Growing my own plant fibre for weaving - how I got started.

When I first began weaving, I knew very little about plant fibre or the range of materials that could be used in basketry. It wasn’t until I joined a basketry group that a whole new world opened up. Suddenly plants were no longer just background greenery; they were potential fibre, texture, structure and form. At the time my garden was very basic but even then I discovered I already had a few plants that could be used.

The first plant fibre I harvested from my own garden was New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax). This plant is widely used in New Zealand particularly by Māori weavers and has a long and respected history. My introduction to it came unexpectedly while I was visiting my sister in the UK. She has extensive plant knowledge and casually said to me, “Why don’t you try this?” I picked a few leaves and began to play. I found real pleasure in the whole process; cutting the leaves, stripping them into workable thicknesses and then coiling with them. This got me thinking more about growing my own fibre.

Plants from left to right - top row: NZ Flax, Iris, Red Hot Poker, Watsonia, Red Hot Poker, Common Ivy.

As my knowledge grew, I started noticing plants everywhere, especially those growing along roadsides. Experienced basketmakers from the group had pointed out that many reeds, rushes and grasses could be used but I had no idea how. So I experimented and kept asking loads of questions of the experienced basketmakers. I picked plants, dried them, used them and simply observed what happened. Some worked beautifully, others less so but every attempt taught me something. This hands-on experimentation became an essential part of my learning but it took time and patience.

When I bought the South Australian basketry book, it became an extremely useful tool. It listed an incredible range of usable plants; native Australian species as well as many European plants that had been introduced and were often labelled as weeds. This encouraged me to really look around, not just in my own garden but in other people’s gardens too. One memorable find was red hot poker which I discovered growing wild and causing frustration in someone's paddock. I dug up a clump and planted it in my garden and it grew really easily. Because my garden is relatively small, I can control it easily and now I have three small patches that I harvest each year. The fibre is great and the flowers look wonderful in the garden as well.

Day lilies

Over time I’ve gradually added more fibre plants. I grow grasses, Daylily’s, New Zealand Flax, Cordyline, Irises, Philodendron, Lomandra and more recently Japanese willow and a banana plant. Some supplies are small but together they form a rich and varied resource.

Growing and harvesting has become one of my favourite parts of the process. Some plants can be picked as needed while others require seasonal attention; cutting back deciduous plants in winter and harvesting strappy-leafed plants after flowering. Many weaving plants can be quietly integrated into an existing garden, grown in pots, or set aside in a small dedicated area. Once you start looking at your garden through the lens of fibre it becomes a living, evolving studio.

One important question to keep in mind is "What will grow in your area, climate and soil?" You can’t grow tropical plants in a temperate climate unless you have a large hot house! And visa versa. Do your homework and see which plants grow best and are suitable for weaving. Start with plants that you think might work, identify them (ask someone if you don't know) - see if they are on a weaving list and experiment.

Harvesting Tussock grass, Day lilies and Wotsonia

I cannot tell you how exciting it is when you discover that you can grow and harvest plant fibre and you will never look at plants the same way.

I have created a plant list that you can download. It by no means covers all plants that can be used and I’m discovering new ones all the time. I'd be interested to hear what plants like to you use that are not on my list.

Keeping notes is helpful, so create a folder in your phone or buy a small notebook - Note where you gather the plant from, the type of soil if you that, time of year, season and your climate.

If you want to start your own garden start with one or two plants that you know will grow in your area. If you don't know which ones will work, print off the list and take it to your local nursey and talk to someone there. I suggest you start off with a strappy plant like NZ Flax and if that doesn't grow in your area see if you can certainly find something similar.

👉Print the the Plant Fibre List here

Now go and start your own plant weaving journey and I hope you get as excited as I do. Please let me know how you go as I love to hear what people have discovered - the joys and the frustrations.

After fifteen years of playing with plant fibre I was inspired to write my own book Finding Form with Fibre. If you live in Australia you can purchase it through our website or if you live in other parts of the world it's available on most online bookshops.

If you’re inspired to grow and work with your own fibres at home, we offer two online workshops - Baskets from the Garden and Sculptural Basketry.

These courses guide you through harvesting materials from your garden and transforming them into beautiful, handwoven forms.

Join these courses individually, or choose the Wild Basketry Bundle and save.

More information about my book