Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-01-17
ART OF BASKETRY.
Raftia Work an Interesting Handicraft-
Society Has Taken Up
the Fad.

Raflla work is one of the mos; interest
inS of tie artistic handcrafts. 1t usually
axis Americans a very little while to
| absorb and adart an idea and make it
their own IN a practical fashion. The
fatiia or basketry idea has been tic ex-
cer'icn thar proves the rule. This beau
tiful art has actually been with us as
lohS MS our red brother, and we have
not appreciated las artistic commercial
| worth until within the last few years
/ Possibly some travelec has brought home
piece of the Indian work We saw
/ II, taHed oven its colCrins and shape,
! but the idea Of attempting anything like
/ it never entered the brain.
After many years we have ut last
walked up 10 an appreciation OF the value
, of our aboriginal handicraft ana are
| jealousy treaSuring every hint ON the
subject. The government has appointed
INDIAN teachers TO give instruction in
ratiia at the Indian schools and is en-
couraging the squawS to 90 ON with the
art. Singularly enough. it is the old
squaw who does most of the weaving.
Old, ugly and unwiedy in appearance,
she still retains the skillful, supple
fingers of her youth and does wonderful
work. The possibilities of this work
were first recognized by Chicago wont
an, who experimental in the kinder
Sarten and manual training schools and
achieved remarkable success. With their
trained fingers and developed powers of
| observation, the kindergarten children
make many pretty and simple designs
TO these children it is only Il step in
advance of their paper mat weaving.
Later on in the training school they
work ont more ambitious results in in,-
tan as we'll as ratlla.
Society has now taken up the fad Al,
over the country clubs are being formed
for winter work. In many instances the
! fad has worked itself into a serious pllr-
pose, and enthusiasm aud competition run
| high among its dev0tees. There is every
| thing 10 recommend this rattia work and
nothing to condemn. Unlike the amateur
| photographer, the novice in basketry does
! all her own work The developing and
| finishing of the article her clever fingers
! complete without the stains of horrid
| acids or the Imprisonment IN black hole
| politely called Il dark room. No; she is
| free to carry out any individual scheme
| Of color or fancy in construction. When
| sufficient knowledge is gained enough TO
| admit of an intelligent selection of plants
from which to obtain dyes, the woods and
meadows are searched for these treas
| ures. In most states are TO be found
| grasses aud willows which work up beau
| tifully into baskets. Maine and Canada
/ are rich in different varieties OF grasses,
| especially the sweet scented grass which
when bruised gives off a delicious odor.
The rafia from which this work gets
! its name is the outer cutice of palm
I grown in Madagascar. 1t is a stiff. PHI
! able yellow stuff. The women and chill
| dren of Madagascar have quite nm indus
! try in the preparation of ratlia for use
ali over the world. Rattan and rush are
/ also used but only by skilfu workers.
| The raflia is Il particularly good material
! for children and persons unaecustomed
| to the fashioning of things with their
! hands; it is pliabe and easy to manage.
! The materials necessary Cor a first les
son in this fascinating art are few and
! simple 4 hank of ratIia, n pair of scis.
/ sors and several Hat sticks yard long,
a paper of worSted needles aud the hegIn,
ner is ready for work. The first stitch is
| n simple under and over weaving one
! Double weaving is done in the same
way, except that two weayers are used
Mt once.
Here are directions for making an
easy PATTERN, which is the basis Of nil
! the more complicated stitches: \ yard
stick is held in the hand and worked
| from left to right at IN angle with the
! body. the end of the stick resting on
some firm foundation. \ piece Of the
! rahia is tied about the stick ana knutted
/ and pulled up quite tight. As maBy
! stitches as are needed are then knnttrd
! down the stick. Leave n small space.
| then commence with the inner one near
est the person and knot like the first row.
/ This is continued until the proper num-
! Der Of rows are made. Great care should
/ be exercised in having the rows perfectly
even With this stitch as a guide Others
can be worked out and any number Of
! lovely things fashioned. OF course. the
artistic woman has the advantage Of
being able 10 work out more beautiful
color schemes than her less gifted sister.
Washington Star