Seagrass can be added to a basket to create a nice texture and interest to a basket. It can be woven into the basket directly. I use seagrass as a filler between my two rim pieces to hide my cutting and tucking and it gives the basket a nice finished look.
This is braided seagrass and is about 3/4" wide. It also adds an interesting look to a basket by weaving it into the sides. 
You can see braided seagrass woven into my paper plate basket. I've also used it as a rim filler.
I do not soak my seagrass because first, it is pliable so there is no need because it bends and twists with ease. Second, seagrass will unravel if it becomes soaked. That said, you can dye seagrass. I have my recipe for dying reed here. When dying seagrass, I use half the amount of water so the dye is more concentrated. It takes seagrass a bit longer than reed to absorb the dye and to get a nice rich color. To keep the ends of the seagrass from unraveling during its dye bath, be sure to tie each end in a tight knot and I also put a clothespin on each end as well.
Seagrass comes in different sizes. My personal preference is the 3/16" size. You can buy it in 1 lb or 3 lb amounts. Even with me teaching classes, a 1 lb amount lasts a long time. When weaving with seagrass or braided seagrass, I just but the ends together on the back side. I don't tuck the ends in or try to hide them because of their bulk.
Give weaving with seagrass a try and be sure to let me know about your weaving. Send me a link to your project!
Blessings,
Nancy
Nancy,
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard of using Synthropol and Retayne in your dye baths? They are excellent products to use and are frequently used by the fabric dyers.
I believe it's Synthropol that prepares the reed or fabric up to taking the dye and then the Retayne is the product that actually "sets" the dye so the colors don't bleed.
You can do a Google Search on the products, but I know for fact that East Troy Basketry Shop in Wisconsin carries the two products in their shop. They also use them ALL the time and have the BEST dyed reed because of it.
Find them (and other supply shops) on my Cane & Basket Supplies page of my website at http://www.WickerWoman.com/cane-and-basket-supplies
Wicker Woman's Weavings Blog-Cathryn Peters
http://wickerwoman.blogspot.com
Nancy,
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard of using Synthropol and Retayne in your dye baths? They are excellent products to use and are frequently used by the fabric dyers.
I believe it's Synthropol that prepares the reed or fabric up to taking the dye and then the Retayne is the product that actually "sets" the dye so the colors don't bleed.
You can do a Google Search on the products, but I know for fact that East Troy Basketry Shop in Wisconsin carries the two products in their shop. They also use them ALL the time and have the BEST dyed reed because of it.
Find them (and other supply shops) on my Cane & Basket Supplies page of my website at http://www.WickerWoman.com/cane-and-basket-supplies
Wicker Woman's Weavings Blog-Cathryn Peters
http://wickerwoman.blogspot.com