Weaving Workshop: Coiled Basketry with Foraged Materials

For generations, people have been using locally sourced and readily available materials to create baskets. In the first class of this two-part workshop, you’ll learn about a variety of local plants that can be used for basketry, as well as items that might be growing in your own yard and home or even found in the fridge. We’ll also go into detail on how to gather, prepare, and dry these items to make baskets. I’ll show a few techniques for making braids and cordage out of natural materials. Finally, we’ll look at how to make inserts with wood and nut slices. In the second half, you’ll be able to use the materials you’ve prepared to make your own small coiled basket. You’ll also learn some of the more complex stitches that can be used in this type of basketry.

While all the tools and materials you’ll need will be provided, feel free to forage locally in your own yard, neighbourhood, or even fridge for items that could become baskets. Some great materials include grasses (long, thin, and leafy are best), long pine needles, cattail leaves, reeds, dandelion stems, cornhusks, iris/crocosmia/lily/daffodil leaves (from the garden or saved from bouquets), young raspberry stalks, burdock stalks, spider plant, bamboo leaves, wild garlic stem, rhubarb stalk, leeks, and even banana skins (bring a whole eating banana if you want to learn to make lovely black cordage). Any items you’d like to work with should be brought to the first class.