History of Wheat Weaving

       Wheat weaving, also known as straw work, was very popular in England in the years before the Industrial Revolution. Children, as young as four years old, wove long plaits (sometimes 30-40 yards long) of straw which were then sewn into hats and bonnets. They can then be taken apart and made into new hats and bonnets. 

     With the invention of the sewing machine, the children could not weave the plaits fast enough to keep up with the sewing. The weaving was then done in China, thus ending straw work in England. 

     Straw work is still done in Belarus, Hungary, and Russia. Various grains are used, including wheat, rye, and rice. In some places various grasses are used but the straw must be hollow. There are over 135 known plaits. See the pictures for examples of different plaits.