Weaving is one of my favorite ways to embellish a gourd. To start you need a clean dry gourd. Virtually any shape will do but I prefer a tall pear shaped or bottle neck gourd. The first thing you need to do is cut your design in the gourd. I do this with a gourd saw. The design can be anything you like, curves, circles, etc. Then you need to drill holes in the gourd about 1/4 inch from the edge f your cuts so you can "stitch the material you choose to weave to the gourd. I then put a coating on the gourd. I may choose leather dye or pigment powders or varnish to name a few possibilities. Then a coat of clear acrylic spray is applied to protect it. Next you choose the material you want to use for the weaving. I like to use Sea Grass, also known as Hong Kong Grass. It is a durable grass obtained from a tall plant with grass-like stems found in wetlands. Sea grass has a non porous surface that gives it a naturally smooth texture. I also like to use Danish Cord. It is paper that is twisted into strands that are 1/8 inch in diameter.
When you have chosen your material you start in one of the holes and begin weaving using waxed linen You start from the inside and go thru the hole and around the product. When you have completely gone around the gourd you go between layers of product with the waxed linen to hold it in place.
When you finish your design you spray it with the clear acrylic to give more body and protect the sea grass or Danish cord.
To finish the interior of the gourd I use acrylic paint, paper that is glued in or a mixture of varnish and fine sand. This protects the inside of the gourd as well as giving it stability.
At this point you can embellish the weaving by adding stones or beads or anything that appeals to you.
The last step is to fasten the gourd to a base, I use different kinds of wood that has been cut to a thickness of about 1/2"-1" and sanded until smooth and then coated with an acrylic sealer or varnish. The gourd is then attached to the base with screws and a washer.
Now you are ready to enjoy your finished woven gourd.