Cattail sheaf
Ready to make a basket
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If you weave at home – or if you wish to start – you can buy a bundle of unusual Polish basketry material – cattail, also called bulrush, typha latifolia, a water plant. It’s very soft and plastic, in a beautiful honey colour, and when it’s woven – it is very durable. It looks delicate, but you can squeeze it, twist it and sometimes it is good to hammer it.
In this material the most difficult is to get it. Today only a few people weave of this material (Serfenta cooperates with three of them). In winter, you need to find a pond which is drained and in which a good-quality plant grows – not always is suitable. This one was cutted by our champion Helena Rogala (read more!), called cattail queen, who weaves typha precisely and beautifully like no one else.
Each blade is cut by hand with a sickle by Helena and her family.
We love the beauty and strength of this material. If you want to make a cattail bag by yourself ou are able to buy a set: cattail, a wooden weaving mold, a special tool – a basketry needles and an instructional video with master Helena.
If you are an artist or a designer – you can experiment with this material very effective. This is what the fascinating RAD duo did – using our cattail and films they woven a fantastic hat, an element of the Wiesia collection (Read in Vogue!)
Remember: before weaving, you have to pour the straw with water in the shower our outdoors. You don’t need to soak it all - see the video!
The unused material can be dried and moistened again to be used again later.
Buy whole set to make a cattail bag or a basket and weave at home!
| Dimensions (cm) | Large sheaf | Small sheaf |
| Length | 110- 125 | 100 - 120 |
| Width | 30 x 30 | 20 x 20 |
Basketry Master Helena Rogala – Cattail Queen – one of the last remaining basket makers who weave unique cattail bags for us. More than 10 years ago, Serfenta became fascinated with the unusual Polish basketry material – cattail, also called bulrush, typha latifolia.
During the expeditions in search of basketry masters, we found the master Helena Rogala, called cattail queen, who weaves typha precisely and beautifully like no one else. And we began our long-term cooperation and friendship with her. Serfena has cooperated with Helena for 13 years. Along with her family, she cuts cattail manually in muddy ponds. Each blade is cut by hand with a sickle by Helena and her family. Then the heavy bundles are taken out and transported to the garden, where they season in large stacks until summer. The harvest lasts all day or several days. Then she cleans the material uses it to weave. Helena’s bags are part of our offer thanks to our long-standing friendships formed during Serfenta’s basketry expeditions.
Take a look at the cutting process!
Join the only cattail weaving workshop at Serfenta this year!
Meet Helena Rogala as you stay at home – buy a tutorial DVD and see how the bag is made!
Helena’s bags are part of our offer thanks to our long-standing friendships formed during Serfenta’s basketry expeditions. By purchasing them, you support local Polish craft and Basketry Master Helena directly.
These products are part of our offer thanks to our long-standing friendships formed during Serfenta’s basketry expeditions. By purchasing them, you support local Polish craft and Polish Basketry Masters. You also support us – thanks to your order, we can organise basketry workshops. Come and join them!
What you will find in our shop:
100% handmade
0% mass production – all the items are one of a kind
Polish craftspeople
tradition and modernity
products for a good, long life.
Some of the accessories are made on the basis of our own ideas: e.g. the needles, the apron, or the moulds.
We draw inspiration from the vast experience of the best basket makers.
Order a basketry workshop for groups for your institution!
Order a DIY kit for straw weaving.
Order basketry materials or tutorial videos.
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Would you like to find out more about us? Visit: http://serfenta.pl/en/
