Straw weaving: types, techniques, detailed master class with photo

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

Straw weaving is an old type of folk craft that has become widespread in Russia. Household items, shoes, toys and much more were made from it. The stalks of rye, barley, oats and wheat were used as raw materials. When dry, the straw is very brittle, but after steaming it acquires plasticity and softness, and when dried, it becomes stiff and retains the shape of the product.

Many books have been written about this needlework. Straw weaving was paid attention to by such authors as O. Lobachevskaya, A. Grib, who collected many author's schemes in their publications. In the article, we will consider needlework techniques for beginners.

Material preparation

For straw weaving (a master class will be presented below), a rye stalk is best suited. Of all cereals, it has the greatest length and strength. When soaked, rye stalks acquire softness and plasticity. Other types of straw alsosuitable for weaving, but have their own characteristics. For example, a wheat stalk is much thicker, stiffer and shorter, but has its own characteristic golden sheen.

Material for weaving straw products is prepared at the end of July - the first half of August, when the spikelets begin to ripen. The cut of the stem is done under the root. If the workpiece is damp and green, it will begin to rot and blacken. To avoid this, it must be thoroughly dried.

This is done by spreading the stems in a layer of medium thickness on a flat horizontal surface. From time to time they are turned over to improve the quality of drying. The green stems kept in the shade have excellent color retention. Straws dried under the sun fade a little and acquire a rich golden hue.

After the initial preparation, the stems are cleaned of unnecessary leaves. Do it in the following way. The stem is cut into segments at the nodes. Moreover, cutting off the knee, simultaneously remove the sheet connected to it. After completing this procedure, they proceed to sorting by length and thickness. Selected, cleaned and dried straws are placed in boxes. In this form, it can be stored for several years without losing its external qualities and plastic properties.

For straw weaving (photos of the work are presented in the article), it is advisable to use the top three, thinnest knees, the thickness of which is evenly distributed along the entire length. Before starting work, the straw is soaked or steamed with boiling water. The approximate number of stems needed forcreativity, and immersed in a basin of water or other container of the appropriate size. If the raw materials have been harvested recently, it is enough to soak the stems for 30 minutes in cool water. Old straw is poured with hot liquid and pressed with a press. In this form, the material is aged until it becomes flexible. However, it is worth remembering that if you leave the straw in water for a long time, it will begin to turn black.

The still damp material is then wrapped with a slightly damp cloth or plastic wrap to keep it moist during the weaving process. Surplus can be dried and used later.

Further in the article, we will consider straw weaving techniques. They are not very difficult, but require attention and perseverance.

Straight weave

There are several basic techniques for working with straws. Each of them allows you to get a peculiar pattern at the output and is suitable for the manufacture of a particular item. Before you start working directly with the stems, you can apply weaving from paper straws. This will be a great visual workout, especially for beginners.

Direct weaving resembles the process of weaving a linen on a loom. This technique requires flat, flattened stalks of straw. To do this, the soaked thick stem is ironed with the blunt side of the knife or with a needle, pressing and straightening on a hard surface from the front and back sides. Manipulation is continued until the straw becomes flat.

This simple technique is suitable for straw weavingbeginners to comprehend this needlework. The process is carried out according to the scheme in the following sequence:

1. First, lay out the required number of straw ribbons (it is determined by the braid pattern).
2. Vertically, their beginnings are glued or pressed with a press.
3. Then, even straws are lifted from the end through one and a stem is threaded between them in a horizontal direction.
4. After this, the action is repeated, but with odd vertical stripes. Lay the next horizontal stem.
5. In this way, weaving continues along the entire length of the straw.
6. Then the strips are fitted tighter together and dried under pressure.

If weaving is done at an angle, the straws are laid not through one, but through a pair of vertical stems. In each row, the strips are slightly shifted to one side or the other by one element.

Spiral weaving

This is a slightly more difficult job than the previous one, but it is quite doable even for a beginner. The basis of the technique of this type of straw weaving is a tourniquet. In the process of manufacturing an object, volume and shape are formed. The tourniquet is laid in a spiral. Due to this, on each turn there is the possibility of increasing the height or reducing the size of the product. Using the spiral weaving technique, objects are made with a round or spherical shape or a similar base.

Wet stems form a bunch of a certain thickness. Its end is wrapped with tape or thread, bent two centimeters andtighten. Then the bundle is wrapped again, forming the first spiral turn. So repeat three times and lay out the second loop. At the same time, each turn is interconnected with a thread and tied with a needle.

Then the thread is pulled through the first loop, in this way the outer turn is connected to the inner one. To create a tight weave, with each next constriction, the thread is pulled as tight as possible. Next, the product is built up and continues to be laid in a spiral, successively pulling the loops.

The thickness of the bundle, first of all, depends on the size of the item being made. Long stems are used for larger items, and pre-sorted straw cuts are used for smaller items.

3D weaving

This is a more complex technique than the previously described methods. Braids made in volume are used as cords, decorative elements or details for assembling an integral composition. Depending on the final shape of the product, a rigid frame made of wire, rods and other materials can be used during straw weaving.

One of the simplest options for such work is considered a double pigtail. Weave it from one stem, which in the process is bent at an angle of 45 °. The break line is slightly shifted to the side, then one half will be longer and it will be easier to build up straws. The ends of the pigtail as a result will be at right angles to each other.

First, bend the left side at a right angle, and then the right. The end, which turned out to be from below, is thrown from top to bottom, after which they take another and underbent at a right angle from left to right. In this way, the actions are repeated until the pigtails of the desired length are made.

The weaving pattern of two stems is done counterclockwise. The product must be dense, uniform, with a triangle in cross section. After weaving is completed, the pigtail is stretched like an accordion, then it will take the form of a spiral.

Flat braids

Using this straw weaving technique, strong ribbons can be created. Various items are subsequently made from them: decorative panels, hats, accessories and even straw sculptures. If in the process of weaving the length of the stem was not enough, it is lengthened in one of three ways:

1. Another, thinner or thicker stem is inserted into the cut of the straw.
2. At a distance of two centimeters from the end of the straw, a new element is superimposed on it and weaving continues.
3. The end of the stem is split with another straw.

In order to get a clear and uniform pattern, you must adhere to the following instructions:

1. For weaving braids, you need to choose straws of the same length and thickness. As a rule, such a straw is harvested from the middle part of the stem. If there is not enough material, and the tape needs to be made long, proceed as follows. Before starting to weave straws, the stems are folded with different ends, one with a thicker part, the other with a thin one. Such a trick will allow you to make the product evenly.
2. Straw grows only after weaving the previous onejoint.
3. The bends must be fixed at the right angle, for the clarity of the lines they are stroked with fingers.
4. The weave should be tight as it dries looser.
5. Immediately after completing work on the product, roll it several times with a rolling pin to give the same shape.

Weaving "catfish" from straw: master class

This element can be made from two, four or six straws. Consider the simplest execution scheme:

1. We take two stems, put one on top of the other and bend it back. The top element is directed to the left, and the bottom element is directed to the right.
2. Then we grab the upper right straw and bend it back (two parallel elements are obtained). Then we take it again and wind it back under the first to the second tube. It turns out two parallel stems on the left and two parallel stems on the right.
3. Again we take the same straw and wind it back by the far tube. Now it is horizontal.
4. And again we take the same straw back behind the nearest tube. Now it already goes diagonally and parallel to the right stem.
5. Now take the leftmost straw and wind it horizontally back behind the far stem. Then we lead it diagonally back behind the neighbor.
6. After that, we take the tube on the far right and take it horizontally back behind the far straw. Then we wind it diagonally back behind the nearest tube.
7. Then repeat similarly from the sixth to the ninth row.

Job done.

For a better understanding of the processyou can study the pattern of weaving "catfish" of four straws, shown in the photo below.

Stitching fragments

To obtain any product, a single braid or individual parts are sewn together. Depending on the type of fragment and the product itself, the method of fastening is selected:

1. Butt stitching is suitable for creating flat objects: mats, panels, rugs, etc. It is performed as follows: pigtails alternately grab the edges with a needle and tighten. The threads must be strong so that they do not break during manipulation, and the product lasts for a long time.
2. Stitching with a ledge is suitable for the manufacture of voluminous items and compositions, for example, hats, boxes, baskets, lampshades, bowls, etc. Most often, round products are fastened with this method. Starting from the center, stitching is performed in a spiral. Each subsequent turn is superimposed on the previous layer by one third of the width of the braid and attached. Before stitching, the tape is well moistened so that it becomes softer and more ductile. The finished product is ironed through a wet cloth or tapped with a hammer.

Triple and quadruple braid

These are two more varieties of straw elements. A triple pigtail is woven according to the same principle as a regular one, by alternately overlapping the ends of the straws. One stem is placed vertically and a fragment is woven alternately with the extreme left and right tubes at a right angle. When one end ends, it is built up and work continues. An important nuance: you need to weave in the direction fromyourself.

Quadruple braid looks like a ribbon and is flexible. The technique of its implementation is similar to the previous type of weaving, but in this case four ends are involved, which form two bent straws. One is placed horizontally, and the other is bent over it:

• the second end is brought in behind the fourth parallel to the third;
• then the fourth one is passed from oneself under the second over the third end and parallel to the first;
• after that, the first is laid on top of the fourth, the second is passed from itself under the third and laid on top of the first and fourth.

In this way, weaving continues further, while it is important to ensure that the extreme straw on the right side bends away from itself, and the extreme left - towards itself.

Finishing braids

Such elements are needed for edging sewn parts made of straw and finishing wood, cardboard and other types of products. There are two types: flat and screw. For their manufacture of the latter, at least four straws are needed.

Flat weaving of straw braids is carried out as follows:

1. Four straws are tied at the base. The two stems in the middle are the basis, throughout the weaving they will remain side by side, and the two extreme ones will braid them.
2. Starting from the right extreme straw, one end is wound under the central stems, and then the other, the extreme left.
3. The right straw is laid over the central parts and pressed from abovethe leftmost end, bending down and passing under the middle straws.
4. On the opposite side, the stem laid on top of the main tubes is pressed in the same way.

Helical finishing weaving is performed as follows:

1. Four stems are tied together.
2. The rightmost tube is pushed under the two central ones over the leftmost one.
3. Then the leftmost element is passed over the central straws and under the rightmost one.
4. The resulting knot is tightened and weaving continues, but now the right and left stems change roles.

Weaving continues in a similar pattern. In the process, each new knot forms a helical twist. If you start from the left stem, the twist will be clockwise.

Straw weaving: master class

To make a flower you will need:

• straw;
• willow stick;
• PVA glue;
• threads.

The step-by-step weaving looks like this:

1. Weaving straw flowers begins with the fact that you need to cut a thread one meter long and bend it four times to make a 25-centimeter piece when folded. For the stem, they take a willow rod and dip the end in PVA glue. 20 straws 15 cm long are applied to the rod and tightly wrapped with folded thread. The result is a stamen.
2. Now you can start making petals. To do this, select nine straws of the same length and thickness. Two of them are laid crosswise and bent. Thenthe right end is brought back, and the left end is bent forward.
3. Then continue the other way around. The left end is brought back, while the right end is laid forward.
4. Now you need to add a straw so that the cross is on top of it, and both ends are behind.
5. The resulting crossbar is folded back over one end of the cross, and then the other. Weaving continues until a flower of the desired length is obtained.
6. The last straw is wound behind the next tube. Then they do the same on the other side, and cross in the middle.
7. Weaving continues until the straw is over. If the stems dry out during weaving, they are additionally moistened.

To make a flower, you need five to seven petals. When all the details are ready, start collecting the flower:

1. The thread is folded four times, so that the result is a segment 35 cm long.
2. The end of the finished stamen is dipped in glue and two petals are glued.
3. They are tied at the base with a thread and tied in a knot.
4. Then glue and attach the remaining petals.
5. The ends of the thread are cut and hidden inside.

Basket bottom weaving

The shape of the future product is determined by the number of stems crossed at the preparation stage. For example, three crossed straws are enough for a hexagon, while four are needed for an octagon.

Straw weaving - a master class for beginners to weave a basket:

1. Preparefour stems of the same length and thickness.
2. A thin stiff wire is inserted into each of them.
3. Then they are crossed and connected in the middle with a thread to match the straw.
4. The stems are distributed so that there are equal spaces between them. A straw is fixed in the center, which will braid the frame. To result in as few connections as possible, the tubing should be the longest available.
5. The braid is performed in a circle, passing the end alternately over and under the cross. Each turn should be as close as possible to the previous one.
6. When the stem ends, leave a tip two centimeters long. Then they cut it at an angle and put it into a new straw, after which weaving can be continued.
7. The frame is stopped braiding when the desired diameter of the bottom is reached. The tail is tucked from the wrong side for straws and fixed.

Then weave another piece of the same diameter and dry it under pressure. After that, the unnecessary ends of the cross are cut at an angle of 90 °. Both bottoms are folded with each other with the wrong side inward and fastened with a thread for the frame. If necessary, the part around the perimeter is braided and attached to the main structure.

The article discusses straw weaving options for beginners. This is a fascinating creative work that will appeal to lovers of needlework.