Thatch from towelling

[Wirelizard]

Over on my blog, I have put up an extensively-illustrated tutorial on how I do thatch roofing from towel.

Towel Thatch, A Photo Tutorial



Feedback, requests for help or suggestions here or at the blog. Happy thatching!

[6milPhil]

Neat stuff mate. Good to see you've worked out how to do hipped roofs and shared it, that bit alone could be a nightmare to the apprentice thatcher.

[Wirelizard]

Neat stuff mate. Good to see you've worked out how to do hipped roofs and shared it, that bit alone could be a nightmare to the apprentice thatcher.

The very first hipped & thatched roof I did, just before Christmas, caused more than a bit of head scratching, muttering, and fiddling with the in-progress roof while I tried to figure out how to fit everything gracefully.

The solution (remove a wedge/triangular-shaped piece of towel) turned out to be simple enough, happily.

The tutorial has had a lot of readers, hopefully it will inspire a few more thatched buildings out there!

[6milPhil]

Ah so it did... the technique has come on. The web is indiscribably brilliant for this sharing of great ideas. I may well try this for a master for casting from. Any idea what might make a good dope to harden it off? Or do you think the white PVA might do it?

[snitcythedog]

I use the same thatch method with one change.  I soak the towel in the water and wood glue mix.  Then I squeeze the excess glue out.  After I arrange the weave and let it dry, it goes rock hard.  I found that every time I tried to add glue, I upset the weave.  No matter what I did.  I like your open frame for the towel to sit on.  It looks like it gives you a natural bend between the rafters.  I will have to give it a try. 
Snitchy sends.