The Art of Broom Making at Fiber Guild Meeting
Susan Crenshaw will present a program on “Handmade Brooms at the September 26 meeting of the Space Coast Weavers & Fiber Artists: 10 a.m. at the Merritt Island Public Library, 1195 N Courtenay Pkwy.
Although most brooms now are made in a factory for thousands of years they were handmade in every country and culture. Early brooms, made from twigs and grasses, were designed for domestic use but they also carried with them the artistry of the maker. Today, traditional brooms are crafted using natural fibers, such as straw, grass, and even “broomcorn,” a type of sorghum that provides durable bristles.
Susan Crenshaw will demonstrate the craft of broom construction and show examples of brooms she has made. Susan says,” I began making brooms after discovering a class in Clifton Forge, Virginia, taught by an Appalachian craftsman. I quickly fell in love with the traditional craft and took a refresher class in mid-2025 to build my skills. I enjoy selecting, sanding, and oiling broomsticks, but wrapping each broom is my favorite part—I cannot stop until it is finished, which means I have no unfinished brooms (projects) laying around. I value working with natural materials like broomcorn preserving Appalachian tradition, and creating useful, beautiful objects. In the future, I hope to learn advanced weaving, braiding, and ways to incorporate colored broomcorn and other creative elements.
Since 1983 the goal of the Space Coast Weavers & Fiber Artists is to explore all fiber arts. Members encourage each other to try new ways of making art with fiber through monthly talks and workshops. In addition to the traditional thread-based crafts, individuals have shared weaving, basketmaking, spinning, dyeing, rug hooking and more, using natural materials, metal, paper, and plastic. The guild has satellite groups focusing on rug hooking, spinning, tapestry, and using upcycled materials.
Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, call Jeanie McCormack at 321-266-1610. or visit https://www.spacecoastweaversandfiberartists.org/
