Coiling a gourd rim with paper rush is a great way for beginners to learn an easy stitch. Learn my tips and watch how our artist,Jenn Avery, does it!
Coiling a Gourd Rim offers many Possibilities
Sometimes a lovely shaped bowl needs a touch of texture. It may be finished with a wood-burned design or maybe just a marbleize inked surface.
This is where you can add a rim. The material used for the coil and the variety of stitching patterns are numerous, but the process is the same.
My suggestion, start with a fiber paper coil or sometimes called paper rush. Once you understand the concepts, then you will know if this is a skill you want to learn, and then you can invest in more expensive materials.
Coiling a Gourd Rim: Books you can buy for more instruction
There are two books and a tutorial I can recommend if you are a reader.
Pine Needle Rims tutorial by Kaley James
https://www.etsy.com/market/gourds_pine_needles
Coiled Designs for Gourd Art by Catherine Devine
The supplies she talks about are readily available including from fellow member friend at BlueWhale Art.
Coiling a gourd rim: When do I create the rim?
That depends if the design or colored material is going to reach the rim. If so, then finish the gourd and then add the rim as Jenn does in the video. If not, then you can add it at any time.
There are all kinds of grasses, reeds, pine needles, coco fiber rope, and I have also seen silk strips wrapped around foam coils used as rim material.
The process begins with creating the holes for the thread
Jenn Avery slowly takes you through the process with a good camera angle.
Creating the Holes
She briefly goes over this point. If you need more details you can read this post by Lora Irish where she prepares a raffia rim.
Braided Raffia Gourd Rim
https://lsirish.com/tutorials/gourd-art/braided-raffia-gourd-rim/2/
Jenn starts by measuring the cord to make five rows.
Cut the rush at an angle and attach to the rim with your waxed linen cord.
Watch carefully as she goes through the hole twice to create her pattern.
When she begins the second row, she changes the placement of the needle into the cord from the first row. And continues till all five rows are completed.
When she comes to the end,she prepares the coil for tucking into the inside of the gourd.
She cuts the rush at an angle so it lays flat against the last row, tucked the inside of the gourd.
She ends it by running the cord through the cord on the interior of the gourd.
When the rim is complete the coil ends are hidden.
Enjoy Jenn Avery's video
If you give this technique a try please share your tips and a photo of the gourd with us.
Share your thoughts here in the comment box or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page.
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