How to Weave a Willow Basket

Weaving a willow basket is a fairly simple project that results in giving you a useful vessel. Baskets have been used for centuries to hold vegetables, fire wood, laundry and food items. Weaving a basket from willow is simple may be finished in less than an hour.

Things You'll Need

• Hand-held garden clippers
• Gloves (optional)
• Willow
• Twine of small reed
• Grapevine or larger branches for handle

Instructions

1. Gather or purchase your willow, and cut it into workable lengths. You should have an even number of branches that are stiff for the ribs and longer, pliable vines for weaving. Cut your ribs to fit the size of the basket you want to make.

2. Make two circles of thicker willow branches or grapevine and place one inside the other making a cross on each side.
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3. Take some twine or a small, flexible shoot to make the God's eye on each side. Tie the twine of shoot onto one of the spokes ribs. Weave it over and under from back to front where you have a cross-type pattern on each side.

4. Use the little "pockets" in your God's eyes to hold the ribs for your basket. This is called the skeleton of the basket, and you will weave your smaller willow through the ribs.

5. Fill in the bottom of the basket by tucking one end of your weaving willow and weave from rim to rim over and under each rib. Start on one end and then on the other and work toward the middle of your basket.

6. Tuck the last section of the weaving willow over the rim and under the ribs.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember if you use green willow, it will dry out and shrink a little. You may want to let it dry for a few days before weaving.