A good way to lace a bark container is to use rawhide,bark or cane.
Here are instructions for a Scandinavian technique.
Start by laying out holes one-quarter inch apart.
Drill holes using a 1/8" drill bit.
Use root, rawhide or cane for the lacing (spruce root was the traditional material).
If using cane, soak in water with a little glycerin over night.
Start by making a point on one end of the root or cane. Use a big needle or bent wire for rawhide.
The unpointed end goes, from the front, in the first hole 3/4".
The pointed end goes into the second hole, then up through the first hole and down through the third hole. Draw the it up tight, trapping the 3/4" piece of lace.
Then using an awl, split the root or cane that is bridging the second hole.
If using rawhide you may want to pull two thin strands wile lacing. Hole punching with an awl will then be unnecessary.
The pointed end, which is on the inside of the container, goes through the second hole and through the split and is drawn up tight.
Then you continue doing the same thing all the way down until the end of the line of holes.
At the very end you take an extra stitch with out taking an extra hole. Slip the end underneath the previous loop on the inside, securing the lace.
Trim.
This container is laced with spruce root.
This container is laced with rawhide. Two strips were pulled through together.
Hope this has been of some help. Love working with birch bark.
Harmony
Here are instructions for a Scandinavian technique.
Start by laying out holes one-quarter inch apart.
Drill holes using a 1/8" drill bit.
Use root, rawhide or cane for the lacing (spruce root was the traditional material).
If using cane, soak in water with a little glycerin over night.
Start by making a point on one end of the root or cane. Use a big needle or bent wire for rawhide.
The unpointed end goes, from the front, in the first hole 3/4".
The pointed end goes into the second hole, then up through the first hole and down through the third hole. Draw the it up tight, trapping the 3/4" piece of lace.
Then using an awl, split the root or cane that is bridging the second hole.
If using rawhide you may want to pull two thin strands wile lacing. Hole punching with an awl will then be unnecessary.
The pointed end, which is on the inside of the container, goes through the second hole and through the split and is drawn up tight.
Then you continue doing the same thing all the way down until the end of the line of holes.
At the very end you take an extra stitch with out taking an extra hole. Slip the end underneath the previous loop on the inside, securing the lace.
Trim.
This container is laced with spruce root.
This container is laced with rawhide. Two strips were pulled through together.
Hope this has been of some help. Love working with birch bark.
Harmony
