...see, invention is the mother of necessity......or something like that......no matter, just a good way to get a job done with what one has on hand! Repurposing at its finest!

A piece of a dowel works fine too. Probably even cheaper, I just raid my sewing room for them. Or buy a two foot piece at your local lumber yard. They may have scraps.

I took the suggestion from another thread and bought a length of moulding and was able to cut all 3 lengths of stripstick. I just have to cover them with muslin. It was a good deal - 3 stripsticks cost ~ $32, while the moulding strip cost me less than $6 and I already had some muslin.

Oh, I am going to show your post to my husband. I tried to explain about using molding but he didn't/wouldn't try to understand and told me to just order one so I did. I should have just gone and bought a piece of molding myself.

I frequently us a knitting needle.

Brilliant! A new use for my home made broomstick lace dowel. (It started life as a replacement handle for a plunger, but I just cut off the threads, and sanded it smooth., then used mineral oil and the sun to 'season' it.)

What clever ideas, you gals are awesome!

The thick and long fun wood pencils at the .99 store work great too. and the tip is pointed, easy to get in the tube.