Taking shape

How do I arrive at the design for a piece of grass stitching.

Assuming it is not a basket which i intend to make, the shape for which can be developed as I stitch the materials into a spiral form.
I am continuing a collection of birds which will sit on the edge of an old pram, their shapes are becoming like sacred ibis.(pictured here)
I caste my mind around for meanings in birds and there are so many but I wanted mine to be more or less alert to their task which is attending to a clutch of grass eggs.
So I am thinking birds alert, birds in various stages of perching, birds being inquisitive, birds having an hierarchy and so on.
I have decided to do the bodies and heads first, getting all the major foundation developed. Then when I am satisfied that the forms are as I want them then comes the actual attitude of each bird. How the wings sit, how the head is cocked, all things that make each form speak.
All the time i am attending to the crafting, stitching firmly, making the shapes solid.
These birds are going on a long journey. so their structure needs to be guaranteed not to shed grass or become soft.
This process indicates how any shape can be developed using a malleable fibre.

work in progress

These images show fibre sculpture underway. The fodder has been roughly stitched quite thoroughly though the stitches are not obvious. However there are many passing right through the structures.
I have used a long doll making needle threaded up with a strong poly thread (recycled). these fodder bodles are going to be a collection of three birds and one kangaroo head.
The shapes will gradually appear as the form is built up.
At this stage I could pass twigs and sticks through the fibre for legs and it would be stitched in, butI think here the whole form will be fibre.
As in the cushions already spoken about a small bundle was stitched and then more and more fibre stitched onto that as the shape appears. it helps if you have some idea of what you want to make but it can also be a form where you just keep stitching fibre on here and there.
There is no need to use double threads if the thread is strong. Single thread is not obvious and blends in with the fibre.
In each of these structures as they are there is approximately one hour of stitching.

raw materials

Any fibrous material which is abundant can be used to make fibre shapes. The finer any material is prepared helps it to be manipulated into shapes.
This is why meadow hay (fodder) is so good.
Other materials which work well when shredded are any sorts of grasses, corn husks, banana palm, nasturtians, palm leaves amongst many others.
Let us look at fodder in detail. Its a pasture grass, rye grass, often mixed with some clover. At summers start the grass is mowed and baled, bound up with heavy string.
it is then intended to be stored as a stock food for the coming year.
If there has been low rainfall then fodder is not so abundant.
So early summer is the best time to find some bales and then store them in a very dry place, off the ground.
When it is time to start making with the grass then put a bale inside two large plastic garbage bags. This helps keep the material contained once the string is cut. On completion of working the bag is closed up ready for next time.
Good fodder contains no prickles and should be soft to handle. If clover is mixed with the rye then that falls out as the stitching is done.
One bale is sufficient to make many pieces of work, but it could also be used entirely on one piece. As the price per bale is quite modest, l(ess that $10). then best to source a couple when you can. Fodder is straw cover for the garden so nothing is wasted.
Working outdoors is best as grass fragments are scattered everywhere, even to place a large plastic sheet down and sit on that is wise.
If a group of people are working from the same bale then a sitting circle with the bale in the centreworks well and creates a special atmosphere.
Fodder can be dampened slightly or not at all. A very quick 5 second spray with the hose is sufficient to dampen down the stitckiness of the fibres.
Whe the session is complete then works in progress can be placed in plastic bag or out of harms way at least, needle put safely away and unused fodder rolled into plastic sheeting.
(Remember animals enjoy chewing up hand made objects particulalry if they smell nice and familar.)

Corn husks are an ideal fibre. The leaf shape can be shredded and twisted then stitched with a strong thread just as any other material. They can also be dyed with plants,or drawn and embroidered on. Husks store well and can be saved and collected until sufficient to make something. They also need to be slightly dampened before use.
The trunk of banana palms dries out in layers. These layers become soft and pliable once the water within their structure has evaporated.
The long sheets of fibre can be carefully stripped and then again slightly dampened and used.
Nasturtian vines are pulled from the ground when still green and flowering. The vine is hung to dry and when almost dried out can be dampened, twisted and used.

The grass in this photo is not fodder of cours. It is spinifex (triodia) which grows abundantly across inland Australia.
Its growth pattern is inspiring for basketry shapes.

Starting simple

Weaving, stitching or binding fibres together to develop baskets or sculpture will be the essence of this site.
We will gradually introduce ideas, information, techniques and sources which will help you to enjoy a traditional craft in a contemporary manner.
Here are two grass 'cushions'. They are made in the most basic way.
A bundle of meadow hay, or animal fodder has been kneaded into a bun like structure, round and round
Once the shape was more or less holding together then a long needle and a strong stitching thread was used to place many stitches through the bundle.
Dry flowers were also scattered in with the hay and these became fastened into the cushion surface through the stitching.
As more stitching was done back and forth through the cushion so the hay became quite firm.
Finally when grass was no longer falling off the surface then the cushion was sufficiently stitched.
This is not a cushion for sitting on as such but if it was strong enough it could be used for such a purpose.

Meadow hay or fodder is available from stockfeeders or a farmer.
Long needles are used in dollmakin g are are often available from craft suppliers.
Strong thread can be anything. Finely torn rag strips, unravelled hand made k nits, hand made string or commercail thread.
Any type of decoration can be done onto the surface,