Basketry is simply the skill and
practice of making baskets.
The Willow
If you wanted to grow your own you could, perhaps an allotment
if you do not have the space in your garden. Establish the beds
by pushing willow branches into damp ground. You would have
to leave them to grow for three years and then cut them down
to ground level in winter time. You will be able to cut them
down once a year after that. After you have cut the willow (which
hard work) you will need to loosen the bark with a brake and
then remove the bark with your fingers.
 |
The Brake - you would pull the willow down through the
V of the round iron brake to split the bark ready for
stripping. |
However, if you prefer you can purchase willow in bundles,
ready to be worked.
Soaking the Willow
Although you will store the willow dry you will not be able
to work with it dry. You need to soak the willow for an hour
or so and then left to mellow over night. In the morning the
willow should be flexible enough to work with. Also, it is
important to note that you should not work on the basket in
the sun, as the willow will dry out too quickly.
Making baskets with willow is also known as wickerwork.
Creating coloured willow
Brown - have the bark left on (rougher)
Buff - boiled for five
hours before stripping the bark
White - stripped without boiling
You can use the different colours to create lines and patterns
in the basket.
Baskets to make from wicker
Wicker baskets are versatile, we have listed a few examples
below of what you could make.
Hop Picking basket - large with
side handles and lid |
Dog or cat basket
- low tight weave
Harvesting basket - smaller with looped
central handle
Poultry basket - open weave with handle on
the lid
Egg basket - open weave basket with a bulge
in the middle and a handle single handle on top
Small bird cages - open weave for
bars
Bushel - largish two handled tight
weave no lid
Cheese basket - tight weave with lid
attached to the body of the basket
Boat basket - for diary product square
basket with two lids and a central hoop handle on top
The advantage with basketry is that you can create many shapes
and sizes of basket and change the weave so that it is open
or tight. To many in fact to list here.
They are all good for transporting produce as it is able to
breath.
Basketry tools
The brake, Shell bodkin, Bodkin, Shop Knife, Pick Knife, Shears,
Cleave, Grease horn, Commander, Upright and Shave.
Techniques
Binding the Slath
Tying the Slath
Three-rod walling
Randing
Slewing
Five-rod boarder
Openwork
What killed the craft
Although not completely dead, the introduction of cardboard
boxes in the 1950s and then plastic containers more recently
greatly reduced the practical need for wicker products.
To get a list of exhibitors who produce baskets or basketry
work use the Advanced Search options to the right. |
