weaving with Flag Iris or pendulous sedge

[John Fenna]

The leaves of both Flag Iris and Pendulous Sedge both look like they should be good for weaving baskets or rope making.
Has anyone tried them?
Any hints or tips?

 

[Toddy]

Let the flag iris wither before you use it. I know that they cut the leaves for commercial use abroad, but I pull mine off from the outside of the corm and work in.
I find it makes brilliant rope, and it makes really good twinned basketry. Not quite soft rush type, but still along those lines.

Haven't used the pendulous sedge for anything but food and string making.

cheers,
Mary

 

[cranmere]

Flag iris leaves are great for twined baskets, what Toddy says about drying them first. If you dry them completely, wrap them in a wet towel for 20 minutes or so and they will soften and become pliable. I haven't tried pendulous sedge.

 

[Cobweb]

We have a fair bit of the Iris ground around our neck of the woods, I was wondering, just how much roughy would you need for a decent sized gathering basket as I would love to make one

 

[redneck]

Sounds interesting, are there any tutorials on making these baskets?