What you need:
Jute Twine
Scissors
Knife
100 large green T-leafs (w/ the stems)
Towel
Trash bag
STEP 1: CLEANING & INCISION
Take the leaves and wash the stems, they are usually dirty.
Then pile them up nicely and flip them over having their bone facing you,
making the process move faster. Using the knife, make an incision in the
ti-leaf 4 inches up on the leaf from where the stem stops. Do it to all 100
leaves.
STEP 2: DE-BONING
The middle hard part of the ti-leaf (or stem) is known as the
bone because it keeps the leaf standing straight. Bend the top half of the leaf
back and where you made the incision the bone will pop out. Pull the bone away
from the leaf making sure there is no stem all the way to the bottom. Do it to
all 100 leaves.
STEP
3: CUT STRINGS
Once you have de-boned all the leaves you need to set up your
strings to tie them all together. Using the jute twine measure out a piece of
string that goes around your waist. Then add an extra 10 inches to the
string so you have enough slack for you to tie it to your waist. Using the
scissors cut 3 identical strings at this length. Then braid the 3 strings
together. This is called your top string.
holding up the braided top string, measure out another piece
of jute twine 2x longer as the top string. This is your bottom string- you need
two. Using the scissors cut 2 identical bottom strings.
STEP 4: SETUP
STRINGS
Tie the top and bottom sting an inch apart from each
other on a soild post. Leave the bottom string tied only at one end. I
usually use the railings outside my house.
STEP
5: ADD LEAVES
Tie a knot in the bottom string and begin adding leaves. Take
the stem of the leaf, and place it between the bottom strings. Then fold it
over the top string and make a tie. over lap one on top of the other and
continue this until all the leaves are used up. When finsihed make another
knot on the bottom string.
STEP 6:
CUTTING
Untie all the strings from the post and line the skirt up on
a flat line. I use the line in our garage. Then with the scissors cut 2 inches
of leaf off the bottom.
STEP 7: KEEP
MOSIT
Take the towel and spray it with a hose until it is
damp. Then lay the skirt on top of the towel and begin to fold to towel over
the skirt.
STEP 8:
ROLLING
Going with the grain being to roll your skirt as you would a
sleeping bag. Place the skirt in the trash bag to keep the moisture in. Then
using two pieces of jute twine tie two bows. one of the top and one of the
bottom to keep it from unrolling.
STEP 9:
Place in the refrigerator when not using to keep leaves
greener longer.
And thats
how your make and maintain a T-leaf skirt! :)
