Learn to Weave a Basket

Just bought a huge property in the Karoo (South Africa) and have loads of bamboo growing. Have no idea how to split the bamboo though, and need some ideas on how to weave baskets – preferably without using wire to reinforce it.

Yay! That wasn’t nearly as hard as I anticipated. The only real set-backs were that I needed more willow then I thought to make a basket the size I wanted, so it’s a bit shorter then intended, and I also didn’t realise how much flexability the willow would loose when left overnight, so branches kept breaking when I tried to finish the rim and handle.

It’s also not the prettiest thing in the world – lopsided, holes I could stick my finger through – but I am very proud to say it’s quite strong! I was useing the combination of a thick wooden plate and two heavy rocks to try and flatten out the bottom a bit (on the one side, it sort of merges into the sides in a gentle slope rather then a sharp edge, heh) and when I experimentally picked it up, it held quite nicely!

I’ll try to put up a picture of it, becuase I’m just too proud not to. :D

I found a few websites that explained the basics, headed to the creek to cut myself some willow branches… with luck, this time tomorrow I’ll have made my first basket! Eee!

Nov. 28, 2006
10:38 pm

I can go to the willow at the pond and come back with a basket. I’m not so good with cedar bark or birchbark, but they’re passable.

I can make them out of ratan, only I don’t like using it becasue you have to buy it from somewhere.

I was goign to make baskets out of the iris leaves, but I never bothered to gather them. I suppose they’re still outside!

I made a few great baskets out of pine needles. Those were very interesting to make and quite useful.

When I was in Cyprus I found a basket of pinecones. They’d connected the pine cones with wire and made a basket out of them.

I have a big bag of pine cones to do that with now, but no motivation to do that.

need to check this one off my list soon. went to Williamsburg, VA and saw this great basket (round with a top to it) used for transporting chickens to and from market. thought it would be great for my cat, taking to and from the vet. :o)

Went to a “Back Country” harvest in town-a celebration of pioneer times-and was taught how to weave a basket. She just showed me the mechanics of it, so later at home my husband planed off some strips from some wood and I wove my fist basket! It is crude, but it stayed together and should hold some light-weight objects! lol

This just sounds like a cool craft/skill to be able to have.