A Quest For Pipecleaners

This week, I have been on a quest for pipe cleaners. It was one of those things where I didn't realise that it would be a quest until I started looking for them and realised that there is 1. a massive London shortage of craft shops and 2. a massive lack of knowledge of what pipe cleaners actually are.

I swear that many of my childhood crafting sessions, both at school and at home, involved pipe cleaners. They were essential legs, connectors, edges, amongst other things, but I just can't imagine not knowing what they are!

After wandering around a few shops asking for them and getting totally blank looks, or just weird offers of drain unblockers and sink plungers, I began to wonder if maybe I'd imagined their existence, or at least just called them by some weird name that no one else had hear of?? When I tried to explain to people that they were small pieces of wire, with fluff on that you used for crafting, I usually got a terrified look and was ushered out of the shop!

Luckily wikipedia reassured me:

A pipe cleaner or chenille stem is a type of brush originally intended for removing moisture and residue fromsmoking pipes. Besides cleaning pipes, they can be used for any application that calls for cleaning out small bores or tight places. Special pipe cleaners are manufactured specifically for cleaning out medical apparatus^[1]and for engineering applications.^[2] They are popular for winding around bottle necks to catch drips, bundling things together, colour-coding, and applying paints, oils, solvents, greases, and similar substances.

Contents   [hide]  1 Description 2 Crafts 3 Manufacture 4 References

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Crafts

Many children enjoy bending pipe cleaners into various shapes.^[3] "Craft" pipe cleaners are usually made with polyester or nylon pile and are often longer and thicker than the "smoking" type, and available in many different colors. Craft pipe cleaners are not very useful for cleaning purposes, because the polyester does not absorb liquids, and the thicker versions may not even fit down the stem of a normal pipe.

Phew!! They do really exist. This brings me on to the lack of craft shops in London. I happen to have moved within walking distance of Goldhawk Road, which is very exciting fabric wise as it means I can just stroll along and look at fabric to my hearts content. But even though they do have a very good selection of fabrics, and a few haberdashery sections, they are in massive need of a general craft store. I think one of the main reasons is that I was spoilt by Creativity (http://creativitycraft.com/), the amazing craft shop I used to work in in Bristol. They stock everything crafty, in all different genres, and what won't fit into the jam packed full shop, is still stored in the basement, in case anyone asks for it. It is an absolutely amazing shop, and I tend to wait until I go home to visit my family and stock up then. 

For the meantime, I will continue my quest for pipe cleaners in London and also good craft stores!!