The Handmade Broom

Cynthia Main is the founder of Sunhouse Craft, an artisan craft house in Berea, Kentucky, with a focus on brooms. She is an artist/maker whose work focuses on relating to land as part of an integral view of a more sustainable society. Cynthia’s strong background in woodworking and traditional craft surfaces in most of her projects, work that often uses traditional techniques for work that is collaborative, community building and strengthens connection to a place. Cynthia learned traditional broom making at Tillers International in 2013 and has practiced the art ever since. She weaves thousands of brooms a year at her studio.

IntroductionLEARNING THE BASICS 

Overview of Appalachian Style 

Tools, Supplies, and what you’ll need 

Handbrooms: 

Turkey Wings 

Hawks Tail 

Whisks and Pot Scrubbers 

Rooster tail 

Floor brooms: 

Cobwebbers 

Traditional Appalachian 2 ways 

Hearth sweeps 

GOING DEEPER IN THE CRAFT 

Exploring fibers 

Using natural alternatives for binding
A

lternative brush fibers 

Dyeing broomcorn
Tools for the long haul

Closing