| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision |
| bask:basketmaking [2025/12/05 18:58] – [What is basketmaking?] asimong | bask:basketmaking [2025/12/17 04:30] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
|---|
| |
| <caption> | <caption> |
| Wicker for both ends of life – baby cradle and coffin. | _Wicker for both ends of life – baby cradle and coffin._ |
| </caption> | </caption> |
| |
| |
| <caption> | <caption> |
| Weaver bird with nest. | _Weaver bird with nest._ |
| |
| </caption> | </caption> |
| ## What can I do? | ## What can I do? |
| |
| Attend a [course](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/directory/categories/basketmaking-courses) and get hands-on experience. Basketmaking isn't something you can learn easily from a book, although books can give you lots of ideas after you've mastered the basics. You don't need much equipment to get started - just secateurs and a sharp craft knife. Then practice, practice, practice. As with most things, you need to do it a lot to get really good at it, although almost everyone will be able to make a functioning basket at their first attempt. Plenty of companies sell willow and other materials, and when you learn with a basketmaker, they will give you information on sources of materials; or you could just get out there into nature and see what you can find. Just experiment and see what works well. In the UK the three main traditions are willow, rush and split wood basketry. But there are many other suitable plants in the UK - if it's long, strong and flexible it's worth a try. | Attend a course and get hands-on experience. Basketmaking isn't something you can learn easily from a book, although books can give you lots of ideas after you've mastered the basics. You don't need much equipment to get started - just secateurs and a sharp craft knife. Then practice, practice, practice. As with most things, you need to do it a lot to get really good at it, although almost everyone will be able to make a functioning basket at their first attempt. Plenty of companies sell willow and other materials, and when you learn with a basketmaker, they will give you information on sources of materials; or you could just get out there into nature and see what you can find. Just experiment and see what works well. In the UK the three main traditions are willow, rush and split wood basketry. But there are many other suitable plants in the UK - if it's long, strong and flexible it's worth a try. |
| |
| <WRAP center centeralign> | <WRAP center centeralign> |
| |
| <caption> | <caption> |
| Coiled, multi-coloured Mexican basket. | _Coiled, multi-coloured Mexican basket._ |
| |
| </caption> | </caption> |
| |
| <caption> | <caption> |
| Coiled bee skep (hive). | _Coiled bee skep (hive)._ |
| |
| </caption> | </caption> |
| |
| - [Basketmakers' Association](https://basketmakersassociation.org.uk/) | - [Basketmakers' Association](https://basketmakersassociation.org.uk/) |
| | - [Wicker Woman](https://www.wickerwoman.com/articles) - lots of patterns |
| | - [How to weave a willow basket](https://jonsbushcraft.com/basicbasket.htm) |
| | - [Woven Communities](https://wovencommunities.org/basket-type/) - beautiful site about basketmaking in Scotland |
| |
| ## Specialists | ## Specialist curators of this topic |
| |