Sisal - what is it? How to make crafts from sisal? Washcloth, sisal balls

Modern stores of handicraft goods are almost bursting with a variety of materials. Many craftsmen do not even have time to realize the advantages of this or that basis, as something new appears. Why do you need a bright floristic fiber, sold in many specialized stores, and is it possible to somehow save on it? Amazing sisal: what it is and what can be done from it independently, without visiting expensive master classes, read in this article. Superpopular material is easy to use and belongs to the category of natural bases for creative work.

What is sisal fiber made from?

This material is made from the leaves of the Mexican agave - a herb shrub, which grows in a subtropical climate. Sisal fibers are very tough and rough enough, but they have very high strength. It's interesting, but they do not need any special technology to make them, and the unpainted material looks very natural, because it has a brilliant shade of yellow scale. The main purpose of this fiber is the creation of strong ropes, ropes, decorative hand-made articles, various brushes and sponges. We are interested in the use of sisal as a material for manual creation. But what to do if the city does not sell this amazing fiber? You can make sisal with your own hands, this will require a little patience and inexpensive goods from the hardware store.

We make fiber from improvised means

The easiest way is to extract the material for needlework from a conventional brush, which is used for the whitewashing of houses. The cost of such a tool is negligible, only 60-70 rubles, and a lot of fiber can be squeezed from it. You need to choose brushes with a very thin and necessarily natural pile. Sisal crafts come in a variety of colors, since the material itself is a linen shade that requires additional coloring of the resulting fibers. This process is also very simple.

To give the material a suitable color, powder or tablet food colorings are used, which can be stocked free of charge during various actions taking place in stores before Easter. But they can also be bought very cheaply. In a suitable size dish is poured very hot water, you can boil it, add a tablespoon of ordinary vinegar and the desired dye. Sisal is divided into strands, which are soaked in the resulting solution for 2-2.5 hours.

Secrets of sisal shades

The soaked material is laid out for drying on blank album sheets. It is better not to use a newspaper, since letters can be printed. To get a variety of shades, it is worth to practice in mixing dyes. You can also use ordinary greens, bluegrass, manganese, beet juice, coffee, strong tea and many other traditional substances that can convey the color to the material. To obtain a sisal of pure white color, use the usual "Belize". Soak the fibers in this case you need for 6-8 hours or just for the night.

Polotnyany or braided sisal - what is it? To create applications, sheets of this fiber are used, also painted in different colors. For the manufacture of sisal cloth, take an oilcloth on which the material is unfolded in a fantasy order and covered with wallpaper glue. The resulting blank is covered with another layer of film and pressed flat plate.

What to do with the finished materials

After a day, the sisal cloth will be ready for further use, it's time to make the first craft. Very popular are applications from this fiber, as well as various topiary, baskets, decorative shoes and even bouquets. For example, you can create a design notebook, and decorate the cover with elements cut out of the sisal cloth: birds, flowers or hearts. Volumetric figures are created on the basis of simple wire frames, which can be purchased in a floristic store or made independently.

Material sisal: master class "Topiary"

To create a unique artwork in the form of a tree, the needlewoman will need a small set of tools and materials, as well as two hours of free time. What will be needed:

1. Sisal suitable color.
2. Pot or can to fix the structure.
3. Floral wire, glue gun.
4. Gypsum from the nearest building store.
5. Special plastic or styrofoam ball. It can be made independently of a densely crowded paper, threaded or cut from a floral sponge.
6. Elements for decoration: balls of sisal, beads, satin ribbons, ready-made flowers and berries.

We are working on the project "Topiary"

If you plan to use sesaline balls, but you can not buy, you can twist them yourself. The fiber is hard, perfectly holds the shape. The size of these elements should not be more than berries, beads and colors in the composition. In a ball-base make a hole and insert a wire or a usual twig to create a trunk of the future tree. With the help of a glue gun attach all the decorative details to the "crown" of the topiary. First it is necessary to spread large elements, filling in the blanks with small beads and flowers. The trunk is decorated with satin ribbon, and the whole structure is installed in a pot and poured with diluted gypsum. After the "soil" in the pot dries, the ugly top layer is covered with crumpled paper or sisal scraps, which will become a "lawn". Everything, the topiary is ready - colors and decor elements can be varied, which will allow creating new unique crafts.

Other articles of natural fibers

Probably, the most famous option for using this material will be a sponge from sisal. Such a product has a natural woven appearance, but it can also be made using a conventional hook. Sisalic wool is not suitable for everyday use, but it perfectly performs the role of a natural body scrub. Of course, it is not necessary to color the fiber for such crafts. Also I use sponges from this material for very effective anti-cellulite dry massage. For knitting you should choose a hook at least 5-th size. Thin instruments are not suitable, otherwise the work will be done very long, it will be too dense and rough. The smaller the distance between the loops, the worse it will be to wash such a washcloth. To get a maximum of foam when bathing, it is worthwhile to insert inside a regular bath sponge.

We knit a sisalic sponge

The simplest version of making such an article is the creation of a long tubular cloth made of natural agave fiber. Asking in the store sisal, what is it, you do not have to explain, you can just ask for a thread for a washcloth. At the beginning of the work, the ring is removed from the air posts of a suitable size. Usually they collect about 40 loops. After that, six or seven rows are fastened with standard posts without a crochet. This will allow the product to keep its shape in the future, and also keep the sponge inside if you want to insert it. The rest of the length is knitted with elongated loops or stitches with one or two wraps, as more like. Having knitted the entire length - about 30-40 cm, finish with six rows of simple loops. In addition, you can make handles for wool or sew a sponge inside. The finished product is washed before first use with a normal soap and soaked for several minutes in boiling water, which will make it slightly softer.

Other types of sponge from sisal

A very nice and useful hand made of natural agave fiber will be an option for more experienced knitters. A washcloth in the form of a ball or coral sponge looks wonderful and perfectly lies in the hand. Such a product can be used by children to wash their dirty feet and hands. To create such a model, you need to collect 50-60 air loops. After that, five rows are tied with bars without a crochet - you do not need to cut the thread. Then the resulting ribbon is sewn into a ring and pulled into a fantasy ball. You can tie a loofah in the form of a glove so that it would be more convenient to use it for self-massage or as mini-toys for children.

So, we studied the sisal material, what it is and what can be done from it. It remains to wish our readers creative success and unlimited inspiration in their work. Do not forget to save on expensive floral sets by yourself making and painting sisal fibers in suitable colors. And most importantly: before using products from this material, they should always be slightly soaked in soapy water or sprinkled with boiling water.