Group_Teneriffe_as_a_Design

Supplies need:

Cleaned and finished gourd

Drill and 3/32-inch drill bit

Compass or template

Saw

Embroidery needle, No. 1 thru 5 – long-eyed needle

Raffia

Glue

Scissors

Using a cleaned gourd, cut an opening in the side of the gourd. The opening can be just about any shape from circular to diamond or square. Drill holes around the outside of the opening using a 3/32-inch drill bit. Space the holes about ¼ inch apart and about ¼ in from edge of opening. The number of holes is determined by the teneriffe design that you want to create.

After the holes are drilled, the gourd should be decorated, painted or whatever you wish to do so it is completely finished except for the Teneriffe and the sprayed finish. The very last thing that you want to do is the teneriffe.

Split the raffia into strips about 1/8 inch wide. Dampen the raffia. Thread raffia on needle. Tie a knot in the end. Bring the needle through one of the holes from the back to the front of the gourd and pull tight. Put the needle through the hole directly across from the first hole. Bring the needle back up through the next hole and across to the hole opposite it. You do this until there are no longer any holes. The stitched design should look like spokes. The last stitch should end up on the inside of the gourd where you will tie it off. Trim off any left over raffia.

Thread a second 1/8 in wide piece of raffia on your needle and begin weaving the teneriffe design you have chosen. If you begin to run out of raffia, pull the raffia to the back and tie off so that it does not show. Continue weaving until the design is finished.

Place a little glue on the knots on the inside of the gourd as a precaution. Then spray the gourd and teneriffe design with a finish.

Teneriffe is associated with pine needle and raffia baskets as well as with palm leaf baskets from the Marshall Islands. Teneriffe patterns can be created in any opening or against any surface as long as a warp of spokes can be made that radiates from a center. The spokes are then divided into groups and woven separately to create interesting designs.

When working with a gourd, the pattern can be woven

around an opening, such as a hole cut in the side of the gourd, around the perimeter of the neck opening, or simply around a circle or other natural shape that is drawn onto the side of a gourd. Natural or dyed raffia is an effective material for weaving teneriffe designs. Most pine needle basketry books contain detailed instructions on how to create teneriffe designs.

From -The Complete book of Gourd Craft

By - Ginger Summit and Jim Widess