Wadawurrung Weaving – String Bags

About this workshop

This May, the Rare Trades Centre, CRAFT and the City of Ballarat present Craft Lab 24 celebrating our shared commitment to fostering and sustaining the exemplary craft practices of local and regional artisans.

Throughout Craft Lab 24 the Rare Trades Centre is offering a series of curated experiences with artisans.

Learn traditional string bag weaving techniques with Wadawurrung woman, Tammy Gilson. A string bag is a type of carry bag traditionally made and used by Wadawurrung people. In this workshop, you will make a string bag or ballang as it is known to Wadawurrung using jute and plant fibre. You will learn techniques including rope-making through hands-on practice under Tammy’s tuition. The finished ballang will be personalised with adornments such as feathers, possum fur, gum nuts and shell.