Suggestions for using the bottlecap:

Option A requires an S-hook, B does not! 
BUT: If you plan to switch heads frequently without restringing, you MUST use Option A. 
Switching heads: Pull up on the head + bottlecap. Stick a pen or clamp/hemostat through the pair of elastic strings, making sure it will catch both strings when the elastic is released. You can safely unhook the S-hook and de-thread the elastic through the bottlecap. You will have to squish the knot through, so make the larger hole if you plan to do this. Then take off the head. Put the new one on. Pull the elastic back up through the neck, the bottlecap, and re-hook the S-hook through both lines of elastic. 


1. Take a bottlecap off a 2-liter or 1-liter soda bottle. Using sharp scissors, trim off some of the sides until they are only about 1/4" high. 
2. Cut EITHER 
   A.  [requires one S-hook] 1/4" diameter hole in the top:  O
   B.  [does NOT need S-hook] two short slots (about 1/4" long and  about 1/4" apart:  | |
3. START WITH THE BOTTLECAP when stringing. Place the bottlecap inside the head, either open-side up or open-side down. I prefer open-side down, so the edges don't scrape your fingers when changing the eyes. Then take your (pre-tied) long loop of elastic for the body. It doesn't have to be exactly right, you will be able to adjust the length and tightness when you are done.  Fold the loop in half. 
   A.  If you had cut a O-hole, start with the knot and fold above the bottlecap. Put the S-hook through the knot and half-way point of the elastic. This makes two loops, stuff them down inside the hole of the bottlecap. 
   B.  You started with two slots in the cap. Take your (pre-tied) elastic loop, place the knot and the 1/2way-point on the bottlecap across the two slots. Stuff each of the loops down one of the slots.
4. Now string each loop down inside the neck, and out one leg-hole. It should stick out a few inches. String it down through the thigh, then the calf, then do that lark's-knot (thanks for the name laura!) to attach the foot. Repeat with other leg. 
5. Presto! You are strung. Because the knot is above the bottlecap, you can now tighten it as needed. If you used Option A the bottlecap should hold the S-hook right above the neck hole, so it shouldn't interfere with the eyes. If you used Option B, you didn't need one, no problem!

marta/astrosnik