Cordage Workshop
Cordage making is the very ancient technique of hand twisting or braiding lengths of plant fibres to make rope. It is a slow and meditative process that renews our connection with nature and can be made with natural materials, harvested from our wild and urban spaces. Join Alison Pascoe of ASTRL Fibres and Craig Sands from Grow NI for this deep dive into the process of making cordage by hand.
You will be introduced to the basic twisted cordage technique, tips for collecting appropriate materials and how to process them, some guidelines on how to "honorably harvest" your fibres and some handy applications for using handmade cord. To mark the coming Solstice, participants will make a "Good Intentions" Talisman to take home with them.
You are encouraged to bring along a few pieces of small but meaningful ephemera (feathers, shells, pebbles, leaves, seed pods etc) to add into your length of cordage: a good luck charm for the seasons ahead. Participants will also be asked to help make some cordage that will be used for future projects in the Brink garden space. All materials will be provided and no previous experience is required.
Alison Pascoe
Alison Pascoe is a fibre artist, craftsperson and tutor, and the founder of ASTRL Fibres: a Belfast based studio dedicated to the heritage craft skills of knots, braids and weaves. The ethos of Alison’s practice is deeply rooted in sharing generational skills and exploring sustainable methods. Through her training and research into traditional techniques, Alison discovered the joy of handmade cordage; a practice that allows her to connect with nature and the mindful space between work and play. (www.astrlfibres.com / @astrlfibres)
Craig Sands
Craig Sands has over 20 years’ experience in organic horticulture, particularly food growing. He works with Grow NI as a community gardener at the Waterworks Community Garden in North Belfast and as a partner at Brink!
Grow supports the development of healthy, inclusive communities through community gardens, supporting the delivery of initiatives to address food poverty, promote wellbeing, build community cohesion and develop natural spaces. Grow supports community leadership and ownership, working alongside people to create the space within which individuals and communities can flourish.
https://growni.enthuse.com/profile
