How to Weave Basketry
Basket weaving is one of the oldest of crafts, and is known all over the world. Some baskets have been dated as over 10,000 years old, and baskets feature in every civilization. Baskets, of course, serve a functional purpose as a container for carrying items of all sorts. Nevertheless, they are also recognized as beautiful works of art. There are several ways to weave a basket. This is only one of many methods used to create sturdy baskets.
Things You'll Need
- 10 yards 5/8-inch flat reed
- Ruler
- Heavy-duty scissors
- Eight 2-inch clamps or clothespins
- 2 yards round reed #2
- Needle nosed pliers
- 1 yard of ¼ -inch flat reed
- 2 yards of 3/8-inch flat oval reed
- 2 yards of 11/64-inch flat reed
Instructions
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1
Cut ten 15-inch strips of the 5/8-inch flat reed, and soak in water for at least five minutes.
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2
On a flat surface, lay out five of the strips (which are called stakes) side by side, rough side up. The strips should be parallel and even, and should have a small gap in between. Make a small pencil mark in the exact center of the center strip on the rough side.
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3
Make a small pencil mark in the exact center of one of the other stakes. Put this to one side. Take another stake, and begin weaving it through the stakes you have laid out: over, under, over, under, over. Weave the second stake, beginning under first. Use the stake with the pencil mark for the third one. Weave the remaining two stakes. Make sure that the center pencil mark on the two center stakes line up, and manipulate the woven part so that it is square and centered.
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4
Make a small pencil mark in the exact center of one of the other stakes. Put this to one side. Take another stake, and begin weaving it through the stakes you have laid out: over, under, over, under, over. Weave the second stake, beginning under first. Use the stake with the pencil mark for the third one. Weave the remaining two stakes. Make sure that the center pencil mark on the two center stakes line up, and manipulate the woven part so that it is square and centered.
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5
Soak the round reed. Fold it in half, and use the needle nosed pliers to crimp the center where it is folded. Loop the folded end around the center stake on one side. Bring both ends up to the side facing you. Take the left side of the reed and place under the stake to the right; now, take the right side of the reed and place over that stake. When you get to the corner, give the reed a twist, rotate the base one-quarter turn, and continue around each side in the same manner. When you get back to the beginning, tuck the ends under the loop.
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6
Crease each stake next to the row of round reed up. Use the clamps to clamp the two corner stakes together all around.
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7
Cut two strips of soaked 5/8-inch reed long enough to go around the basket with a few inches of overlap. Begin at the center and weave around, unclamping and re-clamping the corners. Cut the end so that it will tuck under the stake next to the one where you began. Make six rows.
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8
Cut one strip of soaked ¼ -inch reed and weave in the same manner.
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9
Cut every other stake flush with the top, beginning with an inside stake. Crease the outside stakes and cut them shorter, and tuck the ends underneath the top row.
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10
Cut two of the soaked 3/8-inch flat oval reed and fit one strip around the inside top, next to the last row. Cut another to fit around the outer edge. Hold them in place with clamps.
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11
Tuck an end of the soaked 11/64-inch reed under the outside rim. Bring it up and over and back to the outside between the two adjacent stakes. When you get back to where you started, turn and go back the same way in the opposite direction, so that you have what appears to be a row of Xs around the top. Slide the reed up and under the rim.
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12
Trim off any ends that stick out once the basket is thoroughly dry.
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Tips & Warnings
You will probably need to order your supplies online unless you live near a basket-making specialty shop; most chain hobby stores do not carry those supplies.
Make sure to keep the basket damp as you work on it. If it begins to dry and get brittle, soak again for at least five minutes.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
