2016 Cyra Lewis


Cyra Lewis
Opunake, Taranaki, New Zealand
www.free-form-stitching.blogspot.com


New Zealand Flax Vessel

Flax, an icon on so many postcards and scenic calendars. Freely growing on our country hedgerows, along river banks, coastal areas, and not forgetting that most gardens will have one or two varieties.

It has long sword-like leaf blades growing 2 to 3 metres high that are used widely in Maori culture for weaving baskets, floor covers, fishing nets, sandals, many garments, and containers.

The guidelines for our annual challenge states “the use of exotic/unusual materials is encouraged”, which gave me the idea to use the actual plant leaf to create my piece, and after a couple of experiments, and disasters, which showed me how NOT to use flax, I prepared the leaf and finally produced a ‘thread’ for the creation of this vessel, which is entirely crocheted.

Varying the thickness of the ‘thread’ while preparing the natural fiber, created texture and a great variety of colour within the piece. Leaving the tails loose and trailing adds to the natural form.

















14 comments:

  1. As a hand papermaker, who is indebted to your countryman, Mark Lander, I've been introduced to that sacred and wonderful plant and some of its possiblities.
    Your creation heartfully, soulfully, illustrates NZ flax's other possibilities, as well as crochet's.

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    1. Thank you Akua. "Heartfully, soulfully" describes my thoughts and process for this piece perfectly.

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  2. This is beautiful, in every way, the colours are gorgeous too. Fabulous work!

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  3. wonderful and interesting - fabulous texture!

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    1. Thank you LuLu. I love the texture too.

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  4. Love, love, love it!! The texture, colors, so natural, so interesting!

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    1. Thank you Christina. It was a very interesting procedure and worth more experimentation.

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  5. I am reminded of a birds' nest, intricately woven from found grasses and leaves. Your flax vessel is beautiful. I would be interested to see a photo of the flax plants you used. Are the colours all natural?

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    1. Thank you Suz. Yes the fibers are all the natural colours, which change colour slightly over time. It will be interesting to compare the photos above to how it would have changed in a couple of months or years.

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  6. Very nicely done and original for sure! Did it hurt your hands to crochet with flax?

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    1. Thanks Bonnie. No it didn't hurt my hands, but my shoulders ached a bit because I had to make large arm movements because the flax isn't as flexible as normal yarn and needed a bit of 'tugging' to get it through the loops. I broke two hooks in the process.

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  7. Awesome work, Cyra! Please tell us what you had to do to prepare the flax. (From what I heard previously, it's not easy.)

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    1. Thanks Judy. The preparation of the flax is too complex for this post.

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