Storing Twigs for Crafts

Safe Storage for Crafting Twigs

Storing twigs for crafts involves two things – they must be in a dry or barely humid environment, and they must have good air circulation to prevent mold and mildew. Vermin control is important too, as the sweet bark of some types of twigs is irresistible to mice.

Salix twigs will maintain their flexibility and colour for a long time after harvesting if they are stored correctly in a cool root cellar.

The ideal situation is either laying them horizontally on top of pallets or other boards up off the floor, or standing upright in bolts, or clumps. Usually they are stored in groups of ten or twenty to make it easier to count them, and bundled with a large elastic band or string to keep them together.

Other twigs for crafts are usually cut just prior to use, as they tend to dry out and become brittle if stored too long.

In many cases, completely dried twigs or grapevines can be soaked overnight and regain their flexibility. You will have to experiment with your locally available species to see what works for your rustic twiggy crafts.