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DIARY

13/1/2026

** Fabricademy Global session **

Introduction of Phase 2 of the program. Breakout room with my mentor: I shared my final project and received feedback from Cecilia on use of sisal fibre. These were the feedback: 1. Work with craftsmen to help in weaving 2. Explore on 3-D and 2-D modelling 2. Generate a library of colors (swatches) 3.

14/1/2026

Local session with Annastacia and Rico I need to; Come up with daily diary of activities google map of partners and stakeholders Be more specific with each activity to be added in the gantt chart The weaving pattern should address friction and strength

15/1/2026

I visited Olex Techno Enterprise for collaboration purposes on rope making machine and sisal pretreatment methods used. The report can be accessed [here]{\mary-nyamanya\docs\development\04-material research.md}

16/1/2026

I visited Dunga weavers with sisal fibre sample. Our conversation was on weaving pattern that they can create using sisal and papyrus reed.

17/1/26

This is the 2nd visit to Dunga weavers to learn and work together in weaving of seat belt samples. The report can be accessed on Material research section

18/1/26

I will be doing a follow-up with necessary adjustments for the weaved belt.

19/1/26
  • Purchase of dyes and treatment chemicals
20/1/26

Visit to KIRDI for Fish leather tannin

  • Discussed the various processes involved in fish leather tanning

  • Discussed the process and requirements I need to get the training started

  • Sceduled a date to officially start my training

21/1/26

Research on Persimmon fruit availability in Kenya - It is majorly grown in Murang'a

Visited the weavers for new weaving method

  • Shared the two patterns that were proposed

  • Informed them we were going to weave directly on the seat frame once it has been cut.

22/1/26
  • Made a couple of calls to get persimmon farmers
  • Contacted Murang'a Fruit seedlings for persimmon fruit purchase(Hachiya variety)
  • Purchased 4 seedlings to start, waiting for shipping to Kisumu.
23/1/26

  • Aside from the weaved belts, weaving was to be done on the seat frame.

  • CNC cutting of the seat frame both the top and bottom part was done for weavers to use

25/1/26

  • Met the weavers again and brainstormed on the new idea of weaving directly on the seat frame.

  • Sisal, water hyacinth and papyrus reed were weaved on the frame.

26/1/26

  • Follow-up with the weavers on how far they were with weaving.

  • Feedback collected on the same.

27/1/26

Tension strength and elasticity test of fibre strands - The tests was done by loading different sizes of stones onto a bucket that the strands was tied to. The stones were later weighed to know the amount of load taken to break the strands.

  • Measurements were taken on how the weaved belts streched and compared with the initial measurements.

  • Mentorship session with Cecilia on the chemicals to use for cellulose fibre. I need to schedule a separate meeting her.

30/1/26

  • Making of simple rope braiding tool from suggested youtube video.

  • 3-D printing of the pulley

  • Missing material purchase

  • Cutting of wood in specific sizes

  • Assembly of all components together and testing for functionality.

31/1/26

  • Making additional changes to design parts of the rope braiding tool

  • Trials of sisal rope making. Testing the speed and the texture of weaving.

  • Outsourcing of sisal belts of different diameter

2/2/26

Tensile strength and elasticity measuement of the fibres - Tying ends of the fibre to metal stand and applying force by weighing it with bottles filled with water of different

3/2/26
  • Collecting pretreatment chemicals and wax for sisal fibre
  • Testing of sisal rope making tool
4/2/26

  • Visit to Olex Enterprise to help in customizing sisal yarn to be of less diameter. The visit was postponed to the following day.

  • Visit to Pendeza Weavers- to know what they do and type of weaving material used. The company majorly deals with cotton and wool from processing them into yarns to weaving. They have all weaving tools including yarn-making tool to large weaving loom.

5/2/26

-Visit to Olex Enterprise for sisal yarn-making. The visit was amazing and I learned how to make sisal yarn from the fibres themselves. A hand spinning tool is used in generating different diameters of the yarn. I managed to create a yarn that ranged from 1mm-3mm in diameter.

6/2/26

I used sodium hydroxide as my pre-treatment method . I weighed 30g of the chemical into 1ltr of water and soaked in for 20 minutes before removing extra surace residues. I then rinsed in running tap water before drying them in a shade.

7/2/26

I wanted to know availability of other weavers within Kisumu who are good at weaving sisal. The current weavers I was working with were majorly dealing with water hyacinth and papyrus reed. I wanted to explore more options.

9/2/26

I used hibiscus flowers as my dye. I boiled it in water and seived it. Working with cellulose fibre I needed to alter its pH so I used 10g of sodium carbonate then soaked the fibre in the dye bath for 18hrs. The results were impressive.

10/2/26

Making yarn from dyed sisal fibre using my sisal rope-making tool. I followed the steps learned at Olex Enterprise and the outcome of my yarn and three strand rope was a success.