Design and Prototyping

Rope Making techniques

The sisal fibre strands are twined together by hand to generate rope. This process is simple but when need to have a longer sisal yarn/twine it becomes time consuming and also labor intensive.

Weaving Techniques

Different weaving was done using the made sisal rope and papyrus reed.

This type of weaving took more sisal ropes to make. The weaving process took longer because of the frame loom. If the loom could have a hole at the centre it would make weaving easier.

The three strands plaiting requires more sisal ropes to achieve the desired diameter of the belt. Also to generate such pattern requires a bigger diameter of rope unlike the one used.

Loop hole formation for Shaft

Since the belt needs to be tied onto a chair, the shaft acts as an adjustment of the belt.

Some weaving pattern might require the shaft hole to be generated separately to achieve the desired belt.

Generated shaft hole

Weaved patterns Generated

So far, three weaving patterns have been generated;

Weaving on seat Frame

The fibres were woven on the Seat frame as per suggested by Annastacia.

Step 1: Tying one end of the frame with the rope then weaving along to achieve the length needed.

Weaving process using papyrus reed.

Water hyacinth woven on the lower partof the seat frame that is connected to the upper side. The rope was thicker making the end of the frame "where adjustment is to be made" much thicker.

This type of weaving especially while generating the second belt may result into a thicker end that may interfere with the seat structure while connecting with the lower part.

Sisal woven on the lower part of seat frame as well. The ends have been simply tied making it less bulky compared to water hyacinth sample.