October General Meeting with Linda Hendrickson: “Ply-Split Braids, Baskets, and a QR code”

Thursday, October 16, 2025
6:30 PM 8:30 PM 18:30 20:30

Online via Zoom (map)

Google Calendar ICS

Date and time: Thursday, October 16, 2025. 6:30pm PST

Location: Online via Zoom. No need to register; all Guild members will be sent a Zoom link via email prior to the meeting.

Cost: Free

Description: Ply-split braiding is a unique textile technique in which plied cords are pulled through the plies of other cords to create flat and three-dimensional objects. The tradition comes to us from the Thar desert in NW India, where men spin goat hair, ply it into thick cords, and make sturdy girths, carrying straps, bags, and neck decorations for their camels.

Contemporary fiber artists are now exploring the possibilities of ply-split braiding. Anything that can be twisted into a plied cord can be used, and Linda has made cords for her work from wool, linen, cotton, metallics, raffia, paper ribbon, torn fabric strips, stainless steel yarn, and fishing line.

Since ply-split braiding is still relatively unknown, Linda will share photos and a bit of information about its history, and the tools, materials and techniques used. After this, she will share photos of her own work, including mats, jewelry, rugs, wall hangings, and baskets.

Linda Hendrickson is a Portland fiber artist and teacher, and the author of How to Make Ply-Split Baskets and How to Make Ply-Split Braids & Bands. She learned the basics of ply-split braiding in a workshop with the renowned British weaver Peter Collingwood in 1993, and has been exploring the possibilities ever since. In addition to making baskets, rugs, and wall hangings, she has reproduced designs from traditional ply-split braided camel girths, made what is probably the world’s only ply-split QR code, and has made ply-split pieces that are structurally identical to warp-twined tablet weaving. You can see more of her art at http://www.lindahendrickson.com/, on Instagram, and on Youtube.

This event is meant for Guild members only. If you are not a Guild member, but would like to become one, we welcome you. Click here to join & learn more.