lsijohn

Does anyone do any basket-twining with cornhusk?

I am specifically talking about Plateau style work such as basket hats and Nez Perce "sally" or flat bags.

Nightherder

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[This message has been edited by Nightherder (edited February 06, 2001).]

lsijohn

That looks similar to the work I am talking about.

Is that some of your work?

Nightherder

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[This message has been edited by Nightherder (edited February 06, 2001).]

lsijohn

Maybe the picture on the right is bear grass?

I am a beginning weaver. My work is not quite as refined as your photographs (smile).

But, I am intrested in hearing tricks of the trade (using cornhusk).

I always keep my eye out for a good deal to buy or trade for cornhusk work.

RW

Howdy There! Iam a Cedar Bark weaver! I think the corn husk is twilled, like the way we twill our yellow cedar for the cedar baskets. I think the term is called Imbrecation(sp?)
What sorta weaving do ya do?
take care
Rich

RW

Twined I mean! http://www.powwows.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Steve

Hello,
There is an excellent article in the spring 1975/ vol. 9 no. 1 issue of Indian America magazine by Stephen D. Shawley on hemp and corn husk bags which may be of some help. There is also information found no where else in these 3 following books which you can get through interlibrary loan from your local library.

Book 1 " A Time of Gathering" by Robin K. Wright, 1991 University of Washington Press,
Isbn #0-295-96820-6

Book #2 "Native Arts of the Columbia Plateeau by Susan E. Harless 1998 High Desert Museum/U of WA Press
ISBN # 0-295-97752-3

Book #3 Columbia River Basketry, Gift of the Ancestors, Gift of The Earth by Mary D. Schlick, University of Washington Press.

By the way there is also a couple of fine articles in another great magazine that is no longer published, the article titles are as follows: "Rose Frank shows how to make a cornhusk bag" and "Cornhusk bags and hats of the Columbia Plateau Indians" the issue this material is in is American Indian Basketry Magazine vol.1 #2.

In the article about Rose Frank she divulges all the secrets of making cornhusk bags! The whole issue is devoted to cornhusk bags!

If you cannot find these items I would be glad to help you find them, email me at stevepgill@cs.com.

I hope I have been of some help and encouragement to you in your efforts.

Regards,
Steve Gill

lsijohn

I have been working with hemp twine and yarn or wool right now. I use the twining method. I haven't done any cornhusk work yet. One of my sisters has been the only one brave enough to expirement with cornhusk.

I do have some of the books listed in a previous post. The books really have good information on the history, different materials used, and a little bit about the revolution of the craft.

tprindle

not related to Plateau style work, but I've done a little twined cornhusk weaving. There's a basic article on twined cornhusk bottles in the northeast (and simple instructions) at http://www.nativetech.org/cornhusk/cornbotl.html

I usually use either cedar cord or plain old jute twine for the spokes. Here's my attempt at a small cornhusk bottle:

http://www.powwows.com/ubb/image_uploads/tarabottle.jpg

Tara

Nightherder

That's fine work, your cornhusk bottle!


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lsijohn

tprindle you did some very nice work http://www.powwows.com/ubb/smile.gif

Is that done completely with cornhusk?

Nightherder

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[This message has been edited by Nightherder (edited February 06, 2001).]

tprindle

the twined bottle has cornhusk weavers (weft) and jute twine spokes (warp). I've done a few twined cornhusk baskets with cedar bark cord for warp, and only one basket entirely of cornhusks (cornhusks for warp)... using all cornhusks is tough because they are short and if they dry out while you are working with them they make for very brittle and unforgiving spokes (warp).

hmm... i hadnt noticed that the wefts slanted down to the right on that bottle ... i made it several years ago, so I dont know how they ended up that way - LOL

I'm a right-handed twinner, and usually half-twist the two wefts 'towards' me ... perhaps i was twisting 'away from' me on that bottle in the pic i posted?

Here's a more recent bottle (laid it down on my scanner), next to a detail of a twined bag that i wove... the wefts slant down to the right (as they usually do).

http://www.powwows.com/ubb/image_uploads/taratwined.jpg

Tara

ps. it's cool that we can post pictures ... i never noticed that feature before, is this new?

Czechy

Silly me! I always try to learn the complicated craft stuff on my first try! A few years ago, I sat down to teach myself cornhusk false-embroidery weaving from the basketry book mentioned above authored by Mary Schlick. Of course, I picked the hardest project to learn on- a Plateau woman's basket hat. I used cotton string for the warps and for the wefts that get wrapped with the cornhusk. I got a feel for the basic false embroidery technique although my stitches are uneven and not as tight as they should be. I've only done about five revolutions around the top of the hat. If anyone out there knows this technique and can share some tips, that would be super!

Nightherder

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Czechy

Well, I was working from what information I could find as I don't know anyone who weaves. I was also using the materials I could easily find, the cotton string and the cornhusk. I kinda figured I was getting in over my head but I always like a challenge and so it was a fun experiment. I haven't worked on my hat in a long time although my interest in it is still there. If I can find it, I'll scan in a picture although there really isn't much of it to see. I rather doubt I'll ever finish the hat because my mission was to try to teach myself the weaving rather than come up with a decent end product.

Nightherder, you sound quite knowledgeable about this topic and I'm glad for your input. Thanks!

RW

I weave cedar bark hats for Tradional dances and Potlatching up here on the coast. The east of the mountain hats you guys are discussing are still being made here in Washington. There are folks in Yakama and Umatilla who still know how to do it. Hands on is the ONLY way to really learn anything in my humble opinion, especially weaving. I was taught by elders and master weavers the way to work the barks. Its a life time of learning. Iam not an expert, but I think if a person really wants to learn these style of weaving you should come over to eastern washington and learn from one of these folks. Are any of ya'll Plateau Indians? If so, maybe I know some folks you can contact.
Surprised to see this topic on the powwow board! Right on Weavers! http://www.powwows.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
Rich

Nightherder

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[This message has been edited by Nightherder (edited February 06, 2001).]

Nightherder

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[This message has been edited by Nightherder (edited February 06, 2001).]