Basic techniques to Gourd Art by Lora S Irish
Gourd art is a favorite around the studio. The wood-like properties and wonderful shapes of craft gourds make a perfect media for our patterns, line art, and craft patterns. But before the brushes, paint, or colored pencils come out on the table I like to add my decorative rim edging to the cut gourd. This step-by-step Autumn Bird Nest Gourd project focuses on a simple braided raffia rim that you can use for your gourd art.
Round Reed Rim Supplies
9″ diameter kettle gourd
craft knife or gourd saw
raffia – natural, yellow, orange, and green
compass
electric drill and 1/8″ drill bit
large leather needle
mist bottle of water
hot glue gun and glue
The technique that is demonstrated in this free online craft gourd project is usually worked using #1 or #2 round reed as a basket rim finish. Round reed is available through any basket supply store as BasketPatterns.com. You can see a reed rim in the photo to the right, Knitting Needle Gourd. The Winter Rose pattern is from our Flower Pattern Package at ArtDesignsStudio.com.
To make the photos for this project easier to follow I chose to work my Autumn Bird Nest rim using four colors of raffia. You will be able to visually follow each raffia strand, by color, as we work the braid pattern.
Please use a dust mask and work in a well ventilated area while working the cutting, sanding, and drilling steps.
1. Wash your gourd with soap and water to remove any dirt or mold left from the drying process.
2. Note in the photo above that this gourd was cut on the side, not the top. This allows the stem to become part of the final design. Lay the gourd on it’s side, resting on the stem. Mark a pencil line 7″ from the table along the upper side – top side.
3. Using a craft knife, bench knife, or gourd saw cut along the pencil line to make the opening in your gourd. Remove the seeds and fibers, clean the inside walls of your gourd.
4. Trim the cut edge of the opening using your craft knife. With 220-grit sandpaper smooth the edge.
5. Open a compass to 1/2″. Lay the point arm of the compass on the cut edge. Allow the pencil arm to touch the outside wall of the gourd. Pull the compass along the edge, marking a pencil line.
6. You need an even number of holes along the gourd opening for a braided rim if you are using either one color of raffia or one color of basket reed. This allows you to thread on reed or raffia strand from the outside through one hole, then bring the reed from the inside out in the next hole.
If you are using several colors of reed or raffia you will need two holes for each color times the number of colors. So for each repeat along the edge of my gourd, using four colors I need a number of placement marks that can be divided by eight.
With the compass still set at 1/2″, make a mark on the pencil line on the center front of the gourd to note your first drill hole placement . Place the point arm of the compass on the first pencil mark and make a second mark which will be 1/2″ from the first. Work the 1/2″ placement marks to 1″ – 2″ from the center back. Returning to the center front first placement mark, work the 1/2″ placement marks on the other side of the gourd to 1″ – 2″ from the center back. This leaves 2″ – 4″ at the center back unmarked. Adjust your compass opening as needed to insure that you have the right number of hole placement marks.
7. Using a 1/8″ drill cut a hole at each placement mark. Sand the inside of the gourd using 220-grit sandpaper along the inside rim to free – completely open – each hole. Use a damp sponge or artist eraser to remove the pencil marks along the outer rim.
Did you know – To mark a perfectly level line along your gourd for as a cutting guide you can place your gourd in a bathroom partially full of water. Lower the gourd into the water slowly, in an upright position as you want it to sit. The water will dampen the gourd, making the gourd appear darker where the water touches it. Since water always remains level you can mark a pencil line along the wet line as your guide.
8. Dampen your round reed or raffia for about one minute in warm water. Thread three to four strands of raffia through a large leather needle for easy handling. Insert the needle into one of the holes, working from the outside towards the inside. Pull the raffia strand to one-half its length. Thread the needle from the inside to the outside in the fourth hole from the first for a four-color braid. Pull the strand up gently to remove any slack on the inside of the gourd.
If you are working a one color braid thread the reed or raffia from the inside to the outside in the next hole.
I worked one color of raffia at a time, threading all of the yellow raffia first, then the orange raffia strands, and so on until all of my colors had been worked.
Please visit Flower Patterns Package at ArtDesignsStudio.com for
more great pattern ideas to use in your gourd art.
9. Comp the raffia so that each strand is free floating. Lightly mist with clean water.
Did you know – Braided seagrass, available through basket supply stores, comes in several thicknesses and is purchased by the pound weight and can be used to create this braided rim trim for your gourds.
10. A braided rim is worked from the bottom to the top, and rolls into a gentle curve naturally. Turn the gourd upside down to begin the next steps. As I work through the braiding I rest my gourd on a large terry cloth towel on my lap. This allows me to brace the gourd between my knees, leaving my hands free to work.
11. I am left handed and am working from my left to right. This braid can easily be worked from right to left if that is more comfortable for you. Lift the first strand of raffia (shown yellow) and lay it over the next strand (shown orange), pull the first into a downward position. Hold both strands in place.
12. Lift the second strand (shown orange) from above and lay it over the next un-worked strand (shown green), pull the working strand into a downward position.
Please visit Flying Ducks Pattern Package at Art Designs Studio for more great designs to use in your
gourd art.
13. Lift the second strand from above (shown green) and lay it over the next strand in the round (shown natural), pull the working strand into a downward position. Repeat this simple pattern until you reach the beginning of the braiding round.
14. Loosen the loop of the first worked strand of the round (shown yellow).
15. Thread the last working raffia strand through the loosened loop of the first. Pull the first strand up tight to secure the entire round.
16. With one completed round of braiding you are ready to start the next round. With each new round you will note that the raffia or reed naturally begins to roll over towards the inside of the gourd.
Please visit North American Big Cats Pattern Package at Art Designs Studio to see more Lora S Irish patterns.
17. Here’s a simple diagram.
Strand one is laid over the strand two.
Strand two is laid over the folded down strand 1 and over strand three.
Strand three is laid over the folded down strand 2 and strand 4.
The last strand is threaded through the loop of strand 1.
Did you know – If you are working a round reed braided rim from a wide opening into a gradually narrowing opening you can work two strands together when the cross-over becomes to compact. On the next row, drop one of the strands inside of the gourd and continue braiding. After the braid rim is complete cut the dropped reed to 1 1/2″ and tuck it under the braid.
18. As you work each new round of braiding mist the strands as necessary to keep them slightly damp and easy to fold.
Check each row for loose loops and missed strands of raffia. It is easier to make adjustments as you work the rows than to try and adjust when your loose loop is several rows down the work.
19. Comb the loose raffia strands with your fingers, tie them together into a bundle using a scrap length of raffia. With scissors, cut the raffia to about 2″ long from the top row of the gourd. Tuck the loose ends under the braided rim.
20. If you are working your braid using raffia you will need to secure the braid and the raffia ends using a hot glue gun. Allow the raffia to dry overnight before you glue the rim.
If you are working with round basket reed, cut the reed to 1 1/2″ long at the end of the last round. Roll the ends under the braid. Roll the braid over the gourd edge, gently pressing it into position. Allow the reed to dry.
21. Your gourd is ready for your decoration. For this Autumn Bird Nest I rolled the cut raffia strands from the braiding into a bird’s next shape and tucked it into the braided rim opening. The robins – one inside the nest and the one sitting on the rim – are hand whittled from basswood squares with copper sheeting wings and tail. A few silk maple leaves add the final details.
Please visit Art Designs Studio, home of Lora S Irish patterns.
Discover the fun of whittling your own fish and bird decoys with this e-project, American Folk Art Ice Fishing Decoy Carving.
