Plaiting a palm thorn garland

30 May 2012
click to send Christine a smile
and more

You can use palm (traditional) or New Zealand flax, Typha, iris or Cymbidium orchids leaves (as I did here)

This is the basic technique used in traditional Easter crafts to plait a crown of thorns

Split the leaf with a corsage pin.

Split the main vain in the middle of the leaf.

Split the one half in two

Split the other half in two.

You will need a sturdy middle vain to plait around. Remove the vain and set it aside. Gather the left over sections. Run the back of your knife (blunt side) along the leaf to remove some of the moisture and to make it more pliable.

Tape the leaf to your working surface with masking tape.

Start the plaiting pattern. Fold the outer leaf in

and around the strong vain.

Fold the opposite leaf in and around the vain.

Fold the next leaf in and around the vain.

Do the same on the opposite side.

Continue the plaiting pattern. Folding the outer most leaf in and around on the one side and then the other.

Weave the end pieces in on itself and cut the dangling leaf bits short.

Cut into the leaf to give it it's dramatic thorns

Plaiting a palm thorn garland.

Sign up for my weekly newsletter

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

20 March 2013

Fold a Palm Cross

This is a traditional Palm Sunday or Easter craft

25 April 2012

A plait, a braid or a French knot grass collar

"Plaid" and "braid" are synonyms, and where you are from will most likely dictate whether you use plait (British) or braid (American or Celtic). Some people also refer to cornrows as braids or refer to pinned up plaits as braids. A French braid is a braiding technique.