Willow Basketry Summer School

Create a selection of willow masterpieces. With Anna’s expert help you will learn all the fundamental techniques of stake and strand basketry, first completing a fruit basket then moving on to larger circular work such as a traditional willow shopping basket, kindling basket, etc. We will work on understanding the structure of baskets, and practise selecting the correct grade of willow for each part of the basket, using Scottish and English grown willows.

Techniques taught will include tying the slath, pairing weave, joins, staking up, pull down wale or foot border, three rod waling, randing, trac or rod border, making a handle bow and handle wrapping. This will be a skill packed week of willow basketry! If there is a project or technique you would especially like to tackle as your second project we can do our best to accommodate that, although Anna will have plenty for you to chose from. Please get in touch in advance so that we can put you in touch with Anna to discuss the possibilities, allowing a month so that she can source and prepare appropriate materials.

Willow Basketry Summer School is suitable for both beginners and improvers. It’s a great place to start if you’ve never woven with willow before, or if you’ve taken one of Anna’s classes with us already this is a brilliant additional skill to add to your basket weaving repertoire.