repairs, mainly to the tape and tassel bindings. Regular quick checks prevent most problems.

Before each session, tug the tassels and check for loose or peeling tape.
Replace worn grip tape when it feels smooth or shiny instead of tacky.
Re-sand any splinters on the handsticks straight away.
Store the sticks flat or hanging, not leaning in a hot corner, so the dowels stay straight.
When replacing a tassel, rebuild both ends together so the stick stays balanced.

Common mistakes when making flower sticks

Most problems with home-made flower sticks come from uneven tassels, weak bindings or the wrong tape.

Mismatched tassels: different lengths or amounts on each end make the stick wobble and pull to one side.
Weak tassel fixing: one layer of tape is rarely enough. Bind tightly in several layers and test with a firm pull.
Slippery tape: vinyl or electrical tape alone looks good, but it gives the handsticks little to grip.
Skipping the sanding: rough ends cause splinters and wear through tape faster.
Making the set too long for the player: an oversized stick is harder to control and slows early progress, especially for children.

Once you know how to make a flower stick, building extra sets is quick. Many people make a second set as soon as a friend or family member wants to join in. Keep the first build simple, test it on a relaxed park afternoon and adjust the length, tassels or grip from there.