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 Straw
Work Introduction
Straw
is an incredibly versatile material traditionally used to make hats,
jewellery, intricate braids, wall displays, and of course corn doilies.
Modern work draws together these diverse techniques and uses them
in exciting new ways.
Origins
The ritual of making an image of the harvest goddess can be
traced back 7000 years. Where cereal crops were harvested, the goddess
would be made of straw, making this one of the earliest forms of straw
work. From an effigy, the figure evolved into a wealth of abstract shapes,
always incorporating ears of grain. Many include a straw cage to provide a
resting place for the spirit of the harvest over the winter months. This
universal practise was usually carried out by the menfolk, with the many
patterns being passed down from generation to generation.
More practical uses for straw were developed. Lengths of
plaited straw were found to be hard wearing and pliable – perfect for
making hats. Straw hats are still made by hand in the Far East, Mexico and
South America, but the tradition has almost died out elsewhere.
Spinning strands of straw gave a remarkably strong and
pliable thread. This was woven into braids for edging gowns and
accessories, knotted into intricate doilies and twisted into delicate
ornaments.
 Basic
techniques
Most of the equipment needed for straw work can be found
around the house, making this a cheap and easily accessible craft.
Straw is the major expense. This has to be grown specifically
for the craft and top quality straw can be difficult to find. Any dried
cereal plant can be defined as straw; wheat, rye and oats are the most
common cereals used. Buy straw at harvest time and store it in an airy,
mouse free and damp proof area.
Other items include: small, pointed scissors for trimming the
straw; button thread and linen or crochet cotton grade 10, for tying the
stalks together; troughs for soaking the straw.
A special wheel is needed for spinning the straw into threads
for Swiss straw threadwork.
Planning - Whether making a hat plait, a corn dolly, figures,
wall piece or harvest goddess, the design must be well planned and the
straw selected with care. Original designs demand a great deal of
preparation. Once a subject has been chosen, the craftsperson has to
determine the best way to interpret it in straw; what plaits and
decorative pieces to use; what type and size of straw; how to link the
pieces.
The choice of straw is crucial to the finished piece. In a
similar way to embroidery threads, each variety of straw has its own
characteristics which suit a particular piece of work. For example, if you
plan to make a sea shell, choose a crisp, shiny straw that will imitate
the real life smooth surface of a shell. By contrast, to make a flower
which has a soft, velvety texture, a matt straw will be called for, as
this gives a plait with less definition. It is only through discussion and
experience that the straw worker discovers the qualities of the different
varieties.
Once bought, the straws must be individually sorted and
carefully graded according to colour and the thickness of the stalk. This
ensures an even colour and size in the finished piece.
Plaits – Plaits are the basis of the majority of straw
work. They are divided into three categories: flat plaits, which include
hat plaits and are two dimensional; and two styles of three dimensional
plaits, round and spiral. Any number of straws can be used, from two to
over thirty. This offers the craftsperson a myriad of plait patterns and a
huge range of textures, shapes and effects to draw upon.
The maker gradually builds up a repertoire of plaits and
learns to discern which plaits will harmonise on a piece of work. For
example, a two plait (using two straws) and a spiral will combine well in
the one piece because both are three dimensional, whereas a spiral teamed
with a flat plait will look unbalanced.
Plaiting Straw – To make the straw soft enough to bend
without cracking, it must be soaked flat in warm water. The necessary
number of damp straws are gathered together and tied together at the tip
end (the seed head end) using thread, with a clove hitch knot.
The straw workers aim is to produce a perfect, neat,
symmetrical shape, evenly worked with no visible straw joins. With speed
and great dexterity, fingers fold the stalks over, round and back on each
other, according to the pattern. The worker must resist the temptation to
plait to the end of the straw – as soon as a bend looks untidy, or the
straw discolours or cracks, a new one must be added.
On a spiral plait this is done by putting the tip end of a
new straw inside the butt (bottom end of the straw) of the one in use. If
the straws have been properly graded, they should give the impression of
one continuous straw. The join must be positioned at a bend, not long a
bar of the spiral, to ensure it is invisible. With flat or round plaits,
the new straw is laid on top of the straw in use at the moment it is to be
plaited, so it is held in place by the overlapping straw. Any ends are
trimmed close with small, sharp pointed scissors. At the end of a plait
the straws are again tied with a clove hitch and trimmed.
Swiss straw threadwork – Rye is the best straw or Swiss
threadwork as it is extremely strong. It must be soaked thoroughly to make
it soft enough to use. Each stalk is split lengthways using an implement
called a splitter (a narrow spindle with small blades jutting out) which
is pushed down the hollow of the straw. The stalk may be split into
anything from two to fifteen pieces, depending on the thickness of thread
required. The pieces, called splints, are passed through rollers to
compress and make them pliable.
The mechanism used to spin the thread consists of two pieces;
a 12 inch diameter wheel drives round two hooks, and a weighted line.
These are clamped to a table, facing each other. A splint is caught in
each of the hooks. The two splints are held apart between the thumb and
forefinger of one hand while the other steadily turns the wheel. As the
hooks turn, each splint twists over on itself. Once both splints are
twisted, they are attached to the weight line. The two splints are then
twisted together. A finger held between the two strands controls the
amount and evenness of the twist in the thread by steadily moving down the
length, while the other hand continues to turn the wheel. It takes great
skill to ensure the splints are kept at the right tension and the twists
are even.
The ends are unhooked and the thread is ready for use.
Batches of threads are spun at the same time to make sure there are plenty
to use.
Using the threads – The threads can be used in many ways,
often drawing on techniques from other crafts such as macramé,
leatherwork and braiding.
Delicate flowers are a favourite motif. These are made by
weaving threads around candlewicking needles stuck into cork. The length
of woven threads are then pushed off the needles, drawing the ends of the
threads down through the loops. When all the loops have been slipped off
the needles, the ends are pulled tight, gathering the loops on the inner
side and splaying them out on the outside into petals.
Courses
If you offer straw work courses / evening classes /
demonstrations - please contact us
to advertise your details here.
There are lots of books available to learn the skills from
home.
To
learn proper straw work techniques the best starting point is to contact
polytechnics / colleges to see if they have any organized courses.
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