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 Creating a sisal fruit bowl-one of the most popular pieces in our Path to Peace Collection-is a process, every step infused with the vision and skill of its weaver.  |
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COLLECTING
Sisal is harvested from the long, bayonet-shaped leaves of the sisal plant, a member of the agave family. The leaves are taken from the outer growth so the plant is not harmed, and will continue to produce foliage from its central core. The harvesting is usually done by men who then bring the 3 to 4 foot long leaves to market on the days the women gather to sell their finished baskets. The weavers select their leaves with all the care of a shopper choosing tomatoes-bruised or damaged stalks produce poor quality sisal with discolorations, or that take dye poorly.
Long bunches of sweetgrass (over which the sisal will be sewn) are harvested in the early morning or late evening when it is most pliable. Wiry, tough and sweet-smelling, weavers use the grass because the baskets made from it are clean and long lasting thanks to its own natural preservatives.
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PREPARING
Once selected, the sisal leaves are broken open lengthwise and, using an enzyme-filled liquid found in the center of a banana trunk, fine sisal threads are extracted. These threads are continually washed until clean and bright (the whitest sisal threads are achieved using a water/enzyme mix). The sisal is then hung in the shade to slowly dry. Finished sisal strands may then be used in their natural white color or can be dyed in a number of ways, including commercial dyes as well as natural dyes such as henna, tea leaves, and other traditional plant-based pigments.
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WEAVING
Coil sewing, the technique used to create the sisal bowls, is an ancient technique of basketry. Up to 3 sisal strands are threaded onto a needle, while a tiny bunch of sweetgrass is wrapped in sisal and coiled tight. The weaver then puts the needle through the edge of the previous coil and pulls each tiny stitch tight. The weaving proceeds in a coiling fashion, with each successive coil from the center increasing the diameter of the bowl. To create intricate pattern, the weaver must frequently change needles, each one threaded with a different color. While placing the stitches carefully and working the patterns properly, the weaver must also pay close and constant attention to the bowl's shape. Amazingly, a 12-inch diameter bowl of this type may amount to several thousand stitches applied over the course of a week. When a length of sisal is used up, a new length is started and the end of the previous is buried under successive stitches to hide it from view. The best bowls are remarkable for the perfect symmetry of their shapes, the sweetness of their curves, and the seeming effortlessness of the whole.
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FINISHING
When the bowl has reached its final diameter, the ends of the sweetgrasses are cut in a taper and gradually diminished until the coil ends and the last stitches are placed. Here, the master weaver will show her skill by blending the end in such a way that it is hardly visible. A loop is then sewn onto the back so that it may be hung on a wall. The weaver brings the finished basket to the collection center where it will be carefully inspected for quality and beauty. Lesser quality baskets stay in Rwanda for the local tourist market, only the finest baskets are selected to be part of the Macy's collection. |
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