Handled Brooms

This workshop is for students who want to move up from simple wound whisk brooms to something with a handle. Handled brooms provide the user more reach as well as more stiffness for difficult sweeping jobs.

In this class we’ll make a variety of smaller, round brooms. These will take the shape of cobwebbers, hearth brooms, lobby brooms, and tiny house brooms. Students will learn the basic knots and techniques needed to produce several brooms in class, as well as the skills needed to make brooms on their own using found or purchased materials. Students will go home with a small practice whisk and one or more handled brooms of their own design. Advanced students may experiment with plaiting or twilling techniques.

Note that moderate hand and forearm strength – along with some hand-eye-foot coordination – will make this a more enjoyable workshop. Previous broom making experience will be helpful, but not mandatory.

Skills and Techniques:

• Sorting, evaluating, and processing broomcorn
• Using the Tumble Spool to hold twine tension
• Finishing knots
• Stitching for flatness

Materials Fee: $25 paid directly to the instructor.

Special Tools or Equipment to bring: All tools and materials provided by instructor.