Steps to Braid Raffia
Raffia is a fibrous material made from the leaves of the Raffia or Raphia palm, or from man-made substances that imitate the properties of natural raffia. You can use raffia in a range of crafts, including making braided items.
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Types
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Man-made raffia often comes in bright colors. Palm raffia may be left in its natural color but you can also find dyed natural raffia. If you are using natural raffia and wish to color it, your first step is to dye the fibers before you start braiding them. You can use fabric dyes for this.
Considerations
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Before you start to braid, secure the ends of the raffia fibers in place. If you want a very tight braid you may wish to secure the raffia to something heavy so you can pull against it. When finishing your braid, make sure the ends of the raffia strands are fastened so that the braid does not come unraveled.
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Uses
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Braided raffia can be used in a number of different ways. You can use your finished braid as decorative trim for a box or a picture frame. By sewing the braid into a coil, you can make mats and baskets.
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References
- Photo Credit two hats image by Adrian Hillman from Fotolia.com
