Weaving Foraged Dandelion

Ever since the warmer weather has brought out the dandelions, I've been feverishly collecting them around the studio. They've finally dried out and I've had a chance to weave a little wonky basket using cattails as my base. The dandelions are softer and not as tough as the grass, but they're a lovely texture and turn such pretty colors when they dry. The only downside, of course, is chasing their piles of fluffy seeds out of the studio.

[@Just_Sara]

That thing is flipping adorable! I wove a basket out of dandelion flower stalks too about two years ago, and I learned a lot about them, and about myself. First off, I learned how to not care as much if people see me doing weird things in public, like picking dandelions by the side of the road at dawn, ha ha. My favorite way of drying them was to remove both ends for faster drying, and lay them out flat to dry, it took about a week. For wetting them to work I would run them under the faucet, shake them off, and put them in a plastic bag to mellow for about half an hour. I love the soft feel of the final product, and they have a really distinctive fragrance as well, sort of sweet. I love working with them, and the best part is, everyone is glad you're taking them away! 😂

[@sophiamariepappas]

Oh yes! I definitely learned not to care what onlookers thought after I kept passing up on dandelion stalks three feet tall and regretting it the rest of the day! I teach at an art center and the receptionist got used to seeing me walk in with arm fulls of stalks. I really like using them, the only downside so far I've noticed is once I wet them I need to use them the same day, or risk them rotting quite quickly. I learned this the hard way with a bunch I was carrying in my backpack for a couple days. The stalks seem to hold a lot of moisture and therefore seem prone to mold and rot.

[@xxxxxx3901]

It's funny when someone asks what you're doing, because it seems even weirder when you are trying to justify your actions.

[@sophiamariepappas]

@@xxxxxx3901 hahaha so true!

[@loadapish]

I remeber i was sitting in the trees once with my book on trees. I was trying to learn about identifying different trees. I was minding my own business then these 2 drunk guys passed on the path, 1 of them got really suspicious and told me to take my hood down so he could see me properly. I did it since i had nothing to hide but i think he thought i was scared of him and he said if anythin happens ill know it was you!

[@mrkultra1655]

I’ve never seen tall dandelions like that either. That came out very well

[@sophiamariepappas]

I think once you start looking for them, you’ll find ‘em

[@leehouten2345]

Often you will find them amongst tall grasses and other plants where they are forced to stretch up toward the sunlight

[@m005kennedy]

I’ve never seen dandelion stems that long!

[@sophiamariepappas]

You'll find them once you start looking :)

[@debbiej.2168]

I have never seen such tall dandelions before!

[@sophiamariepappas]

I hadn't either! I found the tallest grow in tall grass :)

[@sandarinika]

Magic channel, magic studio! Natural beauty

[@calebstevens1225]

Nickle Creek! Nice. Great song.

[@nadiahill3223]

What wonderful skill you have👏👏. The basket is beautiful ❤

[@lindamannix1247]

I've never seen those long stemmed ones either ! You are so clever ! Its a little beauty !!

[@victorialove9104]

Fascinating. Beautiful basket.❤

[@lisbethbredgaard7835]

It looks like bird a bird nest!❤️

[@sophiamariepappas]

And just as wonky 🙃!

[@kristallklar3687]

Very very cute!

[@sophiamariepappas]

Thank you 😊

[@kathyr.6623]

I'm interested in how you got the first weavers to be so wide and flat. When I dried dandy stems they shrunk up to a very thin width. Even the widest ones were half the width you showed in the video.

[@lisascenic]

Fascinating!

[@joseobando5798]

Awesome!

[@dharmadoodles]

My "neighbors" would report me to the City if I had dandelions or any wildflower growing....so sad...

[@sophiamariepappas]

Ugh! I say decriminalize dandelions 🤓

[@plauditecives]

Here in Toronto where I live many people have natural front gardens. They're my favourites. There's nothing natural about a manicured front lawn. Pretty sterile.

[@munchkin5674]

What other plant fibers did you use in this weaving? They all don’t look like dandelion. I would love to learn more about weaving these cute little baskets, etc., with all kinds of plant fibers! This is pretty cool! : )

[@sophiamariepappas]

Hi! So you're correct, the base is made with cattail, there is also some grass, and the middle dark section is dandelion stems. Hope you give it a try, let me know how it goes if you do :)

[@Roguechan]

Thanks to this video, I went to pick an armfull of dandelion stalk and buckhorn today to try out basket weaving :D I'm very curious to see whether I'll make something pretty. Thank you for sharing this video! One last thing: I'm deaf, so sadly, I couldn't follow along with anything you might have said. Could you please enable captions in your content? It's more accessible that way. Thank you in advance!

[@sophiamariepappas]

Hi!! I'm so glad you gave it a try, let me know how it goes. I actually don't talk over the videos so the only sound you're missing is some music. I'm a weaving novice myself, still learning all the time. I love a reason to collect though, and dandelion stems are easy to find. Best wishes!

[@littlebrookreader949]

❤️

[@agreatalternative]

A great use of something freely available to so many!! When you re soaked the dandelions we’re they slimy at all? I tried it in the spring and I think I may have soaked them too long because they were slimy and broke easily 😬

[@sophiamariepappas]

They do get a little slimy, especially if I’m not a able to use them right away. I did find that they really only needed to soak for a couple minutes so they don’t get too slimy, but they’re flexible enough to use.

[@agreatalternative]

@@sophiamariepappas Interesting, something to tryout next spring! Thank you for the reply!

[@mehmetucar3685]

Wow 💚💎 177 . Lk 🎉❤

[@user-hx6fo7iy2x]

🎉غغغ

[@lotto1819]

you shouldnt collect when they are still seeding! let those seeds do their thing outdoors, not become trash in your studio :( this is a little upsetting honestly, becuase important and simple things like how to collect a naturally occurring material, sustainable and thought-through, gets lost when its popularised like this and used for "content" and estethics.. from the way you are handling the material i am guessing you are are quite new to this. and im dont want to gatekeep using natural materials or weaving! but i really do encouraging you and everybody who watches this to do some research before you set out to collect materials and use them in projects..!

[@sophiamariepappas]

Interesting perspective!

[@chloegirka863]

As I understand it, dandelions are considered invasive in some parts of the world. In this case, removing the seeds isn't a bad thing. Where they are native, I like to leave the seeds on the spot. The "right" way to collect depends on context.