Types

Turkey Wing

Mimicking the shape of a turkey's wing, once used for sweeping, this style of whisk broom can be created with a variety of design elements. The choice of color, spacing of the wrapping along the edge, braiding, types of handles, or designs into the handles will make this broom as fun or as elegant as you might want. You can also incorporate as much of a curve to the broom as you like or shape the sweeping part of the broom for added style or specific use. You can even create a mirrored image for a totally different look.

Mirrored Image

Angles Cuts and Shaping

Colors and Designs

Hawktail

A "hawktail broom pattern" refers to a traditional style of hand-tying the broomcorn in layers working from the center and then building from each side in a symmetrical way. This process gradually builds up a thickness down the center, like a tail bone, with the broomcorn fanning out to the sides, mimicking the appearance of a hawk's tailfeathers. This pattern is accentuated by choice of color(s), width of waxed thread wrapping, and spacing between each layer added. The stiffness of the broom can be changed based on where you start the weave from the "soft" end of the broomcorn. This style can also be sewn like a whisk broom, shown below, to add design or stiffness. Its compact size is perfect for smaller cleaning tasks, stash in a glove compartment, or used for decorative purposes.

Whisk Broom

A whisk broom is a small broom with a short handle, where there’s no strict assembly method—just the simple sewing at the end that creates the flat, flared sweeping part. What really makes a whisk broom stand out is the creativity of its handle. Handles can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Some even feature woven designs using basket reed, adding even more variety and character to the broom.

Cobwebber

The name implies its use. The Cobwebber is designed for reaching upwards into hard to reach places to pull down the never-ending cobwebs. The broomcorn is left long and largely untrimmed, so that the bristly tips of the natural fibers can snag and whisk away cobwebs easily.

The short handle, 2-3 feet long, is great for standard ceiling heights. The length of handle can be shorter or longer as requested. It allows you to stand by a chair, table, or bookshelf and still be able to reach into the corners of the room. The narrowness of the broom allows you to get in and around furniture legs, under rungs of a rocking chair, in and around lamps, and among other hard to reach places.

The one in the middle (turquoise), and the three cobwebbers in the smaller image are complete, showing the four-leaf style knotting that sews this broom together from the outside in and the inside out. The sewing creates the narrowness and the stiffness of the broom and can be done once or multiple times along the broomcorn.

Dancing Ladies

A whisk broom with flare. A whimsical addition to your kitchen; fun and useful. Each has their own personality, colors, jewelry, belts, and flowers (broomcorn seeds). Children used to play with corncob dolls, and in a way, these are reminiscent. We are, of course, still young at heart even as we clean our kitchens. Arms can be antler or wood, and colors can be chosen.

A Kitchen tool, this versatile 3-5 inch long "broom" can be used for multiple purposes.

Cake Tester

If you love to bake, you probably have use the old toothpick trick to determine if the middle of your cakes, muffins, or quick breads were done in the middle. Instead of a box of toothpicks, which get everywhere if you drop it, use the bundle of stiff broomcorn instead. Collected together with a short handle, each bundle contains ~300 fiber "toothpicks" that snap off individually, each 3-4" – able to reach the middle of loaves and cakes. Throw away after use. Easy to keep in a drawer or a string to hang it can be added.

Pot Scrubber

Cast Iron cookware has been used in New England since the 1600s and has gained a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Care of your cast iron pans is important. Cast Iron should not be scrubbed with steel wool, and preferably should be washed without soap. A little hot water and this broomcorn pot scrubber will help keep your cast iron clean and maintain a seasoned finish. You can wrap your hand around the pot scrubber and really put in a little elbow grease for those harder to remove caked on foods.

Veggie Scrubber

As any gardener can tell you, the harvesting of root vegetable and cleaning them off is a dirty business. That's where the veggie scrubber can help. Stiff enough to scrub away dirt, especially in and around the natural wrinkles of the root, but soft enough not to scratch through the skin, this is a handy tool for the kitchen. Its small size fits in a drawer, be carried in a gardening bag/basket, or can be fitted with a string for hanging. Bristles can be trimmed to keep them even or at a slight angle depending on preference.

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