Much like traditional coppice materials, seagrass, known locally in Indonesia as Mendong and scientifically classified as Fimbristylis umbellaris, is grown on plantations of low-lying paddy fields. Seawater floods the fields year-round. This contributes to a recycling process in which debris is removed and new nutrients are introduced into the soil. Seagrass is harvested for processing every 5 months when it flowers.
The grass is then spread out on large bamboo racks to dry in the sun. This process removes the moisture in the grass, helping to maintain a consistent colour finish for when the seagrass is turned into a long yarn. The seagrass is then bundled into large bales.
Once the grass is thoroughly dried, each blade is joined together by hand using small traditional knots and forming a long rope known as 1-ply seagrass. The seagrass is then ready to be spun into long yarns.
Each long rope is fed into a spinning machine which combines three separate ropes, creating one long seagrass yarn. To adjust the yarn thickness ropes can either be added or removed throughout the spinning process. This thickness would be called 3-ply seagrass and is typical of the thickness we would use in weaving our Seagrass Coffins.
Finished seagrass bolts retain a subtle blue-green hue appearance and have a uniquely aromatic smell similar to dried hay. Seagrass bolts are often used in many weaving applications adding beautiful character to a basket.