Raffia

Raffia bast is a natural fiber from the leaves of the raffia palm, used for tying, decorating and handicrafts. Here you'll find Heyda natural raffia from Madagascar in 50 g packs in 15 colors – natural, burgundy, brown, black and shades of green, yellow, blue or pink. The bast is strong and light, so it works well for gifts, wreaths and autumn and Easter decorations. Unlike regular yarn, raffia yarn doesn't keep the same width along its whole length, and every strand is a little different.

What is natural raffia good for?

• Gift wrapping: instead of ribbon, use it to tie up a box or a bottle and finish with a bow.
• Wreaths and decorations: wrap a wreath with raffia or tie together dried flowers, ears of grain and cinnamon.
• Garden: natural raffia is traditionally used for tying up plants and grafts, because it's soft and won't cut into the bark.
• Crafting with kids: colored raffia can be braided into plaits, bracelets or tassels.

Can you crochet with raffia?

With natural raffia you can crochet or knit small items, such as mug coasters, bag charms or a hat brim. Tie the strands on one after another, and you can lightly dampen them before you start to make them more pliable. For a whole crocheted bag or handbag, a material of even thickness is more comfortable to work with, for example cords from our yarn for bags range. You'll find more crafting supplies in the materials for decorative techniques category.