Читать книгу Down to the River and Up to the Trees: Discover the hidden nature on your doorstep - Sue Belfrage - Страница 24

For millennia, people have woven grass and reeds into baskets and matting. Dried grass smells sweet as a summer memory, and leisurely weaving it into cord can make for a simple yet practical keepsake.

To make the cord, pick eight or so strands of dried grass – or thin strands of creeper such as wild clematis – which are about 45 cm (18 in) long. If the material seems too dry and brittle to weave, soak it in water for about ten minutes. Then divide it into two hanks. Knot the hanks together at one end, keeping them separate. Pinch the top hank of grass between your finger and thumb and twist it tightly away from you three times with a little movement, like winding a clock; then take the bottom hank and weave this up behind the twisted hank towards you to sit at the top instead. (Like plaiting, it’s much easier to do than it sounds.)

Keep repeating the process, twisting the hank on top three times, then weaving the hank underneath so that it sits at the top. If you like, thread on beads. If you run out of grass, you can splice in more until you reach the length you want. Tie a knot in the end and you’re done.