Bilum Stitch Scarf, with Ranu James

“Crafted by the hands of Bubus (grandmothers), Mothers, Aunties and Sisters, the bilum is a symbol of life for many Papua New Guineans. In particular, a bilum is a symbol of PNG women – their lives, their strength and their stories.”

Moale James ( https://ascensionmag.com/bilum-mama/ )

This workshop will take you on a cultural journey through storytelling and traditional knowledge as you learn the bilum stitch. The bilum stitch technique is used by women throughout Papua New Guinea to create beautiful, intricately woven bags.

Throughout the workshop, Ranu will share aspects of her Motuan culture. Participants are invited to sit in a circle and experience the sense of community that forms when women gather to weave. You will learn the bilum technique of twisting and looping string in a rhythmic motion—a skill passed down through generations—to begin creating your own unique bilum-stitch scarf.

The bilum is unique to Papua New Guinea and is commonly used by women to carry babies, transport vegetables to market, and as handbags or clothing. In this session, you will learn the figure-eight stitch, a signature technique of Papua New Guinean bilum weaving, which we will use to create a scarf.

Ranu James bio

Ranu James is a proud Papuan Australian woman who holds a M.Ed. in International Studies. She has been an educator for over 30 years, 19 of those years working with children, families and educators in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Ranu is the Director and Cultural Consultant of her cultural consultancy business, Weaving Cultural Stories and has worked in many roles within the Education and Community Services. Ranu loves the opportunity to share her own culture in the community and does this through the mediums of music, dance, storytelling and craft, as a community weaver Ranu has also been running Bilum weaving and beading/bilas sessions around QLD, enabling participants to spend time sitting in circle with other Papua New Guinean women, sharing in the experience of community created when women sit together and weave. 

This workshop is held in conjunction with Stories through time: Living cultures, enduring connections.

UQ Anthropology Museum presents workshop sessions with cultural arts practitioner Ranu James across two weekend dates in July and August.

Please register for one or both sessions, weavers will have the opportunity to continue making their scarf and work with Ranu during both Saturday workshops, and are encouraged to bring along favourite colours of wool to use during the workshops.

Skill level required - beginners to people who have had experience working with string

Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes to enable sitting cross legged on the floor. Pants or shorts or a long skirt that can be tucked in. Participants may like to bring along a floor pillow to sit on. 

Contact the Museum directly if you have any questions or concerns in the lead up to the workshops.

Images: bilum stitch scarf by Ranu James, and Ranu at making, 2024. Photo: courtesy of the artist