Coir Bird Nest - Alleppey, Kerala
The coir bird nest making at Alleppey is a known craft that has been carried. The coir undergoes many processes before beginning to use. The coir that is used can be distinguished from ripe or immature coconut husk. The husks of fully ripened coconuts yield brown coir that is strong, the methods of processing also protect it from the damaging component of sunlight. The ones that yield dark brown are used to make brushes, floor mats and other products. Fair or white coir comes from the husks of coconuts harvested shortly before they ripen and light brown or white coir fiber is softer and less strong compared to brown coir. They are spun to yarns and perhaps woven to mats or ropes later. Coir is the only natural fiber to be resistant to saltwater hence it has a big advantage of getting used in marine applications. A few of the products that are manufactured from the coir are coir brushes, curled coir, needled felt, coir ply articles, coir braid, coir tea leaf bags, coir rope, coir geotextiles (soil erosion control mats), molded coir pots, and coir baskets. The Coir bird nest among a few of the products are manufactured and used for revitalizing the living space and also as decoration for the gardens. The making of the coir bird nest follows:
A complete coconut shell is split into halves. The two coconut shells are placed in such a way to form a c shape (one is held horizontally and another is placed inside vertically in it forming a hollow) It is held together by tying it with the help of thick twine threads. This is hung to a rope to cover the outer layer of the shell with the natural coir fiber. A good amount of coir fiber is arranged and tied to the twine above the coconut shell which is hung. The coir is spread evenly to cover the outer shell, and the excess coir that is held beneath the coconut shell is tied. This strengthens the coir and the coconut shell stays stiff. Glue is poured on plastic gloves and applied to the coir. The coir becomes stiff after a few minutes of drying and a small hole is cut with help of a scissor on top of the oval-like structure where coconut shell doesn’t obstruct. The coir is rolled to get a thin twine that is bordered for the small opening that is made and the coir bird nest gets accomplished.
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