• 10 matched straws with seed heads attached (for the body and gown).
•  6 matched straws without heads (to make wings).
•  5 matched straws without heads (to make arms).
•  3 matched straws without heads (to make halo).
•  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:

• Select 24 similar straws (about the same diameter and appearance).
• Trim the straws just above the first joint (node)and slip off the leaves.
• Soak these straws in hot tap water for about an hour until they feel "bouncy and flexible" (weigh them down to keep them from floating during soaking).
• If straws crack when you try to bend them, let them soak longer.
• To take a short break once you start the project, keep straws wet by wrapping them in a damp towel.

A.  Making the angel's wings:

1. Select 6 soaked straws.
2. Cut off the seed heads 1/2-inch below heads.
3. Alternate the large and small ends of the straws (3 each way).
4. Tie these 6 straws together in the middle while holding them flat and next to each other (Figure #1).
5. Let the straws fan out as you tighten the knot.
6. Cut the straws at an angle about 2-1/2 to 3" out from the center as shown in Figure #1.
7. Set wings aside.

B.  Making the angel's arms:

1. Select 5 soaked straws.
2. Cut off the seed heads 1/2-inch below the heads.
3. Alternate the large and small ends of the straws (2 one way and 3 the other).
4. Tie the straws together in the middle.
5. Make two more ties about 1 to 1-1/4" each way from the middle tie (Figure #2).
6. Trim ends about 3/8" beyond the last two ties to form the hands.
7. Set arms aside.

C.  Connecting the angel's arms to the wings:

1. Lay the arms on top of the wings and tie them together at their center ties (Figure #3).

D.  Making the angel's halo:

1. Select 3 soaked straws.
2. Cut off the seed heads 1/2-inch below the heads.
3. Tie these 3 straws together about 1/2-inch from their small ends.
4. Begin braiding them at the tie and continue braiding until you have a 3" braid (Figure #4).
5. Make a tie at the end of the braid (do not trim the long straws).
6. Form a halo (loop) by tying the two ends of the braid together (Figure #5).
7. Remember, leave the long straws connected.
8. Set the halo aside until assembling body.

E.  Making the angel's body and assembling the parts:

1. Line up 10 straws so the tops of the heads are all touching.
2. Make a firm tie about 1/4" from the heads (Figure #6).
3. Lay the figure on the table in front of you as shown in Figure #6.
4. The seed heads are toward you and the straws away from you.
5. The seed heads will be the angel's gown and the tie you just made in step "E-2" is the waist.
6. Lift 4 straws and insert and position arms the beneath them.
7. Make a tie above just the arms/wings. This tie will be about 1/2" above the waist and forms the angel's neck (Figure #7).
8. Make another tie 3/8" above the last tie to form the top of the angel's head (Figure #7).
9. Turn the figure over, bring 2 straws down from the back of the head (see Figure #8).
10. You should now have 8 straws left sticking up from the top of the angels head.
11. Form the angel's hair by bringing 4 of these straws down between the arms and wings (Figure #9).
12. Bring the straws to the angel's back and make a another tie at the waist to lock them in place (Figure #8).
13. Attach the halo by making another tie at the waist (Figure #9).
14. The long straws extending toward the bottom of the figure can be left long or trimmed.
15. Leaving them long makes it easy to display the figure in a bud vase.
16. Pin the still damp angel to a drying board (cardboard or styrofoam) and allow it to dry overnight (Figure 11).