At least eight weaving patterns are historically known. It is favored by weaving enthusiasts because the seagrass begins as a green-colored fiber that turns tan with age. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Plants that can be woven must be durable, flexible, and plentiful. You probably learned this method as a kid, but it takes patience to bend natural materials such as willow branches and cane. The basket's stakes—the vertical pieces that you weave between—are identical to the material woven horizontally (or diagonal, if you know what you're doing). Seagrass is a grass that is hand twisted into cord. Over the millennium, woven containers and furniture became important throughout global cultures for spiritual and aesthetic reasons. Instructions. In order to add variety in the decoration and style of your weaving, some patterns will call for a different method of weaving the sides of your basket. Feb 28, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Fern Tackitt. Coiling basket-weaving involves stitching coils of grass together. Basket-weaving today is both a practical skill and a serious art form. To assist with proper weaving of a seagrass basket, follow some simple instructions. The grass used is a swamp grass that has to be harvested and dried. (Photo: Stock Photos from NUU_JEED/Shutterstock). I am just starting. The grasses are coiled first. See more ideas about Weaving, Basket weaving, Basket weaving diy. Other early imprints—and even actual fragments—of baskets have been found at Neolithic sites located in the Middle East and Kenya. Check out more about my grapevine baskets here. Receive our Weekly Newsletter. (Photo: Stock Photos from SUKPAIBOONWAT/Shutterstock). Pull the needle-raphia end until the sweet grass is snug against the coil. Larger baskets and patterns with specific weaving instruction are included at this level. (Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Art [CC0 1.0]), Oneida lidded basket, c. 1860. Cherokee and other Southeast Indian baskets are traditionally from bundled pine needles or rivercane wicker. Examples of coiling techniques can be seen in indigenous American baskets as well as those of weavers in Uganda and Rwanda. Weave a vertical pattern, with a new blade of grass, under and over the horizontal pieces. Pull the small piece of raphia off the needle. When you reach the end, it is time to form the first coil of the basket. Continue weaving until your raphia is short. Materials needed: grass yarn long, blunt needle . (Photo: © Hans Hillewaert via Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 4.0]), Mid-20th century basket with lid from Borneo, in raffia and tin, unknown artist. D. macpherson. Keep the corners neat and tight by creating a crease in the working reed. Follow Cathryn’s steps here to prepare and process cattail leaves for weaving chair seats and baskets. Keep weaving until you have about 12 rows. To weave the decorative edge and the basket handle I wove 5 strands of grass into a long band. Thank you so much for sharing these basket weaving basics. It is impossible to fully characterize the diverse body of ancient and historical baskets. Basket weaving is one of the oldest human crafts. Figure 1: Weaving Round a Former - First Stage. Start the weaving opposite of the first weave. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, film photography, and reading while cuddling with her cat Georgia. Traditional Nuu-chah-nulth weaved carrying basket made by Gertrude Frank. The Zulu people of South Africa use colorful coated telephone wire—as well as copper wire—to weave stunning, bright pieces. (Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Art [CC0 1.0]), Art History: Ancient Practice of Textile Art and How It Continues to Reinvent Itself, Sister Duo Weaves Textured Wall Hangings Inspired by Australian Landscapes, How to Crochet: Learn the Basics of This Time Honored Handicraft, Artist Fills Forest with Life-Size Sculptures Made from Woven Rods of Willow. Basket weaving has gained fame in India due to the generations of various tribes, keeping this rich art alive. The cattail binding is then threaded through the loop and wrapped back around the grass, binding it into a solid coil. Many African countries maintain their rich basketry traditions. Preparation. coil is used for chair seats and for accents or rim fillers in your baskets. Fold the corner blade over to create an edge and continue the weaving pattern. They weave many styles and sizes of baskets, the most common being round with a flat bottom and fitted lid. Depending on the region, basket weavers today use sagebrush, reeds, bulrush, willow, grass, and many other natural materials. Figure 2: Weaving Round a Former - Second Stage. Bear grass, basket weaving overlay material of Karuk weavers. The cattail binding is then threaded through the loop and wrapped back around the grass, binding it into a solid coil. Sandwich the raphia between the growing coils and thread a new raphia piece. Photo: Stock Photos from SALVATORE CHIARIELLO/Shutterstock This post may contain affiliate links. Twining methods of basketry also involve a skeleton of stakes which structures the basket. How to Add Permanent Decorations to Bath Towels, How to Make a Very Easy Tied Denim Shag Rug, Instructions on How to Weave Seagrass Chair Seats, How to Repair a Tear in Upholstery Fabric, "Indian Basket Weaving;" Navajo School of Indian Basketry, Los Angeles; 1903, Daily Motion: How To Weave Baskets With Mary May. Place a few blades of grass in a parallel horizontal position. Making a grass basket is not difficult once you have the right materials. To create flat sides, pierce the row of coil at a 90 degree angle. To start, take a look at this helpful article by Felt Magnet which explains many of the terms you may encounter in basket weaving, especially for weaving or twining projects. Soumak Weave. Fold the four sides flat to create the bottom edges. Sorting and preparing harvested cattail leaves. Baskets are popular decorating choices and there are countless variations of shapes and sizes. We partner with 24 weaving cooperatives and over 1000 weavers in Ghana, both male and female. Pull the raphia tight. (buy here*) To stitch the grass, wrap the yarn around the loose grass and stitch down through the grass coil just underneath the wrapped yarn. Other types of grasses or reed materials are soaked to soften them for weaving. Hand weaving your own seagrass basket is fun, practical and affordable. Must be dried to a creamy white color. Leave a small gap between each wrap. You'll need a great big bundle of thick, medium and thin shoots for the different parts of the basket. Leave 1/2 inch of each end of the 12-inch seagrass exposed past the 18-inch rectangle. Weaving with this grass can be long and tedious as wetting the grass is needed as you weave with it. Whale and Canoe design. This method of basket-weaving is ideal for soft materials such as grass because of the manipulation necessary to create the coils. Weavers in Bali. It is already very flexible and soaking it is unnecessary as it will … You can add other color of grasses or reeds to create stripes as you weave your basket. Therefore it must follow that every child needs a Jelly Bean Bucket to stuff with plastic grass and then fill to the rim with the little beans! Basket Maker’s Catalog – supplies and a whole lot of information on basket making. Handles: straw that is wrapped with goat leather Time Frame: It takes the average Ghanaian artisan 2.5 days to weave a basket. This type is sometimes referred to as splint baskets. These tips are so helpful! Tip. Once I was done with the tabby weave, I moved onto the cloud like weave called piles. Turn the weave to form a diamond shape. Sep 27, 2020 - Explore Malissa Edwards's board "Free basket weaving patterns" on Pinterest. Egyptian basket, New Kingdom, Ramesside c. 1295–1070 BCE. This technique involves a continuous core of grass, rushes, or pine needles. Basket material terms Rattan. The middle leaf is variegated to add a bit of contrast. The contemporary Zulu artist Beauty Nxgongo creates graceful, undulating pieces using the traditional coil method—for example, this lidded basket in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Often found in Indonesia. The woman on the left appears to be using a plaiting method. To curve the coil upward, pierce the row of coil at a 30 degree angle. (Photo: Stock Photos from IRYNA RASKO/Shutterstock). Wrap a spiral of weaving material around the grass coil, at even 1/2-inch intervals. Sea Grass Continuous Weave Tutorial. Each basket will be unique. Soaking & Dampening. The earliest potential evidence of woven baskets dates back to circa 25,000 BCE. Then, the coils are stitched together. Bring the needle through the center of the … As our patron, you’ll become a member and join us in our effort to support the arts. Use flat or round reed, sea grass or cane to create beautiful and functional house wares with free basket patterns. Use your finger to keep the end of the grass … Want to advertise with us? The bottom of the basket is made with flat coils made by piercing straight down 1/8 inch from the outer coil side. (Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Art [CC0 1.0]). This may take months to cure. Start with a small bundle of long grass blades. And when it is no longer needed... Read More. A climbing vine that is used to create reed for basket making. 2. Outside of the U.S., examples of Chinese bamboo baskets have been found to be over 7,000 years old. Paper Basket Weaving Basket Weaving Patterns Straw Weaving Willow Weaving Fun Crafts Paper Crafts Adult Crafts Deco Kids Newspaper Basket How to Understand Basic Basket Weaving Techniques If you are just starting out in the very satisfying and peaceful craft of basket making, you may not be familiar yet with some of the weaving terms that you read in books. Then, the coils are stitched together. your own Pins on Pinterest Vary your basket shape by adjusting where you pierce the coil. ... • DIY Instructions: Miniature Coiled Basket The worldwide craft of coiled basketry dates back more than 9,000 years. WEAVING PATTERNS: PILE. Now it’s time to start lashing which is the weaving that holds the spokes together in place. To begin your coil, grab a handful of grass and bend it to form a loop. The grass is good to use as is available in certain seasons, its plentiful (if there is no sheep or cattle eating it). This is how the grass basket will get its stability. As the coils are stitched together, they are arranged to create a basket. No. The random weave has no discernible pattern making the pieces truly one of a kind. Woven grass baskets add an organic, textural element to home decor. Thread a blunt needle with raphia (a strip of reed from the palm plant). We will briefly discuss the four most common: coiling, plaiting, twining, and weaving. Woven items from Washoe county, Nevada are between 10,000 and 11,000 years old. Pack down the reed as you go so that the weaving is tight. Dare to be creative! Growing and harvesting plants for woven baskets takes a little know how to do. One of those techniques is called the continuous weave. To begin your coil, grab a handful of grass and bend it to form a loop. Now, form the bottom of the basket by inter-weaving the flat cane lengths in an under, over pattern with 7 pieces being laid on one direction and 6 pieces laid in the other, making sure that the wrong side is facing up. The results can vary according to the plaiting method of the weaver. Be intentional about keeping the spaces the same size as the previous rows of rattan reed if you don’t want the sides of the basket to pull in! For an oblong basket, tie a saw palmetto weaver around a coil of grass. See more ideas about basket weaving patterns, basket weaving, weaving patterns. High quality Basket Weaving gifts and merchandise. Baskets used throughout the Roman Empire came in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. Sep 27, 2020 - Explore Malissa Edwards's board "Free basket weaving patterns" on Pinterest. She holds a BA in History and Mathematics from Brown University and an MA in European & Russian Studies from Yale University. The longer the blades, the better. Reed. Seagrass can also be used in basketweaving in combination with other materials or by itself for a "soft weave" look. At this point you will need a long, blunt needle. As you are weaving the 6 pieces, make sure that you insert your wooden handle in the middle of these, so that there are three lengths either side. She has worked as an architect, restored cars, designed clothing, renovated homes and makes crafts. There’s still time to weave an heirloom Easter basket for one of your littles. There are seven established methods for creating a basket: looping, knotting, plaiting, coiling, weaving, twining, and assembly. You can weave seagrass into any pattern and mix and match with any other material. The soumak weave, also known as the braid weave, is a great way to add a 3D texture to your weave. Following are the basic instructions for weaving the straw. A basic plaited design is a good place to start your basket-weaving journey. Found throughout the centuries in numerous forms across countless cultures, peoples, and groups, woven baskets rank with pottery and textiles as among the first and most versatile objects to be created by human hands. What makes it useful is its notable air-tight storage especially the ones with the ‘Bhadohi’ weave. For thousands of years people have woven baskets using the natural materials available to them, like willow shoots and reedy grasses. You may spot these baskets across an array of homes in India for storing chapatis, flour, and various grains. A Thai woman weaves a bamboo basket. South Carolina SC Facts & Firsts SC State Symbols SC State Handicraft, Sweetgrass Baskets The Origin of Sweetgrass Baskets Sweetgrass baskets are almost identical in style to the shukublay baskets of Sierra Leone, where learning to coil baskets "so tightly they could hold water" was an important rite of passage in West African tribes like the Mende and the Temne. You can use it as is or simply let it dry for a while. Many simple patterns are easy for beginners and are great projects for the whole family. Seagrass baskets are a stylish and eco-friendly way to store household items. Holding the start of the sea grass in place, weave all the way around the basket until you return to the start. Keep the thickness of the bunch consistent. No need to register, buy now! The process begins by harvesting tall elephant grass from local fields. Basket Weaving for a Living (PDF) - Read through a personal story about one family's roots in basket weaving, as well as a brief explanation of how a basket is constructed by hand. There are also perfect kid-friendly basket weaving kits so the whole family can get in on the fun. Larger baskets and patterns with specific weaving instruction are included at this level. Baskets can be made with any type of pliable reed, grass, vine or branch, but willow is a popular choice because it creates such a sturdy basket when it dries. While the exact use of the woven material is unclear, the technology for basketry was clearly known. And by weaving two rows of soumak next to each other a braid-like pattern appears, which is great for dividing a weave into two distinct sections. This video tutorial teaches you to make colorful baskets with craft-store raffia. Today, basketry is an important and useful cultural practice in many societies. Take the needle out from the underside of the coil. NOTE: STUDENTS WILL NOT FINISH IN CLASS BUT WILL HAVE KNOWLEDGE TO COMPLETE AT HOME. The last method is simplest—weaving one strand of weaver alternatively back and forth through the stakes of the basket. It is also popular with … You can also purchase some simple tools you may need, although if you are creative and careful you can get by with a ruler and scissors or shears. The skills needed to create beautiful and useful baskets could take many years to master; many have been passed down through the generations. The basket is woven into lovely patterns with the use of vivid colors. Find the perfect grass basket weaving stock photo. We’re also on Pinterest, Tumblr, and Flipboard. If I do well from your instructions, Ill definitely be back looking for your book of patterns. You determine your final row based on how large you want your basket. See more ideas about basket weaving patterns, basket weaving, weaving patterns. Pierce the existing coil with the newly threaded needle 1/8 inch from the last piercing hole and continue weaving. Traditional Baskets, Nontraditional Materials Since I started making baskets, I’ve always been attracted to the traditional Appalachian forms like the Egg Basket, Hen Basket, Oriole and Potato Baskets. Repeat every 1/4 inch. There are countless materials which can be woven into containers of varying size and designs. Weave one 12-inch seagrass piece through the 18-inch pieces at the center mark, using an over/under weaving pattern. Figure 3: Weaving Round a Former - Third Stage. You should see your new coil on one end and unwrapped sweet grass on the other. Next, line up your supplies. What I have to say about designs, stake count, continuous weaving, etc.--in other words all the general information given here--applies to any style basket you choose to weave. Two different flexible material—such as cord, branches, or bark—are the weavers (weaving strands). Step 1: Form a bundle of grass Dampen a pencil-thick bundle of dried marsh grass. These cloud like texture is made with a special material called roving. But ultimately, the materials used will depend on style and function. 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If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Grass basket weaving is so simple, you will get nice results no matter what. Stitch the band around the rugged edge of the basket using a long and flexible blade of grass. Line up the end of the raphia with the right side end of the sweet grass, with the needle pointing to the left. Keep the wrappings tight to each other. Coiling basket-weaving involves stitching coils of grass together. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Looking to try the coiling method? Also, they have a few really nice free basket patterns including instructions on how to weave them. Grapevine baskets are also well complemented by copper wire and branches mixed in along with the weaving. Weaving intricate patterns and designs, the master weavers use special dyed strands of Bog (Swamp) Grass. This will give you a diagonal weave pattern. Cattail leaves can be used as weavers immediately after harvesting, but since there is a great deal of shrinkage as they dry, it’s better to dry them out first. Make sure you have presoaked your willow shoots to be pliable. Basket weaving around Bolgatanga in Upper East Region serves as an example of the craft skills of women in the north, and each colorful basket can take up to a week to finish. You can cut your own willow or buy dried willow shoots from a craft store. The process begins by harvesting tall elephant grass from local fields. Wrap the raphia over the sweet grass and tail from that point, 1 1/2 inches to the right. This large flat weave will form the base of the grass basket. Add sweet grass in an overlapping way when you near the end of one bunch. If you are building from scratch, this great tutorial from Design Sponge will get you started. Bring the needle over the grass 1/4 inch to the left. ... Students will weave using dyed reed, sea grass, and dyed palm inflorescence beginning by inserting primary ribs and then secondary ribs. See more ideas about Grass, Basket weaving, Contemporary baskets. The grasses are coiled first. Weave one 12-inch seagrass pieces over/under on each side of the center weaving. Weave the second row, with a new blade of grass, over and under the horizontal pieces. Continue building the walls of the basket using the weaving technique or pattern of your choice. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. See more ideas about Sweetgrass basket, Basket weaving, Basket. Madeleine has worked in archives and museums for years with a particular focus on photography and arts education. It has length and is continuous, and its strong – it will last years once woven into an article. As on the first row, overlap the end of the working reed and the beginning of the working reed on four stakes. The grass is then dyed various colors. Weaving baskets is making a comeback into fashion! Print our printable glossary for quick and easy access when learning basket weaving and reading your basket weaving patterns. It makes a great decorative accent. Many simple patterns are easy for beginners and are great projects for the whole family. Straw hats for sale in Zambia. Curl the tightly wrapped 1 1/2 inches into a tiny circle. It works with shorter blades of grass too, but it might take a little longer. Facts about Oakwood Baskets (PDF) - Learn about the history of using white oak as a basketry medium, including the preparation that the wood has to undergo prior to being woven into a basket shape. There are few arts with longer or more global histories than basket weaving. (Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Art [CC0 1.0]). Grasp a small clump of sweet grass, according to the thickness you desire for the wall of the basket. The strands alternate which is visible from the outside of the vessel at each stake. Curl the tightly wrapped 1 1/2 inches into a tiny circle. In the Bolgatanga region of Ghana, West Africa, artisans weave beautiful and durable baskets from thick, tough elephant grass. Then, use a sharp knife to cut vertical 5 centimeter slits in the centers of the base shoots. Cut cattails above the water line to make the harvesting process easier. To weave a basket, first cut 8 thick willow shoots to 30 centimeters each for the base, or longer if you want a bigger basket. Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening. They will have an assortment of reed, sea grass, and tools for sale in addition to their basket kits. Where Kenyan sisal grass creates supple and pliable baskets and bags, Ghanaian veta vera grass produces more structured baskets. Carbon dating has been used to date remaining fragments; however, the decay in natural weaving materials has probably erased evidence of the earliest basketry. Archeologists discovered Stone Age clay imprints of tightly woven material at the ancient Pavlov site in the Czech Republic. 0 Sea Grass . D. Macpherson . Some well-preserved examples of ancient basketry survive in the American West. Posted by Joanna on 02/11/14 – 2 Comments. Collect an armful of grass. Commonly baskets in India are made of twigs, bamboo, cane, wild monsoon grass, and are then covered with golden grass or the dried skin of the paddy plant. Weaving basket from the Chancay culture of Peru, 12th–14th century. Special Tools Required: Sharpened knife. Use flat or round reed, sea grass or cane to create beautiful and functional house wares with free basket patterns. To start, take a look at this helpful article by Felt Magnet which explains many of the terms you may encounter in basket weaving, especially for weaving or … Synthetic materials—wire, plastic, fabric, and more—can also be used to create baskets. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. I love baskets and am thinking that I may enjoy it as a new hobby and to create my own decorations in my new home. I got this pack and I have length slightly longer than the loom and separated the roving in half. Basket Weaving 101 Rosemary and lavender can be combined with pine needles and coiled into fragrant, beautiful baskets. For this, you will need basket cane or reed. Madeleine Muzdakis is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and a historian of early modern Britain & the Atlantic world. She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with bachelor's degrees in psychology and English. February ‘15 Pattern. Use a new color for four or five coil rows before switching back to your original color. Jan 1, 2014 - Explore Cathy Scroggins's board "Grass weaving", followed by 254 people on Pinterest. Creating a neat corner is always the hardest. This grass is a basket weaving grass that is used for various types of weaving patterns and twine for dilly bags. Basketry artists spend decades refining their craft, but basket weaving is also approachable and satisfying for beginners. On your final row, trim the sweet grass into a taper so that the raphia angles into the top row for a nice finished appearance. The problem was that most of these baskets were made from very predictable, uniform material – white oak or black ask splints. SeaGrass 1 lb. F.R.R. D. Macpherson. It is a hobby that should be shared with others – moms and daughters, sisters and sister-in-laws, grandmas and granddaughters, and with best friends. This basic basket can be woven using only two grass types. This grass is a basket weaving grass that is used for various types of weaving patterns and twine for dilly bags. Weaving Technique: “over/under” technique, which enables the artisan to create beautiful patterns and shapes. Joy on September 07, 2016: In contrast, plaiting basketry is similar to braiding and uses wider, often flat materials such as palms, yucca, or strips of wood soaked in water. The grass is bundled in a coil which is then wrapped around itself to form the body of the basket. Mallory has been published since 1996, writing books, short stories, articles and essays. As the name suggests, between stakes the two materials are alternatively twisted as they are woven to create a fairly tight weave. Often raphia is kept in a moist towel. Wicker baskets—using willow branches—were a valuable export commodity for Roman Britain and can still be found in water-logged bogs. Bring the needle over the unwrapped sweet grass and through the top of the coil 1/8 inch from the edge. Although the term pierced is used, usually the needle moves between the existing raphia and bound grass. The grass should just snap but not brake. To start, take a look at this helpful article by Felt Magnet which explains many of the terms you may encounter in basket weaving, especially for weaving or twining projects. Trim the raphia tails with a knife. Many natural fibers can be bent and used to craft stunning pieces. To try weaving, this Bread Basket Weaving Kit produces the perfect kitchen accessory. Press the needle through the coil 1/8 inch from the first pierced hole. Both stakes and weavers should be soaked thoroughly before using to make them easy to manipulate and to prevent them from breaking or cracking badly. Do not soak seagrass. (Photo: Stock Photos from NUNTARAT EKSAWETANANT/Shutterstock). Check out the exclusive rewards, here. Seagrass is easily dyed with fabric dye to take on any accent color. Coils can be any diameter, just keep them consistent throughout the form. As the coils are stitched together, they are arranged to create a basket. Basket Weaving Kits & Patterns Basket weaving is an activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. In many African nations, as in other places around the world, there remain a wide variety of basket weaving traditions. Her fiction short story "Black Ice" recently won a National Space Society contest. I have chosen to use a cat head shape as the basic basket in these instructions because it is the basket I like the best. May 24, 2020 - Explore totallylucid's board "grass", followed by 1436 people on Pinterest. This method of basket-weaving is ideal for soft materials such as grass because of the manipulation necessary to create the coils.