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Weaving grass

  • As you can see from the woven sleeve and bodice on the model, stunning effects can result from woven grass.. 
  • Bear grass ( Xerophyllum tenax), rush like leaves  such as typha, lily grass (Lirope muscari) and for coarser work, New Zealand flax, are all possibilities.


    • Method

  • Take several pieces of the grass you have chosen, and put then side by side onto the sticky side of tape. When you have them to the width you want, put another strip of tape on top of the stems.
  • Take the end strand from one side and weave it in and out across the grass. When you reach the other side, bend the strand over and weave back the other way. 
  • If you want a curve on one side of your weaving take the next strand from the same side. If you want an edge that tapers on each side, tale the next strand for the opposite side.
  • If you need to add length to a strand just add a new one on top of the old and keep going. Keep the weaving tight up against the last row, and this will give a tight, strong weave.
  • This is the basis for your own creativity. You can join your finished weaving into a cone by sewing the two sides together, perhaps with wire, raffia or more grass, or  sew ii into a curve, a circle etc. The material is very pliable and  by pulling an area tighter, or loosening the weave, you can  achieve wonderful shapes .

    • But wait there is more! Learn how to plait, curl, weave, decorate and manipulate leaves in ways you have never thought of with the top selling CD 'Manipulating Leaves" available here



    Further Recommended Reading

    Techniques with frames, over binding, plaiting palms, weaving grass,  covered containers,  and paint effects are all covered in just one section of this incredible book!
    Order it today here and learn, create and be inspired.

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    Inspiration from The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, Australia. April 2001, as the  young florists look into the future with brilliant floral art designs on models. Final year RMIT students have fused flowers and fashion to produce garments of beauty and originality. Their creativity and imagination is limitless. Each exquisite design incorporates fabric, flowers and foliage and highlights how fashion and flowers form an intrinsic part of our lives
    Do you want to see the show in 2004, 2005, 2006? Enjoy full, fabulous coverage of the best of floral design at the Melbourne Flower Show with a subscription to floral design magazine, available here.

    Click on each main picture to see the  original photo in a large form

    The block look was strong at the show, with very symmetrical designs, blocks of colour and layering of the flowers. Pictured is a cloak like design, the front in yellow, and the back in red. Chrysanthemums and dahlias were  combined with moss for this effect, reminiscent of the floral pillows and cushions used in Europe.

    The vibrancy, the colour, the rhythm of this masterpiece is wonderful as the florist combined the hot colours from the colour wheel of red anthirriums, cerise dahlias, and dark pink tulips, then straight across the colour wheel to the complementary colour green, in lime with the seed heeds of the agapanthus.

    Add the deep purple from the fabric , some  shiny balls around the hem, golden slippers from painted leaf and this lady is ready to tango! This design is a wonderful reminder not to be scared of colour!
    Weaving and plaiting, the look is being used more and more as floral artists discover the  wonderful flexibility this technique gives.
    Red anthirriums, yellow anthirriums,  and red and yellow chrysanthemums, complement the textural effect and rhythm of the weaving forming the sleeve and bodice

    weaving detail

    hem detail
    Succulents! They are enjoying a revival at the moment  in floral art and in the garden, and for good reason! They last for  a very long time in a design often without oasis or water, and then you can plant them in the garden to use again!
    This artist has used old man's beard lichens, echeverias, succulents and wide bands of a larger leaf for her design.

    hem detail
     
     


    Bodice detail