Join in the age-old rural tradition of straw working! Learn to make harvest favours and cylindrical corn dollies from ornamental wheat.
In this foundational workshop, participants will learn the basics of straw working, including 4-strand and 5-strand weaving with wheat, as well as other knot and crafting techniques. Participants will make a simple harvest favour tied with silk or raffia, as well as basic corn dolly.
As we craft, participants will learn about different dolly-making traditions from Britain and Ireland, and leave with a foundational knowledge of how to weave with wheat. Participants will also have the option to take home a small handful of wheat to continue weaving with.
Please note that we will be working with damp wheat, which may mean that your clothes get a little damp too.
This workshop is strictly 18+.
Accessibility: this workshop uses fine motor skills, similar to plaiting/braiding, macrame, or knitting. If you find these actions difficult or painful on the hands, you will likely find dolly making a challenge. For full venue accessibility details, see our accessibility page.
Required skills: participants must be able to tie simple knots and braid a three-strand braid (like a simple hair braid/plait). Please note this is a beginner-level class, and those with a preexisting knowledge of straw-working may find it too foundational for their skill set.
Aftercare:
Your finished piece should last a long time with proper care! Be sure to keep your straw work item in a dry place to avoid mold, discolouration, and disintegration.
All of the straw we work with is pre-treated for corn moths, a small light-coloured moth that is known to inhabit wheat. This is necessary to protect our stock. We apply a moth-repellent upon receipt, and then quarantine the wheat before soaking it in water. The soaking stage means that most (if not all) of the moth-repellent is washed off. However, if you have sensitive skin, we are happy to provide vinyl gloves to wear during the workshop.
Afterwards, we recommend spraying your straw work with moth repellent occasionally according to instructions on the bottle to prevent future infestation. If you want to avoid moth repellent spray, you may opt to freeze your dollies for 48hrs, but please ensure it is completely dry throughout before doing so!
