You’ll need a great big bundle of thick, medium and thin shoots for the different parts of the basket. Make sure you have plenty of long, thin shoots - the longer the better, so you don’t have to add new ones as often. If you cut your own willow shoots, you’ll need to dry them before you use them. Willow shoots shrink when they dry the first time. Lay them out to dry for several weeks before using.
For a small basket, cut each length to 30 centimeter (11. 8 in). For a medium basket, cut each length to 60 centimeter (23. 6 in). For a large basket, cut each length to 90 centimeter (35. 4 in).
Make sure each twist in the weave goes in the same direction. Weave tightly so that the rows lie snugly next to each other.
Make sure each twist in the weave goes in the same direction. Weave tightly so that the rows lie snugly next to each other.
Make sure each twist in the weave goes in the same direction. Weave tightly so that the rows lie snugly next to each other.
It might help to first bend each spoke outward so that they fan out like bicycle spokes. Ensure each spoke is separated by the same amount of space before you start weaving. Continue pairing around the spokes until the basket base has reached the diameter you want.
Don’t replace more than one weaver at a time. Replacing two or more weavers in the same place could create a weak spot in the basket.
Bend the far left weaver to the right in front of two stakes. Pass it behind the third stake and out to the front. Take the next far left weaver and bend it to the right in front of two stakes. Pass it behind the third stake and out to the front. Continue weaving this way, always starting with the far left weaver, until you have two rows of three rod wale. Untie the stakes at the top.
When you insert the last two weavers, you’ll need to lift up the first weavers a bit to make room to add the last weavers underneath. Use an awl or a long nail. This type of weaving is called French Randing. It’s a popular weave that results in even, upright sides.
When you insert the last two weavers, you’ll need to lift up the first weavers a bit to make room to add the last weavers underneath. Use an awl or a long nail. This type of weaving is called French Randing. It’s a popular weave that results in even, upright sides.
When you insert the last two weavers, you’ll need to lift up the first weavers a bit to make room to add the last weavers underneath. Use an awl or a long nail. This type of weaving is called French Randing. It’s a popular weave that results in even, upright sides.
When you get back to the start, you’ll see that there are two weavers behind the last two stakes. Both weavers need to be woven around the stakes. Do the bottom weaver first, then do the top weaver. For the last stake, do the bottom weaver first, then the top weaver. Continue randing until you’ve built up the sides as high as you’d like them to go, then trim the tips of the weavers.
Bend the far left weaver to the right in front of two stakes. Pass it behind the third stake and out to the front. Take the next far left weaver and bend it to the right in front of two stakes. Pass it behind the third stake and out to the front. Continue weaving this way, always starting with the far left weaver, until you have a row of three rod wale.
The last two stakes won’t have other stakes to weave around, since they’ll all be woven into the rim. Instead of weaving around stakes, follow the same pattern but thread the tip in and out of the border. Cut the tips of the woven stakes even with the side of the basket.
