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A Homeowners Blog, Décor and Gardening, Homeware and Lifestyle

Home Decoration with Canes and grasses continue…

Published April 13th, 2008 in Blinds, Furniture, Iron, Mats, Wood | 5 Comments »

Manufacturing processes

Grasses are harvested at the end of the growing season, tied into bundles of equal length, and used for thatching or woven into mats. Reeds and straw are also tied in bundles or “yealms” ready for the thatcher, who fixes them in overlapping courses to the roof timbers with wooden sticks and iron hooks. Sometimes, for structural building, reeds are tied together to form thick bundles and curved columns, with the spaces between filled by woven wall panels and sunscreens.

Bamboo is a unique plant, lending itself to a multitude of applications and craft techniques that can support whole village communities. A single hectare can yield between 20 and 40 tonnes annually. (more…)

Natural House Natural fibres

Published April 11th, 2008 in Carpets, Cotton, Covers, Cushions, Duvets, Fabrics, Iron, Linen, Nylon, Pillows, Rayon, Rugs, Sheet, Silk | 4 Comments »

Natural plant fibres, animal skins, and bird feathers have always been the staples of our clothing, furnishing, and bedding. Remains found in eastern Europe indicate that 20,000 years ago people lived in tents of hide stretched over frames of wood or mammoth tusks. But it was another 13,000 years before we see any evidence of weaving.

In China, silkworm farms flourished in the Yellow River Valley 5000 years ago, and wall hangings, carpets, and scrolls in intricate and beautifully worked patterns were woven on bamboo looms. Carpetmaking probably originated with nomads as a means of keeping their tents warm. Later it became an art form, finding its finest expression in the carpets of Persia. Wool and silk were dyed with chamomile flowers, madder root, and acorns and carpets and rugs were made in geometric designs or symbolic patterns of flowers and birds. In the 19th century, the subtle, slowly fading colours were replaced by the brighter hues of synthetic dyes. (more…)

Take Care Your Home Fabrics Part 2

Published February 3rd, 2008 in Cleaning, Cotton, Covers, Curtains, Fabrics, Linen, Rayon, Silk, Weaves | 5 Comments »

Wool fiber

Wool is an ideal upholstery fibre — soft and comfortable. It takes dyes well, and normally does not fade noticeably. It is flameproof. The International Wool Mark is a guarantee of high quality, and the fabrics‘ which carry it are reliable.

Because of the great variety of yarns wool can be woven into many different fabrics. Tweedy fabrics, for instance, get their interesting textures through the yarns : knops (knots), boucles (or loops), slubs (irregular thick and thin yarn).

Weaves

Wool can be “flat-woven” so that it makes a close-textured, very strong repp (a practically indestructible corded cloth with the rib running across the width), or tweeds. Wool jacquard upholstery fabrics are also “flat” and usually smooth in texture. The designs can be large or small. (more…)