Woman of Polynesia: How To Make a Ti-Leaf Skirt

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.