Weaving Guide

The technique for weaving birds is known from the weaving of Christmas hearts - and yet not quite. When bird weaving you place one item inside the other so that the inner paper is weaved out through the outer one. (There are, however, some exceptions: the double swans, the storks, the mallards, the double woodpeckers, the rooster, the cormorant, the peacock, the red-throated loon and the ibis. These are intertwined in the traditional Christmas heart way).

The technique is the same on other templates, even if the weave is distributed a little differently. It is hopefully only the first time you need to keep your tongue straight.

Watch this video if you are in doubt about the procedure with, for example, the flamingo: 

 

Braiding instructions

There are several ways to weave, here is an example:

  1. Both A and B are turned with the colored side outwards.

  2. A is placed inside B so that the braid lines lie againstput each other.

  3. The braiding begins from the inside.

  4. The innermost strips (furthest from the edges of the bird) merge first. From A (the innermost) take the innermost strip and braid with B’s innermost strip.

  5. You work outwards towards the edges of the bird.

  6. You work further outwards towards the edges of the bird.

  7. Now you are close to the goal. The last braids are the heavy onesleft as there is not much room to frolic. Look at the “basic drawing” how the pattern is distributed in the braid.
    The braid is the same on both sides. Turn the bird while braiding so you do not skip anything. It may sound complicated, but this is only the first time.

  8. Congratulations. The bird is braided! The loose parts are cut out and glued. The handle is mounted. The birds must be able to open, so be careful with the glue.

The work is admired and is welcome to be shown.

 

What went wrong?

Excessive consumption of mulled wine or other intoxicants immediately before performing bird clipping can have fatal consequences.

If there is no space to braid the last strip, the braid lines are not cut far enough up. Either the bird is braided up again, the braid lines are cut all the way to the bottom and you start over - or the braid lines are carefully cut a little longer with a sharp hobby knife.

If the braid is finished and the bird looks a little too strange, you have most likely swapped models A and B. Carefully loosen the braid and start over with A on the inside and B on the outside.

 

Fugle-FAQ

Can you braid the birds with the same technique as Christmas hearts?

Most birds are braided with a slightly different technique, where you braid one subject through the other. The storks come closest to a regular Christmas heart and can be braided in the traditional way.

I can't get my bird braided, what do I do?

Look through the drawings from the braiding instructions carefully again. Have you skipped a step? Remember to turn the bird along the way.

Are there different levels of difficulty for the birds?

Yes, we have divided the birds into three different degrees of difficulty indicated by stars. Few stars indicate that the bird is easy to braid and many stars indicate that the bird is not quite so easy to braid - for example "two out of three": ★ ★ ☆

Paper

What paper can be used?

In principle, any paper can be used as long as it is thin and pliable. Old magazines, magazines, discarded picture books, comics, Playboy, National Geographic... go hunting in the antique shops.

But the good old glossy paper is easy to work with. Glossy paper is thin, flexible, smooth, stiff and in many different colours. And then it sends a greeting to the traditional Christmas heart.

What is glossy paper?

Glossy paper is relatively thin paper (approx. 80 gsm) which is colored on one side. Please note that glossy paper is also produced with glue on the back, which is not recommended for wicker. The glossy paper has a smooth surface that is suitable for braiding, as the paper "slides" smoothly into place when braiding.

How do I find the right paper, in the right colors?

Yes, it can be a challenge! Look in the specialty stores online and in the real world. But otherwise you have to go hunting in colored magazines and periodicals. An antique shop is a gold mine of color and glossy, brightly colored magazines such as National Geographic.

Different glossy paper can be bought from, for example , Stelling , Panduro or CCHobby . In the longer term, we also want to offer something on this site, but you can hardly wait for that.

What paper do you use to make the birds?

For many years, we have collected glossy paper from all over the world. This means that we use a mix of many different papers. We are constantly looking for new glossy paper in exciting colors and eventually we hope to be able to produce our own paper.

What is your packaging made of?

We use paper that is natural white, uncoated, matt and produced from 100% recycled fibres. In addition, the paper is FSC-approved, the Swan label, and carries both the EU Ecolabel and the German Blauer Engel label.

Storage & maintenance

How to remove greasy fingers?

Your fingerprints are most clearly visible on the dark colors. If there is too much liver paste on your tit, you can breathe gently on the bird and then polish it with a soft cotton cloth. In general, the impression will become less obvious after a few days.

How should the bird be stored?

The birds must always be stored dry and dark when they are not hanging out. We recommend that you use the package that the bird came in to store your bird.

Why is my bird fading?

This is completely natural. Colored paper does not benefit from too much light and fades over time. Unfortunately, this cannot be avoided when working with paper - and certainly not when we want to take care of nature at the same time.

Older birds lose their breath and need new feathers. There is nothing to do but enjoy the decay or weave a new one.

Can you stroke your birds?

If your bird or glossy paper has become wrinkled, you may be able to save it with an iron. It can go wrong, but if you have nothing to lose, it's a chance worth taking. Children and the faint of heart should leave the room before the operation starts.

Set the iron on low heat. Place a piece of copy paper under the curled bird. Carefully iron the glossy paper on the side without color. If the heat is too high, you can make it hurt worse!

Suspension & handle

How is the handle positioned?

There is basically no rule for that. You place it the way you think it's nicest. On the front of our packaging, we have placed the bird as we think it should hang in the air.

Can you use a string instead of a handle?

Yes, you can use string instead of a paper handle. However, it can be a little more difficult to get the bird to hang as you would like. The paper handle stiffens the bird a bit, so if you want to hang the bird on a string, it may take a few tries before it sits correctly.

When attaching the cord, be careful. Tape can damage the paper if you want to remove it again.

What is a "handle"?

In this context, a hank is a long strip of paper that is bent in the middle. You can glue the two ends of the handle to the inside of your bird, so you can, for example, hang the bird on a branch.

Where is the bird hung?

The most traditional is to hang the bird on a branch, but only the imagination sets the limit. You can, for example, hang the birds from lamps, on strings strung up in the window or in bouquets on the table. If you find fun places to hang the birds, please share it with us on Instagram (@flettedefugle or #flettedefugle).

My handle is broken - what do I do?

You cut a new one in your favorite colour, or you use sewing thread instead - can be attached with tape inside the bird.

Tools & glue

Which glue should I use?

We recommend that you use a glue stick. It is the easiest to handle. Also, be aware that you must choose a glue stick that is intended for paper. In addition, we recommend the green UHU glue stick , as it is gentle on both nature and people. There are many different glue sticks, so keep an eye on the chemical content.

Which scissors should I use?

You will need paper scissors. It is the most important. Traditional paper scissors can be too long and clumsy, and embroidery scissors can be too small. We are particularly happy with Rubis' scissors , which we sell here on the site.

What do you use tweezers for?

Tweezers can be used if you have difficulty weaving the strips through each other. Some have big fingers or too many thumbs, and so it is not always easy to braid.

You can also use tweezers if you want to braid the birds without small curls and folds on the paper.

Can I use glue instead of glue stick?

Yes, but you must be aware that the glue may contain strong chemicals that dissolve the delicate colors and your memory.

Regular white school glue can be applied with the tip of a needle, but be careful not to get the paper too wet.

Design

Who draws the birds?

We draw all the birds ourselves from scratch. It has always been that way, ever since the first birds were created in the 50s and 60s. It is a family tradition where the whole family has contributed to the collection over time. We have more than 150 original designs lying around.

How to draw the birds?

We always start from observations, bird drawings and photos when we draw the birds. We often have several different drafts for the birds, which are then evaluated and tested during the process. It is about getting the shape, colors and braid to blend into a unified whole, so that the bird is beautiful, easy to braid and at the same time has its characteristic features.

The drawing process consists of several different techniques, where we draw both by hand and on the computer, which provides the balance between the living forms and the necessary precision.

Why don't you have more different birds?

Many of the birds have not been transformed into paper yet. We already have more than 150 original designs, but not all of them are ready for production yet. You must have some patience with us.

Production

Where are the birds produced?

All the birds are produced in Denmark in Allinge on Bornholm, where we carve and pack each individual bird by hand.

What considerations do you have in relation to the environment?

We try to have a production that burdens the environment as little as possible. This means, among other things, that we pay close attention to which paper and other materials we use - both for the birds and the packaging. At the same time, we try to limit any waste and recycle as much as we can. For us, it is a natural extension of our private lifestyle.

Miscellaneous

Do you ever get tired of Braided Birds?

No.

What do I do if my neighbor complains about getting a bird?

Give him a bird! This may not stop the harassment, but then you have to show him our webshop.

I have become addicted to Flettede Fugle - is there a cure?

You must let go of the scissors and paper and move out into nature with binoculars in front of your eyes. It will give you experiences and enjoyment that are at the same level as bird braid.