My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

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.

Add blades of grass into the vase.

Add blades of grass into the vase.

Comb the grass with your hand in the direction the french braid will be.

Comb the grass with your hand in the direction the french braid will be.

Part the grass into three sections.

Part the grass into three equal sections.

Cross the outer grass sections.

Cross the outer grass sections.

Braiding pattern.

Braiding pattern. Start by folding the left stand over center strand. Then follow with folding the right strand over the center.

Add one blade per section.

Add one blade per section at a time to braid a thin collar.

The grass braid will naturally curve around the vase. Keep the tension and the amount of blades of grass approximately the same all around the vase for a neat braid.

Continue to plait the grass to form a strand

Continue to plait the grass to form a strand.

Add blades of grass as you move around the vase.

Add blades of grass as you move around the vase.

When all the loose blades of grass is in the braid continue the pattern.

When all the loose blades of grass are in the braid continue the pattern.

Finish the grass braid with a simple knot.

Finish the grass braid with a simple knot.

Secure the end pieces by weaving each strand back into the braid.

Or secure the end pieces by weaving each strand back into the braid.

Weave the braid into the first section.

Weave the braid into the first section.

Tidy up the braid by weaving any loose strand in on itself.

Tidy up the braid by weaving any loose strand in on itself.

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

Tutorials

10 August 2011 Foliage Pleat Garland

Folding a garland from strips of a Aspidistra leaf

8 June 2011 Foliage Weaving

For this tutorial I focus on a simple weave pattern that does not require you to soften or prepare the leaves to be more durable or flexible. This is the starting point in...

Favourite Flowers

Rosa

Rose

Related Designs

24 April 2012 Words Matter.

Braiding and plaiting and knotting hair is a huge trend in hairdressing at the moment. Intricate little plaits are draped over long flowing hair to add complexity and quirk. ...

24 September 2014 Leapfrog

Fold and weave a frog from grass

22 June 2016 Perfection

Spiral grass to create a nest for the lady slipper orchids

3 May 2017 Oh just...

Braid a few twigs to dance around your flowers

13 September 2017 Around again

Tape a grid at the edge of a container

20 June 2018 A Bundle of Pretty

A dried bundle of ripped flax hides a secret water source for the orchids

29 August 2018 It’s not that it is inexpensive… it’s priceless!

Yes, this Coil slip on sandals design is in my book: the effortless floral craftsman, a floral crafter’s guide to crafting with nature ... it is also the first design from the...

19 June 2019 Club together

Last Wednesday I had such a flowery fun evening teaching a collaborative floral carpet workshop focusing on braiding and weaving ideas from my book the effortless floral craftsman...

19 June 2019 Magic Flying Floral Carpet Ride -Collaborative Workshop

Some picture highlights from our collaborative workshop that I taught focusing on braiding and weaving techniques to create a floral carpet design.

28 August 2019 But... what are you Like?

A fun design... with a hula skirt (...for the cool summer breeze to arrange and rearrange)

8 July 2020 Super Cute!

A simple placement of bud vases... with the tiniest of lemon coloured twist that makes them unusual.

22 July 2020 Step It Up

Dress up a pair of hand coiled flip-flops with succulents.

21 July 2021 High-Strung

String up a tiny hammock for a dreamy summer vacation design

2 October 2024 Brewing some inspiration

Autumn harvest willow for a double the pretty plaited flower support