These are one of the strongest bags I have ever come across. I grew up with these bags and always wondered how they were made and how the craftspeople were able to make them with such amazing designs in them. Thanks for solving this fifty year old mystery for me, cheers
@@jeffandthings77 They made them out of a thin plastic cord as it is durable, stays clean and with the weave it can take a lot of weight and expands. It doesn't rot in the tropics and copes with rain. Some are made out of rope cord but not many. The patterns would be made the same way patterns are made when you crochet or knit patterns. The patterns are usually repeating and can be very artistic.
Glad to hear it! That's exactly why I made this video, and the channel-hoping to help people out, here and there. Good luck, and I hope to see what you make at some point! Edit: you reminded me that I made this video for someone that wanted to know how to start, and keep going with this, so I went back to find them....turns out YOU were exactly why I made this video! Glad you found it!
Would be interesting to see how this compares to traditional PNG bag making. It looks a bit like Indigenous Australian dilly bags. Also similar to nålbinding.
The connection to nalbinding was what first interested me on these! I had someone from PNG that commented on the other video that makes bilums, and the comment seems like I must be on to something!
If you're talking about the plarn I used in my bilum, I just join it like I did in my plarn making video. My first bag (the blue one here) I just tied the strands together and trimmed it short-they still show, but not too bad. The yucca one in the middle is cordage I am making myself-so I make some cordage, use it till it's too short, then make more. Rinse and repeat!!
There’s a book by Peter Collingwood has drawings like the one you showed and examples for 4 different bilums even with patterns! Maybe you local library has it or can request an inter library loan for you!
@@jeffandthings77 yes, I’m so sorry I thought I put the book title in there but it’s “The Maker’s Hand” by Peter Collingwood if not the library then Eugene Textiles has a copy for $25!
Got it requested at the library now-I'll check that out before possibly purchasing. Looks like Mr. Collingwood has a lot of great fiber craft books for me to check out!
I've never heard the term "Noken" before! I'd love to be enlightened about how Noken works-I was simply sharing what works for me, trying to figure things out from a diagram only.
Finally looked it up-and it seems that Noken is the name in another location for the same technique. I also found a technique used in South America that seems to use the same stitch!! I'd still love to hear more about the bags you made, and how I could change what I'm doing.