I Wove My First Basket in an Afternoon Using Vines from My Backyard
The Ivy League of Weaving
I wanted to try basket weaving but had no materials. I looked at the invasive English Ivy vines that were strangling a tree in my backyard. I realized they were long, strong, and flexible. I harvested a huge bundle, soaked them in water to make them even more pliable, and following a simple online tutorial, I wove them into a beautiful, rustic basket. I had turned a pesky, destructive weed into a functional and beautiful object with my own hands. It was a primal and deeply satisfying experience.
The One Weaving Start That’s Easiest for Beginners
The God’s Eye Start
I struggled with the complicated-looking woven bases of baskets. The easiest and most stable start I learned was the “God’s Eye.” You take your two main foundation sticks, make a cross, and then you just wrap your weaver yarn around them in a specific pattern that creates a beautiful, diamond-shaped lashing. This not only holds the foundation sticks securely at a perfect 90-degree angle, but it also creates a beautiful decorative element at the very center of your basket’s base.
How to Make a “Ribbed” Basket That’s Strong and Beautiful
The Skeleton and the Skin
I wanted to make a basket with a beautiful, curved, melon-like shape. The technique is called “ribbed” or “egg” basketry. First, you create the “skeleton” of the basket by lashing a series of flexible, rib-like hoops together. This creates the entire shape of the basket before you even start weaving. Then, you simply weave your thinner, more flexible weavers back and forth around these ribs, creating the “skin.” It’s a wonderful technique that allows you to create complex, sculptural shapes.
Stop Buying Expensive Reeds: How to Harvest Your Own Weaving Materials
The Urban Forager’s Basket
Basket weaving materials can be expensive. I started looking at the world around me as a free source of materials. I harvested the long, flexible branches of a willow tree in a local park. I used the decorative grasses from my garden. I even learned to process plants like cattails and daylilies into usable weaving fibers. By learning to see the potential in the plants that grow all around me, I was able to connect with an ancient, sustainable craft and create baskets that were truly of my place.
The Secret to Weaving Tight, Even Sides
The Power of Packing
My first baskets were loose and flimsy. I wanted them to be tight and sturdy. The secret is “packing.” After I weave a row, I use a simple tool (or just my fingers) to push that row down as tightly as I can against the row below it. You have to be aggressive. A well-woven basket should have no gaps. The tightness of the weave is what gives the basket its strength and durability. It’s a simple, repetitive motion that makes all the difference.
I Made a Woven Lampshade for Under $10
From a Wire Frame to a Work of Art
I found an ugly, old lampshade at a thrift store. I stripped off the old, stained fabric, leaving just the wire frame. This frame became my loom. I warped it with twine and then spent an afternoon weaving it with natural raffia. The result was a beautiful, modern, bohemian-style woven lampshade that looked like it came from a high-end design store. I had turned a piece of thrift store trash into a stunning centerpiece for my living room.
The Easiest Way to Add a Handle to Your Basket
The Carved Handle Technique
I was intimidated by the idea of weaving a complex, arched handle for my basket. I learned a much simpler and more rustic method. I found a sturdy, forked branch. I carved it into a beautiful, smooth “Y” shaped handle. I then just inserted the two legs of the handle down into the finished weaving of my basket, securing them to the basket’s ribs. It created a strong, comfortable, and beautiful handle that added a wonderful, natural element to the finished piece.
How to Dye Your Own Reeds for Colorful Baskets
A Fabric Dye Bath
I wanted to weave colorful baskets, but pre-dyed reeds were expensive. I learned that you can dye your own natural basket-weaving reeds using simple fabric dye from the craft store. I just coiled my reeds, soaked them in hot water with the dye, and let them sit overnight. The next day, I had a whole batch of beautifully vibrant, custom-colored reeds to work with. It was an easy and cheap way to add a whole new dimension of creativity to my basketry.
The Most Common Basket Weaving Mistake (And How to Avoid It)
The Tension is Too Tight
My first basket started out wide at the base and then curved inwards, creating a weird, wasp-waisted shape. This is the most common beginner mistake, and it’s caused by pulling your weavers too tight as you go around the basket. This pulls the vertical “stakes” or “ribs” inwards. The secret is to maintain a loose, even tension and to constantly be re-shaping the stakes with your hands, making sure they are staying parallel and not getting pulled in.
I Wove a Basket Using Only Recycled Plastic Bags
The “Plarn” Platter
I wanted to try weaving with unconventional materials. I took a huge pile of plastic grocery bags and cut them into continuous loops, creating a “yarn” made of plastic, or “plarn.” It was a strong, durable, and surprisingly workable weaving material. I wove a shallow, colorful platter with it. The final object was not only a functional and waterproof basket, but it was also a small piece of environmental art, a beautiful object created from the most mundane of modern waste.