10.23.26 Besom Brooms with Robert Sheckler

Here's your chance to make your very own witchy broom for Halloween!  The classic witch broom is a besom, an English round broom traditionally tied with birch twigs or heather.  In this workshop, we'll use North American broomcorn instead, which is available in a wide variety of colors, and tie onto distinctive, rustic broomsticks.  Besides being an awesome costume element or porch decor, besoms make great sweepers for porch, deck, garden path, or garage.

This style provides a great introduction to tying full-sized brooms.  If you are interested in making a traditional (stitched flat) kitchen broom, this is where to start.  Tying a broom is a stress-reducing, full-body practice -- and a great workout. You’ll use both feet to hold tension and both hands to manipulate the cord and wrap the broom tightly.  Tying onto a stick requires a certain amount of strength and dexterity; it is more physically challenging than tying a whisk broom.  You'll feel this in your arms and shoulders when you pull the cord tight, and then tighter!  Broom tying is best attempted with bare or stockinged feet, so please be prepared to take your shoes off during class.