Making Banana Leaf Baskets
Using Banana Fibers to Create Decorative and Useful Baskets
Get tropical with these fun and simple baskets made from the fibers of the banana plant. Following other traditional styles weave yourself a fruity concoction. . .
Making Banana Fiber Baskets is a fun and simple way to create decorative and baskets from natural materials. This basket is made the same way as a traditional Pine Needle Basket.
Banana Fiber
Banana is in the ginger family and technically not a tree at all. The trunk is the stem of the plant, each stem producing a flower and fruit. In Asia all parts of the "tree" are used – flower, fruit, trunk and roots are eaten (banana flower recipes) and the fibers used for baskets, mats, roofs and siding. The sap is also used as a dye.
Materials
While the leaves can be used the fibers are short. For this project, use the fiber that makes up the layered stem. Peel in long strips and hang to dry. Gently part the fiber removing the criss-cross grid which lies between each layer. Separate the fiber into roughly inch wide strips; the longer the strip the better.
While you can use banana fiber to sew with, it becomes brittle when thin. It is best to use raffia which can be found at craft, home and garden stores and many gift stores. Look for long fibers.
You will need a needle with a large eye to thread the raffia and a sharp point to pierce the fiber. A sharp pointed embroidery needle works well.
Preparing the Materials
Have ready more than you think you’ll need: running out of material part way through a basket is time consuming and frustrating. Soak all fibers – raffia and banana, for an hour before you work; this will keep them pliable. The materials should be taken out of the water before you begin: damp rather than wet. Separate the raffia into quarter-inch wide strips, this makes for the prettiest stitch, though work to your own preference.
Preparing the banana fiber
Secure one end of the strip tightly with a clothespeg or clamp, begin twisting the other end. When you have twisted the entire length of fiber tightly until it will twist no more, hold the two ends together. The fiber will naturally twist around itself. Help it to twist evenly. These twists will be what you make the basket with. Make all twists before you begin the basket.
Making the Basket
Beginning with the rounded end of a twist, wrap it tightly into a flat circle or oval shape. Use the raffia to stitch from the center to the working edge all the way around at least once with every stitch touching its neighbor. This will give a strong foundation to your basket. When you have gone around once you can begin to space out your stitches keeping them even and neat. Every stitch should wrap around the working edge and then pierce the center of the stitch below it. This will become easier as you move out from the center. The stitches themselves create a wonderful spiraling pattern radiating out from the middle. As you run out of twist, simply add another starting always with the rounded end and overlapping slightly with the previous twist. Keep working out. When you wish to begin the sides simply overlap your working edge slightly over the twist below and the sides will curve up. To bring your basket in, simply overlap in the other direction.
Finishing the basket
As in the beginning, tightly stitch around the entire rim fixing the whole edge to the layer below. The last "thread" can be woven under or through the sides. Trim the ends of the twists at a 45-degree angle so they lie flat along the basket sides and bottom.
