This March, I took a willow basket weaving workshop with Jeff Wagner from Groundwork. Let's just say, it was a humbling experience! Working with wild materials involves significant preparation. Our willows, harvested by Jeff in early winter, were dried for three months before being rehydrated for weaving. We were learning a European stake and strand style.
Jeff is the executive director of Groundwork, a Western Slope non-profit that believes environmental problems stem from cultural issues. Their solution? Place-based education that fosters a shift in perspective and equips participants with the skills and knowledge to create positive change.
Willow: A Multipurpose Marvel
Coyote willow, our weaving material, thrives in riparian habitats along rivers, streams, and wetlands. It provides food and shelter for wildlife and livestock, and helps stabilize streambanks. Willows even contain salicin, a close relative of aspirin, explaining its historical use by Native Americans for medicinal purposes, basketry, and more.
Sustainable Harvesting Tips
When harvesting wild willows, look for areas where natural forces like rough water have caused the plant to send up straight shoots – perfect for weaving!
Building the Basket: A Step-by-Step Journey
Our first step was crafting the base.
We split a willow with a knife and threaded crosspieces to create a 4x4 grid.
Bending these outwards, we began a box-like weave for the center. Next, we separated the stakes into an even wheel position and employed a pairing/chasing weave.
Even this initial stage felt like a victory! While the willows were pliable, manipulating them for a tight weave demanded strength and focus.
With the base complete, we inserted 16 willows at each skeleton point, bending them upwards at a 90-degree angle. We learned a special rotation technique and used a knife to achieve these precise bends. Seeing the structure take shape at this point was exciting!
Weaving Takes Shape
Now came the actual basket weaving, and the pace quickened. We used a three-willow "chasing weave" or "English rand," and the basket walls visibly grew. We were officially making a basket!
Once we reached our desired height, another weave technique (exhaustion after six hours of willow work makes recalling the name a challenge!) created the edge and border.
Finally, we trimmed the baskets, celebrating a day of hard work and reconnecting with nature in a way humans have for millennia.
Bringing Nature Home
My basket now sits proudly in my home, a beautiful natural object with an earthy, twiggy scent. The experience was even more special thanks to sharing it with my talented friend and art therapist, Lindsay, of Capacious Arts. I highly recommend a workshop with Groundwork!
Try Weaving at the Studio
Want to try weaving yourself? Join me at my Denver studio for the Mini Woven Necklace Workshop on December 5, or see all upcoming classes and workshops.