RAY'S SPINNING ACCESSORIES

Natural Willow Baskets

Your Own Natural Willow Basket

Basketry is an old craft, known in one form
or the other in most countries, technique and
uses depending on natural resources available.

The settlers brought the technique of making
baskets from willows with them when they immigrated
from countries such as the Ukraine. It was designed
strictly as a utilitarian basket convenient for
collecting potatoes or eggs and cleaning vegetables

Willows are gathered from local areas in the fall
and early winter, then trimmed and used in their
natural state. A medium size basket may take around
fifteen hours to completion.

Here, we will attempt to walk you thru the steps of
building a Natural Willow Basket. (I liken this to-
when a person shares a recipe with many friends-
they each turn out differently!)

'ITEMS YOU WILL NEED'
• Awl
• Sharp Knife
• Pruning Shears
• Twine
• Glue Gun
• Finishing nails
• Strong Hands!

*Start looking for Red or Brown long, straight willows during
the Fall/Winter, soon as leaves have fallen. Cut 1/2" diameter
for ribs, and 1/2" - 5/8" diameter for rims and handles,also a
good size armful of weaving twigs. In Winter, the twigs may
be left outside, kept frozen, or put in deep freeze, so they
remain fresh.

*Shape the fresh willows for Rims, Handles and Ribs by bending
and fitting them into a round or oval container. like a crock
or galvanized boiler for an oblong shape. Let the Willows dry here.

*When ready to use, basically, the rim and handle of basket are
very similar in size, begin by wedging off each end, glue-gun
together, you may use small finishing nails here as well. Use
twine around the join while basket is being finished.

*Begin by tieing rim and handle, balanced (crossed) at each end
where they cross, with twine, judging the depth of basket as you go.
Keeping the join area at the base of basket.

*Next, these fresh willow twigs must be softened, some people have
a piece of leather across their knee, and just rock/drag while
bending the willow till flexible, making it pliable enough for
weaving with. Also, using an electrical insulator screwed into
a wall stud, somewhere it does not matter, at a comfortable height,
works very well. Just gently rock the willow back and forth over it
until nicely bent and flexible.

*Now, you are ready to Create a God's Eye pattern at Each end of
basket, by wrapping, as in anchoring the larger end of willow twig
(may sharpen it a bit)and going forward and around each handle, rim,
handle, rim, tightening/snugging up each go round, till 2-3" square
(maybe diamond shape), depending on the size of basket you choose.

*Next, shape four (4) 1/2" ribs, wedge off each end of rib, insert
well into the God's Eye at each end of basket, making sure you've
choosen long enough ribs so they will round (full) out at the sides
to begin shape of basket. Space evenly two (2) ribs on each side of
body of basket, using twine to wrap and hold them securely, spaced
between the Rim and Handle-base of basket evenly. Keep a
watchful eye on this area while weaving with fresh willows,
so ribs are well-spaced.

*Choose your fresh willow twigs, hopefully nice long, straight ones,
not too large nor too small. Soften the twigs as you work, several
but not all at a time, they tend to dry quickly and will break when
weaving with them.

*Start weaving at one end, from the God's Eye, at the rim of basket,
insert the thicker end of twig, (maybe sharpen that end a bit) into
the God's Eye, from inside of the basket go up and over the first rim
weaving, over and under the ribs, continue with same twig until near
6-8" from end of this weaver (twig).

*This part may be easier to show than describe. Anyway, always
sharpen thick end of each new twig as you go, insert new twig,
sharpened end first, 1"-3" back alongside a rib, bend (nearly a
right angle) begin weaving again, always alternate over/under
the ribs as you go, watch from the exterior side, making sure,
if you went Under on that rib at your last crossing, you'll
go Over it the next time.

*Continue weaving down from each end on basket from the God's
Eye towards the center until you have, depending on basket size,
3" - 6" woven.

*Next, you must add more ribs, which are dried and shaped,
spacing them evenly, holding them in place with twine,
about 2" apart at the broadest area of the basket (thru
the center) rim to rim.

*Insert sharpened/wedged ends of willow twig into the area you just
wove, push into weaving 1-2" any further in may become difficult.
Check to visualize the shape you are forming, that it's eye pleasing,
wide or full enough, that ribs are evenly spaced and again held with
twine and check often as you weave.

*You may note, you have skinny ends sticking out, don't cut these,
work them in so they are laying alongside a rib, and keep weaving
over them as tho' they are part of your rib, at that spot.

*Keep working alternate ends of your basket, getting near the
center, always snug up the twigs as you work, remember the
willows are fresh, moisture still in them, they will eventually
dry and shrink in size, so be sure to keep them tightly together
during weaving.

*Finishing off the basket, thru broadest part in center, becomes
narrow and slower going as one has to do each rib at a time, but
be persistant get it filled in as tightly as you can. Sometimes
one has to add more twigs as it drys, because spaces have just
become too wide.

*The Natural Willow Basket requires no varnish or stain, different
types of willow will dry in different shades, some red-brown, some
yellow, some light green or Black! Depending on variety.

*When using the Willow Basket for gathering garden veggies,
you may simply rinse the vegetables off right in your basket,
maybe on the grass, before coming in the house!

*Should your basket gather dust, just hose them off with hand hot
water - they will smell and look like new!

HAPPY BASKETRY

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