The rambling thoughts of a basket teacher
warning – this post will be as scattered and messy as my studio
My studio is a mess, this is what awaited me this morning…
and that’s just one corner. This will be another week of cutting and counting and bundling and packing basket kits – three thousand or so stakes, pounds and pounds of round reed, and thousands of yards of cane – by the end of the week I should have several hundred kits ready for my March and April basket classes. Read more
Kickin’ it Up in Dallas
at the 2016 Texas Basket Weavers Association Conference
Twelve basket teachers and over a hundred basket weavers attended the event – with four days of basket weaving classes several hundred baskets were woven, displayed and enjoyed.
Silent Auction, Opportunity Drawing and Stars of Weaving Exhibit
The DoubleTree by Hilton Dallas Near the Galleria provided a great space to for basket weavers to gather Read more
Lashing a Basket with Waxed Linen
I lash a lot of baskets with waxed linen; I weave tight, I weave small, I weave with stakes close together – waxed linen works for me. And I like the way it looks. Lashing a basket with waxed linen is much like lashing with a length of reed, but there are some key differences.
What you need:
Waxed linen – I typically use 4-ply for regular sized baskets.
Tapestry Needle – use a size that is easy to thread and not to large or to small for the basket you are lashing.
Starting the lasher:
Cut a three – four foot length of waxed linen, thread your needle and, going from outside to inside, insert it into a space just to the left of your rim overlap (to the right if you are left handed and will be lashing from left to right). Pull the needle and waxed linen through until you have a tail of about four (4) inches on the outside of your basket.
The Country Seat
I am so excited that Angie Longenecker Wagner from The Country Seat, Inc. agreed to let me interview her. This family business in Kempton, Pennsylvania was established in 1975 by Angie’s mother, Donna Longenecker, as a seat weaving company. It quickly became a supply store for seat weavers and basket weavers.
Read more
Gifts from the Heart
Recently I interviewed Angie Wagner from The Country Seat, Inc. and I asked her to share a favorite basket story. I had intended to include it in the interview, but it is so sweet and so fitting for this season of gift giving I have decided to post it today – on its own and exactly as Angie shared it with me. Enjoy and Merry Christmas. Read more
Baskets, Baskets, Baskets
Today was a good day to do a little website upkeep. I added items to my gallery (see below) and I added a few miniature basket kits to my store. Shipping is a flat rate of $5, however if you buy 3 or more kits, shipping is free. You can check it out here. All of my patterns are available for instant download and no shipping cost.
Here’s what I added to my gallery… Read more
The Traveling Basket Project
I love hearing about what basket guilds are doing around the country. I often ask my students what their guild is weaving and how they are encouraging creativity. It’s always interesting, basket weavers are so creative! Years ago I heard about the traveling basket project, it sounded like so much fun I asked my local […]
Christmas Basket and Woven Ornaments
Here it is the first week of December with a dusting of snow on the ground … a good time to talk about Christmas baskets and ornaments. I’ll share my favorites and you share yours. All I need is the name of the basket or ornament and the designer; however if you have a picture and a link would be wonderful and I’ll be happy to publish them as well. Read more
Locking the Base – Part II
Another way to weaving a locking row
I have two favorite locking rows: the sanity row and the locked locking row. You can read about the sanity row and other ways to lock your base here.
Today we’ll focus on what I call the ‘locked locking row‘- which is a locked four rod or three rod wale row. This is a technique often used in willow or round reed baskets, but it also works nicely in a basket that uses a variety of material. It’s one of my favorites for a few reasons: Read more
Locking the Base – Part I
While weaving a locking row around the base of your basket is not always necessary, sometimes it is an important part of shaping or maintaining the shape of the base and sometimes this single row adds strength to the basket. You can weave a locking row with flat material or round material. Read more
Six Point Star
Paper Star Embellishment –
I teach this little embellishment, also called a six strand star, when I teach my paper business card basket, Papyrus. Its not part of the pattern, it’s just a fun part of the class and all of my students go home with a star which is also their pattern. Even so, many of my students have requested that I make a video and post it so they can refer to it when they make more stars . After much resistance I 
acquiesced. Read more
Basket Weaving with …
Asher. Asher is six and would probably tell you what he loves most is to play Minecraft. But his Oma (me), doesn’t play Minecraft so this month we wove a basket together. It was lots of fun for both of us. His mom said I could share a few pictures with you. Read more
Basket Cruisin’
Weaving at Sea …
It all started when one of Sandy Bulgrin’s basket weaving students told her she had signed up to go on a knitting cruise. Sandy responded “But – Lucille, you don’t knit?” “I know … why isn’t there a basket weaving cruise?” Read more
Scarfing the Rim
Preparing Your Rims Scarfing or shaving down your rim pieces will give a polished look to your basket. The goal of scarfing is to make the section where the two ends overlap the thickness of a single piece. When done well, it is difficult to find the join.
Tools for Basket Weaving
I’m packing for next week’s Association of Michigan Basketmaker’s annual convention. It feels like I just unpacked – last week I was in Minnesota. Packing
I love your Beaded Ring Basket. They make wonderful gifts. I am having trouible finding the 5/32″ black ash (FO) for rimming. Any suggestions on where I can go to find this?
Hmm that’s a good question. Try Red Valley Splint.
What is the name of the basket you have on your email post – the diagonal plaited basket with two handles??? Love it.
The basket is called ‘Zoe’ I am weaving it and writing the pattern right now 🙂
I finished the four strand braid basket with beads . A bit of a challenge to figure out, the video was great. Live the way the beads went in. A fun little basket.
Great!! Glad the video helped!
Beautiful baskets! Especially love the miniatures on the trees! Thanks for sharing.
I notice the comment about the 4 strand brad basket with beads. I am looking for a basket pattern that uses beads in the basket. What do you suggest? Thank you for the help.
Shirley, I have one basket that incorporates beading in the weave: Beaded Ring Basket
I also know that Susan Coyle has some beautiful basket patterns with beads. I am not sure if she has a web site, but you may be able to find her patterns on basketpatterns.com
I hope this is a good start for you.
Hi Annette,
I’m making your Twines and Braids pattern, and am in need of more beads for this basket. May I ask where you purchased
them, so I can order more?
Thank you!!!
Betty G