Broom Weavin'

Workshop Overview

Participants will learn the craft of making brooms from natural plant fibers while exploring the rich cultural history behind this everyday tool. The workshop begins with an introduction to the primary plant used in traditional broommaking, sorghum (commonly called broomcorn). Including how it is grown, harvested, processed, and prepared for use. Participants will also explore broom-making traditions within the Black American community, examining the significance of brooms as objects of labor, ritual, protection, and community. Participants will then learn to weave an Appalachian-style turkey wing broom using pine needles before building on those foundational techniques to create a hawk tail broom, also using pine needles. After completing these two practice brooms, participants may choose to further refine their skills by making an additional pine needle mini broom or advance to their final project: a traditional broomcorn (sorghum) whisk broom. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with two to three completed pine needle mini brooms, one finished broomcorn whisk broom, and the knowledge, historical context, and confidence to continue exploring the traditional craft of broommaking. Additional broomcorn for future projects will be available for purchase at the end of class.