05/14/2026
May 17th’s meeting will be extra special! We will have a talk by Linda Hendrickson, a Portland, Oregon fiber artist, teacher, and the author of "How to Make Ply-Split Baskets" and "How to Make Ply-Split Braids & Bands.
Ply-split braiding is a unique textile technique in which plied cords are pulled through the plies of other cords to create flat and three-dimensional objects. The tradition comes to us from the Thar desert in NW India, where men spin goat hair, ply it into thick cords, and make sturdy girths, carrying straps, bags, and neck decorations for their camels.
Contemporary fiber artists are now exploring the possibilities of ply-split braiding. Anything that can be twisted into a plied cord can be used, and Linda has made cords for her work from wool, linen, cotton, metallics, raffia, paper ribbon, torn fabric strips, stainless steel yarn, and fishing line.
Since ply-split braiding is still relatively unknown, Linda will share photos and a bit of information about its history, and the tools, materials and techniques used. After this, she will share photos of her own work, including mats, jewelry, rugs, wall hangings, and baskets.
