Basketmaking - introduction

“No one has ever invented a machine that can make baskets.” – Catherine Erdly

What is basketmaking?

It’s creating containers from the weaving of plant fibres. Basketry (the craft of basketmaking) is a tradition in every region of the world where plants grow, and the type of baskets will reflect the naturally-occurring plants in that region. The plant material needs to be long, strong and pliable. Willow fits that bill very well in Europe, and it’s one of the main basketry plants in the UK.

Categories of basketry material

1. stems: e.g. willow whips – the type of willow the whips usually come from is the osier
2. grasses (including straw), rush, reeds and long leaves: often made into pliable lengths by being bundled together and then coiled; they can also be plaited together
3. wood: bark or split pieces of solid wood – trees commonly used are oak, ash, chestnut and hazel, which can be used in the round, or split. Often, coppiced material is used

Categories of basketry techniques

1. coiled: in the UK, this technique – most evident in the making of bee skeps – involves bundles of straw bound together (traditionally with split bramble). Coiled baskets are usually circular or oval, and can be made from any flexible fibres
2. plaited: in the UK there’s a long tradition of bulrushes being plaited together to make baskets and floor matting; you can also plait with flat strips of bark or split wood
3. stake & strand: this is essentially weaving a warp & weft; in terms of basketry, the warp is the ‘skeleton’ which the weft fleshes out. In the UK, willow is the main material for stake & strand, although there are many variations of materials and techniques
4. looped: this involves a network of interlocking loops – like a string bag; the material used can include bast (inner bark of trees, often lime)
5. assembled: pre-formed pieces fixed together – usually from split wood or bark; an example is the Sussex trug

For more on basketmaking techniques, see Baskets in Europe by Maurice Bichard, a wonderful book and a fascinating social history.

You will find these five techniques worldwide, depending on the local plants of any given region. There are many names for different styles of local baskets, often based on their function, for example those used historically in the fishing industry or in agriculture.

History

Basketmaking is an extremely ancient craft. There is archaeological evidence of twisted flax fibres, possibly for baskets, from 34,000 years ago in a cave in the Republic of Georgia. The first definite evidence of basketwork is from around 12,000 years ago, but the evidence is scant, as the materials are perishable by rotting or fire. However, there have been finds in very dry or boggy environments that date back to the Mesolithic period. Some of the earliest known pottery fragments have been found with basket marks on them. Some believe that pottery developed from baskets that had been lined with clay and left next to the fire, so that the basket burned away, leaving a hard, clay pot. There’s lots of evidence of basketwork since the Iron Age – both for vessels and for wattle panels for buildings, and of woven plant fibres generally, be it for baskets, hunting traps, shelter or textiles.

By the way, we’re not the only species to make baskets, and we weren’t the first. See the photograph below for the handiwork of the weaver bird.

What are the benefits of basketmaking?

• more people want to learn traditional skills these days, especially those involving natural materials. There is a desire to connect with history and with nature, as well as environmental concerns over the use of plastics and oil-based products
• baskets are biodegradable, but they can also be easily repaired. Not many things are repaired any more, but baskets made of willow or other woods can easily last over 100 years, and be repaired many times
• baskets can be made from foraged hedgerow plants, meaning that they’ll not only be natural and involve close contact with nature, but they’ll also be free
• other materials can be ‘upcycled‘ into baskets, including plastic bags, wire, drinks cartons etc.
• most people in the West have lost connection with the cycle of production of daily objects. By harvesting and processing natural materials, then making useful objects with them, you can experience the entire production process, with which comes a recognition of what it takes to make things and an appreciation of the value of resources
• basketmaking is a satisfying creative process, and although it can be technically demanding, it slows you down to the speed that the material demands, which can be meditative and beneficial to well-being

What can I do?

Attend a course and get hands-on experience. Basketmaking isn’t something you can learn easily from a book, although books can give you lots of ideas after you’ve mastered the basics. You don’t need much equipment to get started – just secateurs and a sharp craft knife. Then practice, practice, practice. As with most things, you need to do it a lot to get really good at it, although almost everyone will be able to make a functioning basket at their first attempt. Plenty of companies sell willow and other materials, and when you learn with a basketmaker, they will give you information on sources of materials; or you could just get out there into nature and see what you can find. Just experiment and see what works well. In the UK the three main traditions are willow, rush and split wood basketry. But there are many other suitable plants in the UK – if it’s long, strong and flexible it’s worth a try.

You could use your new skills to make useful baskets for you and your family. Imagine foraging for berries or mushrooms with a beautiful basket you’ve made yourself. This type of basket would have a handle, and could also be used for shopping, picking apples or for picnics. Non-handled baskets are useful for logs, laundry or harvesting potatoes. Oak swills (large, deep, no handle, made of split wood) can be used as cradles, and hats and even coffins can be made using basketry techniques. A tightly-made coiled basket could even hold liquids!

If you enjoy it, you could think about trying to earn your living from baskets. Basketmaking has to be via small-scale production by the human hand – it can’t be mechanised. Cheap imports from the Far East and eastern Europe have had a profound effect on the UK basketmaking industry, due to the low cost of labour in those parts of the world.

In the last decade there has been a resurgence of basketmaking in the UK – although less of an ‘industry’. It’s now more about contemporary basketmaking – more artistic, as well as functional baskets – and more people are learning how to do it. Often, there used to be one or two basketmakers in a village, churning out the same baskets over and over again (and often these basketmakers were blind). This kind of production has declined drastically in the last 30 years, almost to the point of extinction, as it can’t compete with baskets from overseas in terms of price. Contemporary basketmakers often augment their income by teaching or selling one-off pieces.

If you’re serious about making a living from baskets, it might be an idea to get an apprenticeship with an established basketmaker. You can also obtain City & Guilds qualifications in the craft itself, with relevant business skills, and you may be able to get useful advice and information from the Heritage Crafts Association.

Thanks to Ruby Taylor of Native Hands for information and some of the photographs.

Whilst you’re here, why not take a look at the other 35+ crafts topics available? And don’t forget to visit our main topics page to explore over 200 aspects of low-impact living and our homepage to learn more about why we do what we do.

The specialist(s) below will respond to queries on this topic. Please comment in the box at the bottom of the page.

Ruby Taylor of Native Hands has been a maker since she was knee-high, and a teacher for over 20 years. She runs popular courses in Wild Basketry (and Wild Pottery) using foraged materials, which take place in the woods. She has experience of a wide range of basketry techniques, and also works as part of a team teaching ancient crafts and technologies. Her work aims to reconnect to the sanity that comes from being connected to nature and the act of making.