May 18 2009
Basket weaving at Four Winds
Last weekend I fulfilled my ambition (it was a brand new ambition only two months before) to learn some basket-making skills. So I booked a session at the Four Winds Inspiration Centre in Inverleith Park, to learn simple basket weaving.
The day started at 10.30 and officially finished at 5pm, though there were still people finishing up when I left at about 5.30. The centre does various classes of wood and stone craft. I really recommend the class I did, and I’m considering booking another session to try out the “random weave” course too, to learn a different technique and see what other things are possible.
The first half hour or so was an introduction to willow and to the style of basket we’d be making. Our tutor, Anthea, lead us through the different types of willow and how it was prepared for weaving. Then we got down to business! Things were a bit shaky at first but once you get into a rhythm you just lose yourself. It took me the full day to make a short basket about 35cm in diameter. Apparently a professional would expect to make at least 5 a day…
The class had 8 other people, only two of which had done any weaving before, and that was just in another class a year ago. No one was an expert, and no one was really bad either. It was also remarkable how everyone’s basket looked very different even though we were all basically using the same template.
My basket is a single buff colour with no frilly bits. I wanted to keep things simple for the first attempt. There are one or two things I would have done differently in hindsight, where there are obvious gaps which should have been tighter. But I’m very pleased and have been investigating where I can get some willow of my own to do things with. I wonder if I should use something else to practise with, so that I don’t forget everything?
If you’re at all interested in this kind of thing I recommend you look them up, or find someone close to you. It’s great fun and very satisfying to take home your own basket afterwards.
You could try and weave the arms of the chairs at Mayfield!
[…] did a double batch of bread (some lovely sesame seed plaits, displayed beautifully here in his new hand-made basket) whilst I opted for a savoury and a sweet dish, just to ensure we had something of each, regardless […]
it’s a fine basket, and looks even better with bread in it :)