Palmetto Braiding and Weaving

Book excerpt: Palmetto Braiding and Weaving is the definitive book for creating a variety of crafts from palm fronds, straw, rush, and grass. In this well-illustrated volume, artists and authors Viva Cooke and Julia Sampley explore thoroughly one of the most fascinating traditions of the southern United States: palmetto basketry. This tradition of crafts made from palm leaves has been passed on through generations. Palmetto Braiding and Weaving includes techniques and patterns for braiding and weaving-from simple to complex-for a variety of creations. In addition to baskets, Palmetto Braiding and Weaving explains how to make hats, handbags, trimmings, mats, fans, belts, and more.Palmetto Braiding and Weaving explores a wide array of uses of this native plant. Cooke and Sampley give full instructions for basketry,including samples of popular braids that have been developed and passed on by word-of-mouth, from generation to generation. Instructions are clear and accurate, and samples and finished pieces are shown with drawings and photographs of the authors' creations. The combination of drawings, photographs and thorough instructions make for the perfect how-to resource for palmetto basketry, and are adaptable to the use of other fibers including straw, rush, and grass.