Bamboo has been rightly called ‘wonder grass’ due to its multifarious uses. No other plant material can provide strong competition to bamboo due to its excellent properties and attributes which make it suitable for numerous end products/ purposes. Although bamboo is very strong and hard in its natural form, when converted into a thin sliver, it can be very flexible owing to its strong fiber property. This special property has been exploited by users from all over the world for many centuries. It requires special skills for bamboo-weaving that has opened multitude of employment generation activities.
Although all the bamboo species can be used for weaving baskets and mats, however some of them are very hard and some make very brittle slivers. Thin walls, longer nodes, smaller diameter bamboo can make better quality slivers for weaving. Mostly freshly harvested thin, thin-walled, long internode-type bamboos are good for weaving. The reed bamboo varieties are used mostly for making mats and baskets in Kerala and in Northeast part of India. The baskets made from thin flexible slivers are very sturdy. Since times immemorial, bamboo has been woven to make various products like carry baskets, storages, containers, mats, fences, bridges etc. People have been weaving bamboo to make various products according to their requirements.
7 BAMBOO WEAVING TECHNIQUE
Basic Terminology: Warp and Weft
Warp and weft are two basic terms used for weaving in general.
Warp is the set of parallel bamboo strips that provide a basis for weaving patterns. In plane bamboo weaving, the warp strips are positioned vertically on the workbench
The weft is made up of bamboo strips that are inserted perpendicularly under and over the warp to create a design. In plane bamboo weaving the weft strips are positioned horizontally on the workbench.
1. Square Plaiting
Square plaiting is a basic weaving technique that involves creating balanced horizontal and vertical sections. Due to bamboo's sturdiness, this method often leads to a design with open spaces. Open-weave square-plaiting is typically utilized for the base or walls of bathroom storage baskets.
Suitable Products: Square plaiting is a versatile weave suitable for a wide range of products, including baskets, mats, trays, and coasters.
Production Time: Typically, it is a relatively quick and straightforward weave, making it suitable for mass production.
Cost: Typically, mid-range, as it's a common and relatively simple weaving style.
By changing the width of the horizontal and vertical components, artisans were able to produce a variety of shapes.
2. Clematis Plaiting
The Clematis Plaiting weaving technique is created by tightly compressing six strips of a hexagonal cell, resulting in a pattern that is similar to a flower shape.
Suitable Products: Clematis weaving is known for its intricate and decorative patterns. It's suitable for higher-end products like lampshades, decorative boxes, or wall art.
Production Time: Producing Clematis weaving can be time-consuming due to its intricate nature, making it better suited for artisanal or premium products.
Cost: Generally higher due to the labor-intensive nature of this style.
3. Double Twill Plaiting
Twill plaiting is a diagonally oriented technique in which the strips of one direction float over multiple strips of the other direction in a regular pattern.
Suitable Products: Twill plaiting creates diagonal patterns and is often used for decorative items such as placemats, wall hangings, or handles on bags.
Production Time: It's moderately time-intensive, but not as complex as some other weaves.
Cost: Falls in the mid to mid-high price range, depending on size and complexity.
Craftsmen could make different shapes by changing how the floats were laid out or how long they were, or by changing the width and texture of the strips.
4. Octagonal Plaiting
The octagonal pattern consists of double rows of both vertical and horizontal strands with diagonal strips overlapping in both directions, creating large octagonal spaces. Because of its large gaps, this type is seldom used for practical items.
Suitable Products: Octagonal plaiting is ideal for baskets, particularly those with unique shapes or designs.
Production Time: It can be moderately time-consuming, especially for larger baskets.
Cost: Tends to be on the higher end due to the craftsmanship required.
5. Geometric Weaving
"Geometric weaving technique" refers to a weaving method used to create intricate and precise geometric patterns and designs within a woven textile or object. This technique involves carefully arranging and interlocking weaving elements (such as threads, yarns, or strips of material) in specific ways to form geometric shapes, lines, and patterns. Geometric weaving can be found in various forms of textile art and crafts, including basketry, fabric weaving, and tapestry.
Suitable Products: Geometric weaving is great for products that require intricate, repeating patterns, such as table runners, placemats, or wall art.
Production Time: It can be time-intensive due to its detailed patterns.
Cost: Typically higher due to the artistic value and time-intensive nature.
A. Diamond Shape
B. Chevron Pattern
6. Hexagonal Plaiting
Hexagonal plaiting, often called hex weave, involves elements that move in three directions at once, a horizontal and two diagonals at 60 degrees to each other.
Suitable Products: Hexagonal plaiting is suitable for creating bases or decorative elements in baskets.
Production Time: It can be time-consuming, especially for large bases.
Cost: Falls in the mid to mid-high price range, depending on size and complexity.
7. Checker Weave Technique
Checkered weave, as the name suggests, creates a checkered or checkerboard pattern by alternating bamboo strips of different colors or widths. This style is often employed for decorative and visually appealing baskets.
Suitable Products: Checker plaiting creates a visually appealing grid pattern and is often used for decorative elements or the bases of baskets.
Production Time: It's moderately time-consuming, depending on the size and intricacy of the checkerboard design.
Cost: Generally mid-range, as it's a popular but not overly complex style.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Since Bamboo is not water resistant, Bamboo products are used for indoor purposes only.
Every weaving style is appropriate for specific product categories, and there are variations in both production time and cost among these different weaving techniques.
The exact prices depend much on product specifications, not just on weaving styles.
A Bamboo product can have mixed weaves such as: Twill x Checker Plaiting, Hexagonal x Geometric Weave, Square x Octagonal Plaiting, Clematis x Twill Plaiting, Geometric x Checker Plaiting, etc...
If any of the above bamboo weaving has caught your eye, don't hesitate to reach out to us for a deeper exploration.
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