Spend a weekend making your own log basket. Using traditional basket making techniques, you will learn how to shape a large, strong basket suitable for logs or storage around the home. Using beautiful varieties of Somerset willow you will explore weave patterns and ways to mix colour to create a unique basket to be proud of and used for years to come.

Venue: Hawkwood College, Stroud

Includes fresh, delicious home-cooked lunches and all refreshments.

In more depth…

A course for those who wish to expand on their basket making and work on a larger scale, exploring shape and pattern. On arrival the tutor will give an introduction to the materials and tools we will be using over the weekend. You will gain an understanding of how to soak willow ready for weaving, and how to select the right materials for your basket design. We will talk about different constructions and ways to improve the quality of your baskets by thinking about the border from the very beginning.

Following the ‘Stake and Strand’ method, you will start by weaving a round base and then ‘Staking Up’ the basket, creating the structure for the sides. You will learn about adding in sets of weavers for the Upset and Waling to suit the larger size of this basket, and making sure we have a strong base from which to work on.

Day two will be spent learning weave patterns. There are endless ways of creating pattern and texture with willow, and you can choose whether to mix up patterns or stick to a simpler weave, adding different colours.

We will talk about ways to add handles to baskets and learn to make integrated ‘Slot’ handles which create a beautiful curved shape to the border. The last stage is weaving a beautiful rounded ‘Rod’ border and trimming the basket to finish. You will leave with the satisfaction of a unique finished basket and lots of new skills to add to your basketry toolkit.