Basketry Weaving Levels
“The basketry world is not as organized as other crafts,” explains Angie Weaver of The Country Seat, Inc. in Kempton, Pennsylvania, which sells basketry supplies. Consequently, Weaver says that levels of basket weaving expertise have “no official designations.” She points to basketry conventions, such as the annual Weaving Odyssey convention in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, or to various basket making guilds and organizations around the country that ascribe three levels to basketry proficiency.
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Tool Kit
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Beginning basket weavers need to assemble a tool kit that will make weaving easier. Include a pocket knife and sharp, heavy-duty scissors, along with a knife sharpener and a ruler or tape measure. Add a small notebook or pad and a pencil for notes. You will need to wet your weaving materials, so include a bucket or pan, towels, a small sponge and a spray bottle. For smoothing, you will need fine sandpaper as well as rubber bands, twist ties, spring clamps and clothes pins. Additionally, make sure your kit includes an awl, along with cutting pliers and needle-nose pliers, pruning shears, calipers and a tiny saw and miter box.
Beginner Level
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The levels of basketry competency as delineated by the Weaving Odyssey convention, start, naturally, with the beginner, which is defined as a person who has woven some baskets, but needs more experience using fundamental weaving techniques and more practice shaping baskets. Oklahoma Basket Supply adds that a beginner may never have woven a basket or may be learning a new weaving style or technique. Basket-weaving books and kits are available for beginners.
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Intermediate Level
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A basket weaver who has reached the intermediate level is at a point where she has acquired basic skills and understanding and can start a basket without difficulty. However, she may need guidance on more difficult projects or need assistance mastering a new technique or style.
Advanced Level
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The advanced basket weaver has mastered all of the basics and can easily create a basket without assistance or guidance. At this point, the weaver usually seeks more complex and challenging projects and seeks to master distinctive techniques while working with new and different materials.
HGA Certification
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Certificates of Excellence are presented to members of the Handweavers Guild of America (HGA), Inc., in recognition for distinctive basket making. In the spring of odd-numbered years, the HGA hosts examinations in basket weaving. The resulting certificates recognize the technical proficiency of individual weavers while promoting study, research and investigation into the fiber arts.
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References
Resources
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