Sisal twine is strong, reliable, and can be used at home or on the farm. However, sisal fibers are also suitable for handicrafts: a variety of decorative items and souvenirs are made from sisal. We will tell you which sisal crafts you can make yourself.

Sisal fibers for making crafts

Sisal is a material from which many decorative elements are made for interior decoration (trees, Christmas trees), as well as useful little things (washcloth). But before you start making crafts, it is necessary.
If some crafts require sisal rope, you can purchase it on this website. If you just need fibers, find a sisal brush at a regular hardware store, from which you can easily extract a lot of fibers. Products with natural, durable bristles are suitable for this procedure.

Making elements from sisal

Many crafts, including decorative trees, are made from balls of sisal fibers. It is very easy to make such balls yourself; a similar procedure will take no more time than sculpting the same balls from ordinary plasticine.

How to make sisal balls

1. Divide the material into small pieces;
2. Roll each piece in your hands to form a ball;
3. You determine the size and shape of the balls yourself. The tighter the balls are rolled, the better they will keep their shape.

How to color sisal

If you plan to make bright crafts, sisal fibers can be dyed in the following way:

1. purchase regular dyes, which are sold in powder or tablet form;
2. fill a bowl with warm water, mix this water with a tablespoon of vinegar and dye;
3. divide the sisal into thin strands, soak the material for several hours in this solution;
4. After the fibers have dried, dry the material by spreading it on clean paper towels or regular sheets.

Different dyes can be mixed to create unusual shades.
You can also use natural dyes: beet juice, potassium permanganate solution, coffee.

Topiary made from sisal fibers

From sisal material you can make a very beautiful topiary - a decorative small tree that will decorate any interior of an apartment or office.

Materials for making topiary

You will need the following materials and tools:

• sisal in one or more shades. If you choose multi-colored balls, think about which colors will harmonize best with each other;
• small pot or vase;
• alabaster or plaster;
• a foam ball or other soft material (rubber or plastic);
• a wooden stick, a branch or something else that can act as the trunk of a decorative tree;
• water;
• glue gun;
• wire cutters;
• elements that can be used to decorate a tree.

Making a tree

1. Dilute alabaster or building plaster in a beautiful bucket with warm water. While the solution has not hardened, fix a stick in it, which will act as a tree trunk.
2. Make a hole in the header from which you plan to make a crown. Place the ball on the trunk of the topiary and secure with hot glue so that the workpiece holds securely.
3. Start decorating the craft from top to bottom with balls made from sisal fibers. Not only sisal balls are suitable for this purpose, but also artificial flowers and leaves that can be glued between the balls. In this way, the entire surface of the crown is consistently decorated. Between sisal elements, leaves, flowers, you can glue any other elements - figurines of ladybugs, birds. The same figures can be placed on the trunk of a tree.
4. The top layer of alabaster or plaster in a pot must be decorated with the remaining sisal elements, flowers, beads, beads, buttons or any other cute little things. You can also decorate the pot or bucket in which the tree “grows”. The container can be painted with bright colors, tied with beautiful ribbons, and varnished.
5. The finished product must be given the finishing touches - “zest”.
6. On our website you can buy sisal, crafts from which will adequately decorate your home.

Toys made from this material look like they are alive: cute, spontaneous, each with its own “character”. What kind of magical material is this, so pliable and plastic? – The answer to this question will probably surprise many: these cute bunnies, bears, and cats are made of sisal, which is widely used in floristry and other hand-made areas.

Sisal– natural material. It is made from the fibers of the agave plant, which grows in tropical countries. The homeland of agave is Mexico. It was from the name of the Mexican port – Sisalna – that the word “sisal” came into use. With the discovery of the American continent, agave settled in many countries. Nowadays, the largest exporters of sisal are Tanzania, Kenya, Angola and Brazil.

Sisal is produced, as a rule, without chemical treatment: special machines crumple and crush the leaves, resulting in the separation of fiber, which is then washed, dried in the sun and combed. Natural threads are shiny and yellowish in color. Sisal fibers are easily dyed in various colors.

Sisal fiber has long been used in industry and navigation. Sisal rope is durable, does not accumulate static electricity, and most importantly, does not deteriorate from water and lasts quite a long time. In modern production, sisal is the basis for rugs, floor coverings, packaging materials, brushes, ropes, as well as toys and other items for animals. In addition to fibers, other parts of the plant are also used. Wax, citric acid, medicines, and paper are made from them.

Currently, sisal is widely used as a material for interior decoration and is used in floristry and other types of decorative arts. Its possibilities are not limited: it is a very pleasant to the touch, pliable and at the same time hard and durable material. Sisal fiber looks natural and original due to its natural origin. In addition, sisal is an environmentally friendly product. On sale you will find sisal in the form of individual fibers, as well as pressed into a thin sheet. The relatively low price makes it possible to use sisal as a filling for packaging and wrapping material.

Handmade craftsmen are finding more and more diverse uses for sisal. In addition to the usual additions to bouquets and bases for collages, this material is used in scrapbooking and in the manufacture of various toys and decorations.

In hobby stores you can see ready-made sisal frames - hearts, rings - this shape can be decorated as you wish.

To make sisal figurines, a frame (usually made of rigid wire) is usually used, on which the fibers are wound. The figurine is given the desired shape and then secured with threads or thin wire.

Volumetric figures, collages and vases made of sisal

Recently, a method of securing sisal fibers using “broth” - a special elastic wire - has become widespread. This invention was patented in 2008 by our compatriot, craftswoman Maria Rodionova. On her website we can see wonderful designer toys made using this technique.

How are these “living” toys created? “The technique itself is extremely simple. First, sisal is formed by hand into a rough approximate blank of the future product and wrapped with wire until the outlines of the figure become clear and the work takes on a finished form” (based on materials from www.rosemarie.ru).

Various hearts, balls, as well as animal figures made from sisal are used to decorate postcards, panels, photo frames, watches, boxes, and are used as Christmas tree decorations.

Sisal vases look very original. The finished products are delicate and light, but retain their shape well due to the strength and stiffness of the fibers.

To make such vases, diluted wallpaper glue is used, which is applied to the base - a cup or vase - from the inside or outside, and then sisal fibers are laid out. After 12 hours, the product is removed from the mold and decorated. Sometimes the vase or bottle used for the base remains inside, allowing you to pour water or drinks into it.

Vase from the website Country of Masters

Using the same technology used to make vases, you can create your own canvas from sisal threads. To do this, sisal must be divided into thin fibers and spread on plastic wrap. The color and arrangement of the fibers depends on your imagination. Feathers, leaves, and flower petals can be included in the texture of the canvas. The entire structure must be generously lubricated with vinyl (wallpaper) glue, then covered with a second sheet of film and put under the press for 3 days. If you need a volumetric composition, then the canvas is dried without a press.

Using sisal, you can decorate any thing, and to obtain three-dimensional forms, use any suitable frame:

New Year's crafts from sisal

The most relevant thing in the pre-New Year period is, of course, the production of designer Christmas trees. Sisal is our main assistant here too. Sisal trees are equally good not only in the traditional green color, but also in pink, lilac, orange, as well as gold and silver shades - for every taste!

The Christmas tree is created using a frame. This could be a foam cone or a piece of floral oasis. After winding the sisal fibers, the entire shape is held together with beautiful shiny wire or cord. A distinctive feature of such Christmas trees will be funny curls on the top of the head, which can also be decorated in an original way.

Sisal fabric is also suitable for making a Christmas tree. Parts are cut out of it, strung on a rod and secured.

And finally, the most wonderful thing is the lamps! Illuminated from the inside, these openwork masterpieces look even more amazing! But you can use blue, pink, and green - the rich range of colors of sisal allows you to create an amazing world of light and color. Although sisal fiber has been known for a long time, some handicraft techniques and techniques for working with it are still very young. For example, a new method of making three-dimensional figurines of Maria Rodionova turned out to be so simple and convenient that many craftsmen began to master this direction. Working with sisal is easy and interesting, and the result itself exceeds all expectations! Where to buy sisal, foam cones and frame rings? You can purchase sisal in a variety of colors, as well as foam blanks (balls, rings and cones of various sizes) in our online store: http://shop.delki.ru/ Text prepared by Yulia Zhokhova

Modern handicraft stores are practically bursting with a variety of materials. Many craftswomen don’t even have time to realize the advantages of one or another base when something new appears. Why do you need bright floral fiber, sold in many specialized stores, and is it possible to somehow save money on it? Amazing sisal: what it is and what you can make from it yourself, without attending expensive master classes, read in this article. The super popular material is easy to use and belongs to the category of natural bases for creative work.

What is sisal fiber made from?

This material is made from the leaves of the Mexican agave - a herbaceous shrub that grows in a subtropical climate. Sisal fibers are very stiff and quite coarse, but have very high strength. Interestingly, their production does not require any special technology and the unpainted material looks very natural, as it has a brilliant yellow tint. The main purpose of this fiber is to create durable decorative crafts, various brushes and washcloths. We are interested in the use of sisal as a material for handicrafts. But what to do if this amazing fiber is not sold in the city? You can make your own sisal, it just takes a little patience and some inexpensive supplies from the hardware store.

We make fiber from improvised materials

The easiest way would be to extract material for needlework from an ordinary brush, which is used for whitewashing houses. The cost of such a tool is negligible, only 60-70 rubles, and a large amount of fiber can be pulled out of it. You need to choose brushes with very thin and always natural bristles. Crafts made from sisal come in a variety of colors, since the material itself has a linen shade and requires additional coloring of the resulting fibers. This process is also very simple.

To give the material a suitable color, powder or tablets are used, which can be stocked up for free during various promotions taking place in stores before Easter. But you can simply buy them very cheaply. Pour very hot water into a plate of suitable size, or boiling water, add a tablespoon of ordinary vinegar and the desired dye. Sisal is divided into strands, which are soaked in the resulting solution for 2-2.5 hours.

Secrets of sisal shades

The soaked material is laid out to dry on clean album sheets. It is better not to use newspaper, as letters may be imprinted. To get a variety of shades, it is worth practicing mixing dyes. You can also use ordinary brilliant green, blue, potassium permanganate, beet juice, coffee, strong tea and many other traditional substances that can impart their color to the material. To obtain pure white sisal, use regular “Whiteness”. In this case, you need to soak the fibers for 6-8 hours or just overnight.

Linen or woven sisal - what is it? To create appliqués, sheets of this fiber, also dyed in various colors, are used. To make sisal fabric, take an oilcloth, on which the material is laid out in a fantasy order and covered with wallpaper glue on top. The resulting workpiece is covered with another layer of film and pressed down with a flat board.

What to do with ready-made materials

After 24 hours, the sisal fabric will be ready for further use, and it’s time to make the first craft. Applications made from this fiber are considered very popular, as well as various topiaries, baskets, decorative shoes and even bouquets. For example, you can create a designer notebook and decorate the cover with elements cut out of sisal fabric: birds, flowers or hearts. Three-dimensional figures are created on the basis of simple wire frames, which can be purchased at a florist store or made independently.

Sisal material: master class “Topiary”

To create a unique craft in the form of a tree, a needlewoman will need a small set of tools and materials, as well as two hours of free time. What you will need:

1. Sisal in the right color.
2. A pot or jar to secure the structure.
3. glue gun
4. Plaster from the nearest hardware store.
5. A special plastic or foam ball. You can make it yourself from tightly bunched paper wrapped in thread or cut it from a floral sponge.
6. Elements for decoration: sisal balls, beads, satin ribbons, ready-made flowers and berries.

We are working on the Topiary project

If you plan to use sesal balls, but are unable to buy them, you can roll them yourself. The fiber is tough and holds its shape well. The size of these elements should not be larger than the berries, beads and flowers in the composition. A hole is made in the base ball and a wire or ordinary twig is inserted to create the trunk of a future tree. Using a glue gun, we attach all the decorative details to the “crown” of the topiary. First, you should lay out large elements, filling the gaps with small beads and flowers. The trunk is decorated with a satin ribbon, and the entire structure is installed in a pot and filled with diluted plaster. After the “soil” in the pot has dried, the unsightly top layer is covered with sisal trimmings, which will become a “lawn”. That's it, the topiary is ready - you can vary the colors and decorative elements, which will always allow you to create new unique crafts.

Other natural fiber products

Probably the most famous use for this material is a sisal washcloth. This product has a natural wicker look, but it can also be made using a regular crochet hook. Sisal washcloth is not suitable for everyday use, but it works well as a natural one. Of course, you should not dye the fiber for such crafts. I also use washcloths made from this material for very effective anti-cellulite dry massage. For knitting, you should choose a hook of at least size 5. Thin tools are not suitable, otherwise the work will take a very long time to complete and will be too dense and rough. The smaller the distance between the loops, the worse the washcloth will lather. To get maximum foam when bathing, you should insert a regular bath sponge inside.

Knitting a sisal washcloth

The easiest way to make such a craft is to create a long tubular cloth from natural agave fiber. When asking a sisal store what it is, you won’t have to explain it, you can just ask for thread for a washcloth. At the beginning of the work, knit a ring of air columns of a suitable size. Usually about 40 loops are cast on. After which six to seven rows are knitted using standard single crochet stitches. This will allow the product to keep its shape in the future, and will also keep the sponge inside if you want to insert it. The entire remaining length is knitted with elongated loops or double crochets, as you prefer. Having knitted the entire length - about 30-40 cm, finish with six rows of simple loops. Additionally, you can make handles for a washcloth or sew a sponge inside. Before first use, the finished product is washed with regular soap and soaked in boiling water for a few minutes, which will make it a little softer.

Other types of sisal washcloths

A very nice and useful craft made from natural agave fiber would be an option for more experienced knitters. A washcloth in the form of a ball or coral sponge looks great and fits perfectly in your hand. This product can be used by children to wash their dirty feet and hands. To create such a model you need to cast on 50-60 air loops. After which they knit five rows with single crochets - there is no need to cut the thread. Next, the resulting ribbon is sewn into a ring and pulled together into a fantasy ball. You can tie a washcloth in the form of a mitten to make it more convenient to use it for self-massage or as mini toys for children.

So, we studied the material sisal, what it is and what can be made from it. It remains to wish our readers creative success and boundless inspiration in their work. Don’t forget to save on expensive floral sets by making your own and dyeing sisal fibers in suitable colors. And most importantly: before using products made from this material, they should always be lightly soaked in soapy water or doused with boiling water.

Sisal topiary is an excellent gift that will be happily received by anyone: both adults and children. What’s remarkable is that you can get a masterpiece the first time! Even if, until recently, any mention of creativity caused bewilderment. A little patience, desire, effort and skills, watching thematic videos... The wonderful fruit of your work will not keep you waiting too long!

The first thing you will need in the process is a special floral fiber called sisal. Unfortunately, sometimes it can be very difficult to find, so it is quite possible to make this material from scrap materials.

You should start by going to a hardware store, where they usually sell brushes for whitewashing houses. You should only choose an option with natural bristles, which are both thin and durable. However, economic “sisal” has no color, which the future topiary categorically does not accept.

You can add color to it in the following way:

• Buy dye in tablet or powder form.
• Take warm water into a vessel, add a few drops of vinegar, and then the dye itself in the specified amount.
• The brush fibers must be separated from each other and soaked in the solution for several hours.
• After a period of time, the sisal fibers should be laid out to dry on a clean surface.

Of course, when doing the job for the first time, you can use just one color, making sure that all the fibers are thoroughly dyed. In the future, it will be more advisable to mix several shades at once to get a more interesting composition. On this score, there is not a single master class designed to become a real assistant in this matter.

When starting work, it is very important to pay attention to where exactly the sisal will dry. For these purposes, newspaper or paper with a printed print is absolutely not suitable, the prints of which may well remain on the workpieces. A perfectly clean and snow-white surface is the ideal solution!

DIY sisal topiary: master class for amateurs

Making topiary from sisal is no more difficult than from any other material.

First you need to prepare the following components:

• Construction gypsum.
• A flower pot.
• Wooden stick.
• Sisal.
• Decor elements.
• Glue.

First of all, it is necessary to “strengthen” the topiary by planting it in a solution of building plaster. At the initial stage, it is enough to secure only the barrel. The crown can be installed after it dries.

While the plaster is drying, you can start making sisal balls that look quite impressive on topiary. It’s too early to glue them onto the base.

The crown of the tree can be a small rubber ball that holds its shape tightly, or crumpled paper tied with twine. It all depends on the capabilities and desires of the master. In order for this element to adhere more tightly to the base, it must be fixed with instant adhesive and held in the given position for several hours. Now you can safely start decorating.

Sisal balls are also securely attached around the perimeter using glue, and then decorated with any elements you like: ribbons, flowers, beads or decorative mesh. The pot in which the tree will grow from now on is decorated in a similar way. Everything is very simple, stylish and elegant.

How to make sisal balls for topiary: simple tips

When deciding to make topiary from sisal, in most cases you have to deal with small balls, which will not be difficult to roll.

For these purposes, the fibers must be separated from each other and laid out on a flat surface. Now, choosing each of them, you need to roll the pieces in your palms. This should be done slowly, with virtually no force. After about 10 minutes, you will have a small but fairly dense ball in your hand, the edge of which can be fixed with glue. Based on the size of the product, you can calculate how many balls are needed for the topiary. Of course, it can take quite a lot of time to make the first one, but once you get the hang of it, you can make them in a matter of minutes.

From such absolutely extraordinary designs, a New Year's gift can be realized - a Christmas tree that can stand for a single year! In addition, this particular tree is popular among all modern designers.

Its main advantages are:

• Ease of implementation.
• Laconic forms.
• The originality of the composition.

What’s remarkable is that you can make balls of different colors and sizes! And the most interesting thing looks like a ball rolled from two colors at once! This will not only make the work more interesting, but will also give the topiary a touch of piquancy!

Topiary made of sisal and flowers

When starting to make topiary with your own hands, you need to look around and understand what else might be useful in the manufacturing process. You can decorate it not only with decorative elements suitable for these purposes, but also with fruits or flowers. The latter option is more preferable, however, over time, fresh flowers tend to fade and lose their appearance. The only way out of this situation is to use their dried or artificial equivalents.

In this case, the flowers must be chosen correctly, based on the following rules:

• The chosen option should be a perfect match in color and style.
• It is better to choose small flowers so that the topiary does not look too crowded.
• Before installation, it is better to remove the stems of the flowers.

How to make topiary from sisal (video)

A little effort, a sense of proportion and taste... Making topiary is not at all difficult. Especially if you approach the issue with soul.

DIY aerial topiary (photo)

A topiary made from sisal is a great gift idea and an original interior decoration. It is easy to make, just follow simple recommendations.

Sisal topiary: option one

To make a “tree of happiness”, you will need the following materials and tools:

• glue;
• glue gun and rods for it;
• small round jar;
• ball;
• strong branch;
• sisal;
• gypsum;
• wire cutters and colored raffia;
• beads, corrugated paper;
• decorative elements - artificial flowers and birds;
• glue stick.

Progress

• First, you should dissolve the construction plaster in water so that its consistency resembles sour cream.
• Then the resulting solution is poured into a jar, and a stick or tree branch is inserted into its center, which will play the role of a trunk. The twig should be kept in plaster until it sets.
• Next, a small ball is glued to the top of the trunk.
• Now it's time to form the sisal balls. Take a small piece of sisal and roll it into a ball of the required size.
• After the required number of balls has been received (about 2 packs of sisal are needed for one topiary), you can glue them to the ball.
• Glue flowers and leaves to the central part of each ball. The crown is ready.
• All that remains is to decorate the bottom part of the product. To do this, cut out a circle from corrugated paper slightly larger than the bottom of the jar.
• We coat those edges of the circle that extend beyond the edge of the jar with glue and press them against the jar.
• Then we take the raffia and wrap it around the container, fixing it with hot glue. You can also decorate the pot with ribbons, beads, shells, nut shells and other materials.

The “Tree of Happiness” made from sisal and flowers is ready!

Sisal topiary: option two

We present to your attention the second way to create a tree of happiness. It is very simple and does not require much effort.

To implement your plan you will need:

• newspapers;
• 2 pieces of sisal cloth in different colors (sold in florist shops);
• napkins;
• artificial flowers;
• acrylic paints;
• thick wire for the barrel;
• alabaster;
• decor;
• pot;
• glue gun

Progress

• Cut the sisal into strips 10 to 15 centimeters wide. You can first put them in a basin so that the material does not crumble on the floor.
• Cut out squares from sisal that will be used to make balls. The material is prickly and hard, so it is better to wear gloves while working. There are 30 balls to be made of each color.
• Next, you need to paint the trunk green or yellow. It is preferable that the paints be acrylic.
• You can make a crown from newspapers crumpled into a ball. If you prefer, you can use a store-bought styrofoam ball.
• Now we wrap the ball with napkins. You can use green napkins or just paint them green, whatever you prefer.
• The trunk and crown of the topiary must be glued together. The easiest way to do this is with a glue gun. First, a small hole is made in the ball, then the future crown is placed on the trunk, having previously applied glue to it. Sisal balls are glued directly to the paper crown.
• The tree is almost ready, all that remains is to plant it in a pot and fill the container with alabaster or plaster. Alabaster hardens quickly, plaster takes a little longer.
• Now you can do the most important thing - decorating the product. Fresh or dried flowers are glued onto sisal balls. Plaster or alabaster in a pot is decorated with green sisal, cut into blades of grass.

How to make sisal balls (video)

New Year's topiary in the form of a Christmas tree

Sisal makes wonderful New Year's topiaries. They can have any size and be decorated in any way, it all depends on the preferences and imagination of the master. The master class presented below demonstrates the basic technology for creating such a topiary.

To make a tree you will need:

• scotch;
• shiny threads - gold, silver, bronze;
• half of whatman paper;
• thick wire;
• sisal – 200 grams (roll);
• pot;
• glue gun and glue;
• decor;
• polyurethane foam;
• Double-sided tape.

How to do the basics

To make a Christmas tree, fold whatman paper into a cone shape. Glue the touching parts with tape. Pour polyurethane foam inside the resulting cone.

When the future Christmas tree has dried, remove the Whatman paper and level the polyurethane foam base with a stationery knife.

How to prepare the pot and trunk

First, the trunk of thick wire or stick is wrapped with decorative ribbon or shiny threads. Then it is placed in a pot, and the container itself is filled three-quarters with polyurethane foam.

How to make a Christmas tree crown

A workpiece in the form of a cone made of polyurethane foam is wrapped with wire in a spiral. Then the cone with wire is placed on the barrel. Next, the crown is wrapped with double-sided tape, and sisal is attached to it.

All that remains is to decorate the Christmas tree. For this purpose, a garland or tinsel is often used. You can also decorate the spruce with small fruits planted on thick pins or glue. You can make bundles of sisal of different colors and also fix them on the Christmas tree.

You can decorate the spruce with beads, ribbons, and small balls. But it is worth remembering that excessive decoration can harm your topiary. You can decorate the space between the pot and the trunk with the same sisal or a beautiful fabric.

DIY “Trees of Happiness” made from sisal (video)

Making topiary from sisal is quite simple, the main thing is to act carefully. You can decorate the finished tree of happiness at your own discretion.