Includes bibliographical references (pages 330-331) and index.
Contents:
Glossary. Marian Nichols -- Endnotes -- 1. Straw Plaiting in Great Britain -- 2. Straw Plaiting in the Atlantic Islands and North America -- 3. Straw Plaiting in Europe -- 4. The Decline of the Straw Plaiting Industry -- 5. Plaiting Materials -- 6. Straw Preparation -- 7. Tools of the Trade -- 8. Development of Plait Patterns -- 9. Preparing to Plait -- 10. Plait Instructions. -- Three, Five and Seven End Plaits ; -- Nine and Eleven Ends ; -- Basic Plaits ; -- Rustic Plaits ; -- Piping and Porcupine ; -- Purl and Moss ; -- Batwing or Vandyke ; -- Feather and Wisp ; -- Diamond and Wave ; -- Brilliant ; -- Trimmings -- Endnotes -- Conversion Tables -- Glossary.
Summary:
"Straw plaiting has been used to make accessories from hats and baskets to handbags, trimmings and homewares around the world for centuries. Once employing tens of thousands of people in the UK alone, the craft is now listed as Critically Endangered on Heritage Crafts' Red List. This book aims to change that, drawing on more than 50 previously unpublished patterns and techniques from around the world that will help you to unlock the history and preserve the skills of straw plaiting. For each pattern, follow the step-by-step diagrams and instructions and discover how they were developed whilst learning about materials, tools and preparation. Once familiar with the plaiting techniques using straw as well as other materials you will be able to develop your own skills, possibly blending in recycled materials, which are increasingly being used to produce beautiful and unique pieces"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.