Post by Ashropshirelady on Jun 1, 2013 23:25:35 GMT
It is a joy to harvest your own Willow from the countryside to make such baskets; and there are many types out there. However, not all Willow is suitable for basket making, many types are too brittle and will snap when bent to the extremes needed for basket weaving. If I find some shoots of Willow growing in the countryside (often in overgrown hedgerows) I simply fold a stem at 90 degrees; if it snaps then it’s not right for basketry… continue searching for a different variety. I have found that often the types of Willow with colourful bark such as reds, yellows and oranges are sometimes the best types.
If your Willow is freshly picked then you will ideally need to Dry it; Baskets made from freshly cut Willow will shrink and the weave becomes loose later on, this is because Willow shrinks the most the first time it dries out. It may take a few weeks to dry completely.
The Willow then needs to be rehydrated before weaving to make it flexible again. To do this simply submerge in water, a good rule of thumb for the amount of soaking time is 1 day per foot of length i.e. If the average length of your Willow shoots is 4 foot then soak for 4 days. (Note: Willow with the bark stripped off only takes a couple of hours to rehydrate)
You wont need many tools to make a simple basket like this; a knife, a pair of secateurs and maybe an Bodkin (a pointed tool used for separating the weave, a pointed stick or 6 inch nail would work sufficiently.)
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