How to Prepare Cattails for Weaving
Cattails, or bulrush reeds, are found in swampy, marshlike areas, around ponds and ditches that hold water for most of the year. They have long, straplike leaves that are used in basketry.
Things You'll Need
- Gloves
- Long-sleeved Work Shirts
- Rubber Boots
- Old Screen Doors
- Corn Knives
- Large Knives
- Large Bucket
- 2 Sawhorses
- heavy, long work pants
Instructions
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1
Dress in sturdy, waterproof boots, long, thick pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and heavy gloves to cut the cattails.
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2
Cut cattails when they are green, usually in the late summer or early fall.
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3
Use a long knife, corn knife, or hand sickle to cut cattails.
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4
Watch for snakes.
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5
Grab a handful of cattail leaves in one hand and cut at the base of the plant with your knife.
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6
Cut a large bundle of green cattails. They will shrink to about a quarter of their original size when dry.
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7
Dry leaves under a shade tree and out of direct sun if you live in a dry area, or lay them on an old screen door letting air circulate around them.
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8
Turn them daily if you dry them under a tree.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Cattails will mold if they are left in a wet area without warm air circulating around them.
It will take a couple of days for the rushes to dry completely.
Weave a basket from cattails for your Sunday school class for the story of Moses and his cradle made from bulrush.
To weave with dried cattails, just dampen to make them pliable again.
When hunting for cattails, watch for snakes and leeches.
