Join Wiradjuri artist Peta-Joy Williams as she shares traditional techniques for weaving a bangle/armband.
Weaving is an established creative and cultural knowledge practice within many first nations communities around Australia and in the Torres Strait Islands. Basketry and weaving practices are used in creating dilly bags, baskets, armbands, headbands, fishing nets, eel traps, scoops, sculptures and more. Many contemporary Indigenous artists have adapted these traditional techniques to create extraordinary and largescale installation works.
Please note: This cultural knowledge is shared for personal use and should not be used for group workshops/teaching content without permission from the artist.
You can discover more of PJ's work at the Wiradjuri Wave
Suitable for ages: 7 and up
Time required: 30 mins
Difficulty: 4 out of 5
Related Collection item: Tiwi armband with feather tuft by Margaret Munery
What You'll Need:
- 2-3 pipe cleaners for the base (or 1m of raffia)
- Scissors
- A plastic needle
- Some colourful shoelaces for the outer loop (or 2m of colourful raffia)
- Optional: You could weave in ribbons, feathers, beads and more to your bangle/armband
To Make:
Step 1
Make a hoop with your raffia by looping it around your hand
Step 2
Tie a knot with another piece of raffia or string around your hoop to fasten it together
Step 3
With the long end of the raffle/string, make a loop up top, and pull the end of the raffia through that loopStep 4
Continue to make these loops around the bangle base until it's completely covered. You will notice this technique is like making a blanket stitch in sewing.
All done!
We’d love to see your creations!
Please send us photos either by email to: web@sea.museum or tag us on Instagram - just tag the photo with our username @sea.museum
You might also enjoy...