Starting From Scratch

Lathe Magic can quickly generate numerous designs for you to use. And patterns can help when you want to make a specific type of item. But sometimes you know what you want to make and just want to get at it. This tutorial will teach you how to start from a simple cylinder and build more complex designs.

See the tutorial Creating Profile Curves for more details on moving design dots.

1. New Cylinder

Select menu item Actions-New Cylinder. A 1 inch high by 1 inch wide cylinder is created.

Click on the Scale All icon at the top of the Front View window.

Then click on the grid located at 1,1.5 as shown in the image to the left. The cylinder will scale to 1.5 inch high by 2 inch wide.

2. Turn it into a bead

Hold down the Ctrl key, hold down the left mouse button while pointing at one of the circular design dots, and drag to the right.

Drag the top red square to the left.

3. Add another block

Select menu item Actions-Set Bead/Cove/Groove/Block Size. Set value to 1 and click on OK.

Right click anywhere in the front view grid and select menu item Insert-Block-Above. A new 1 inch high block is added.

4. Convert it into a bead

Hold down the Ctrl key, hold down the left mouse button while pointing at one of the circular design dots, and drag to the right.

Drag the top red square slightly to the left.

5. Add a 3rd block

Select menu item Actions-Set Bead/Cove/Groove/Block Size. Set value to 0.75 and click on OK.

Right click anywhere in the front view grid and select menu item Insert-Block-Above. A new 0.75 inch high block is added.

6. Convert it into a bead

Hold down the Ctrl key, hold down the left mouse button while pointing at one of the circular design dots, and drag to the right.

7. Add 2 more blocks

Right click anywhere in the front view grid and select menu item Insert-Block-Above twice. Two new 0.75 inch high blocks are added.

8. Make them into the brim of the hat

Move the red square that is second from the top down and to the right. Then type the H key and click on the same red square to align it horizontally with the square below.

Click on the 3rd from the top red square to select the indicated block. Then choose menu item Block Actions-Level Dots. This causes the line to straighten.

Type the V key and click on the top red square to align it vertically with the square below.

Drag the top red square down until it's just above the 2nd from top red square. Then type the V key and click on the same red square to align it vertically with the square below.

Right click anywhere in the front view grid and select menu item Insert-Block-Above. Another 0.75 inch high block is added.

Drag the top red square to the left as shown.

Type the H key and click on the top red square to align it horizontally with the square below.

Right click anywhere in the front view grid and select menu item Straighten Dots in Selected Block.

9. Add the hat's crown

Right click anywhere in the front view grid and select menu item Insert-Block-Above. Another 0.75 inch high block is added.

Drag the top red square slightly to the right.

10. Adjust bead curvature

Click on the top bead. Move the 1 dot higher and the 3 dot lower to make the bead rounder.

Do the same for the middle bead.

For the lowest bead, drag its lower red square to the middle.

Hold down the Ctrl key, hold down the left mouse button while pointing at one of the circular design dots, and drag to the right.

Move the 1 dot higher and the 3 dot lower to make the bead rounder. Finished!!

Final Ornament

Here's the 3D view of the finished ornament.