XXIV Knotting for Dolls’ Hammocks, Shopping Bags, and Other Purposes
Knotting of raffia for dolls’ hammocks, shopping bags, belts, coverings for hanging jars, and many other things proves to be a very interesting part of the basketry work.
Little girls could easily make some very pretty belts to be worn with some of their dainty frocks, and I don’t know what could be more delightful than a hammock for dolly to sleep in.
First let us see how we can make dolly’s hammock. We will have to have two small brass rings about three quarters of an inch in diameter, twelve pieces of raffia, and a pair of scissors.
Place one of the rings on a table or other flat surface and tie each of the twelve pieces of raffia on the ring, leaving an end about an inch long. Begin and tie simple knots three inches from the ring and one inch apart, knotting the strands two and two until nine or ten rows have been completed. Finish the hammock by fastening the ends three inches from the last row of knots, to the other ring. The hammock is ready for Sally Ann to have a nap.
The next thing to do is to make a shopping bag, to carry all the small bundles when you go down town to buy dolls’ clothes.
This little bag is made with the same kind of knotting, only the number of strands and the arrangement of them differ (Figure 213).
Twenty-two strands of raffia and a pair of scissors are necessary. Arrange twenty of the strands in pairs, and tie each pair in the centre. Place them on a table with the knots side by side, leaving a little less than ten inches on each side of the knots. Begin on one side of the centre knots, and tie one strand from one knot to the next strand from the next knot. They must be an inch from the first knots. Tie the same two strands an inch from the centre on the opposite side. In the same way tie the outside strands of this group to form the corners. Tie them one inch from the first centre knot. Make ten rows of knots an inch apart. When these have been completed, the bag is ready for the handles.
Separate the strands on one side of the bag from those on the other. Divide the group on one side in half. Fasten each group one and a half inches beyond the last row of knots. Braid the strands about six inches. Do the same with each group, making four braids in all. Hold the two braids from one end of the bag together so that the loose ends of one braid overlap the other. Beginning at the middle point make a binding one and a half inches to the right and a similar one to the left. Cover the binding with “Solomon’s Knots.” Keep the lines of knotting straight. Finish the opposite handle in the same way.
Some day when you have shopping to do for your mother, take your bag along and see how handy it will be.
In the beginning of the chapter I spoke of a belt to wear with a pretty frock. A belt made of a six strand braid proves to be very serviceable to some little girls. You may use plain white raffia or a plain colour but oftentimes two colours add to the attractiveness of the belt.
Take three long pieces of raffia, that is, if the raffia is very thick; if not, six or twelve pieces using two or four pieces as one strand. Hold the strands at the centre in the left hand. Put the strand on the extreme right over and under the next two strands. The strand on the extreme left is put under, over and under the other strands. This forms a braid. Continue doing this braiding until the belt is long enough to suit you. To finish the ends tie the remaining loose strands close to the braid and cut off the ends. Turn the knots under and sew over the ends with the loop-stitch described in a preceding chapter.
In working with raffia many times an article will need something to put a finishing touch to it, I would suggest using a fringe or tassel according to the kind of work in question. In my experience they have proved to be just the thing for such purposes. For example, in knotting raffia for a work bag, the ends of the raffia may be left hanging and when cut to an even length provide a very plain finish for the bottom of the bag. Fringing or tassels would, I think, add considerably to the appearance of the article. To make fringe on the bottom of such a bag it is necessary to cut the ends an even length after the last knot has been made, and with a pin or needle fray out the ends very finely.
The way to make tassels for a finish is to wind a strand of raffia over a cardboard about two or three times, or if the tassel is to be quite thick, wind five or six times. Slip it off and bind it several times near the top with the end strand of the bag. Sew it fast with a tapestry needle. Cut through the centre of the loops. A row of these across the bottom of a bag are very effective.
A very dainty little article for a very small child to make is a little clothes brush or whisk broom. Secure a brass ring about one inch in diameter and cover the ring with the loop stitch. Fold twelve strands of raffia twice and slip the bunch through the ring bending it in the middle. Make a binding one inch below the ring and one inch long; cover the binding with “Solomon’s Knots.” Fringe the ends well and trim off evenly (Figure 214).
Knotting in silks, cotton or linen strands should be mentioned in this chapter. It is a difficult thing to find a piece of fringe that will just match the colour of silk you have but it is an easy matter to make the fringe yourself. The simplest kind is the knot fringe. It can be made of filo, rope, twisted, or heavy floss when used in connection with a silk, satin, or velvet background. For cotton or linen background, cotton floss or fine cord can be used.
Let us suppose that you wish to make the fringe into a hem. Take a cluster of six or eight strands of rope silk, ten inches in length, and draw them through the extreme edge of the hem. If the other kind of silks are used, more strands will be necessary. Knot the cluster close to the hem. At a little less than a half inch distance over make another cluster and repeat in this manner across the space on which you want the fringe.
Now take the first cluster and divide it in half. Hold the half nearest the next group in your left hand and divide the second group. Taking the half close to first group, knot the strands together one half inch from the hem. Continue like this all the way across. Do not pucker the material when knotting.
A third row of knots is now made below the second. This takes up the first half of the knot previously used and half of the next group. In this way you form a diamond. If a deeper fringe with more knots is desired cut the strands of silk three inches longer. For every inch of fringe allow three inches of strands.