• 6 straws.
• About 6' of waxed string for making the ties (dental floss will work).
• A 12" by 12" cardboard "pinning board" for shaping and drying the project.

Preparing the wheat for weaving:

• Prepare straws by trimming bottom of the straws just above the first joint (node)and slip off the leaves.
• Select 6 similar straws that are a least 13" long (not counting the seed heads).
• Cut off the seed heads about 1/2" below their bases.
• Soak these 6 straws in hot tap water for about an hour.
• If big end of straws crack when you try to bend them, let them soak longer.

1. After soaking them, cut each straw in half and trim all pieces to 6" lengths.
2. Line up the twelve 6" pieces side by side, placing a tie string under them at their centers (Figure 4-1)
3. While holding the straws side-by-side on a flat surface tighten the tie.
4. Let the straws fan out as you tighten the knot (see Figure 4-2).
5. Tie the straws together in sets of four, making all 6 ties exactly 5/8" from the center (see Figures 4-3).
6. Tie the outside straws from each set together (see Figure 4-4).
7. You finished snowflake should look something like Figure 4-5.
8. You can vary this figure in many ways - have fun and be creative.