“The making of baskets is not only the earliest of the hand-crafts but may well be the last to resist the machine.” – Dorothy Wright, The Complete Book of Baskets and Basketry
The first merit badge I attained in the Boy Scouts was Basketry. I was eleven years old. I didn’t weave many baskets after that until years later when I began to focus more on earth skills. For whatever reason, basketry has been a focal point for me. I love the meditative mindset that it demands, but also inspires. Your mind must shut down and let your hands do the work. Invasive plants have been my main source of materials as they are free, people want to get rid of them, and getting rid of them helps restore native habitats. I work mostly with English Ivy and Himalayan blackberry, but have been branching out to experiment with Yellow Flag Iris, Clematis, Scotch Broom, Morning Glory, and English Holly. Below is a collection of some of the baskets that I’ve made.
Peeled and split English Ivy. Twined. Two bands of Himalayan Blackberry, reverse-wrapped cordage twined in stripes for decoration.This is a gathering/grocery basket made with English Holly ribs, rim, and handle. The weavers are English Ivy both with bark on and peeled for color variation.My classic twined English Ivy berry basketTiny Plaited Holly Bark Basket.Small Japanese Knotweed Bark Basket with Split and Peeled English Ivy Root Twining and Border Wrap, Holly Bark Rim, and Himalayan Blackberry Cordage on Rim.English Ivy Basket. 3 rod wale, with cross warp & fitching in the center. Dyed with Oak galls, leaves, and iron (Black) and Red Alder bark (reddish orange).Coiled basket. Scotch Broom as the foundation. Yellow Flag Iris as the starting stitch (darker green color) then switched to Himalayan Blackberry (pale tan color stitch).English Holly and English Ivy Open-Weave Basket Experiment.Ribbed Style English Ivy Fanny Pack.I call this one The “Quickie” or “Survival” English Ivy Basket. No twining required, just simple weaving.First attempt at a coiled English Ivy basket. Unprocessed root used for foundation, peeled and quartered root used for the stitch.Himalayan Blackberry Woven Visor.Another “Quickie” or “Survival” English Ivy Basket. Made only using stone and stick tools.English Ivy Creole or Fishing Basket.English Ivy Plaited Money “Clip”.Tiny Basic English Ivy Basket. Great for Kids and Beginners!Large Ivy Basket. Intended for bicycle but given away instead.English Ivy Egg-Shaped Chicken Basket.English Ivy Baby Basket. Used for collecting baby oak trees mostly.My Classic English Ivy Berry Basket.My Very First English Ivy Basket Ever.
Non-Invasive Baskets & Class Projects
Square Base Willow Basket with Braided Border. I wove this in a class at the Ancient Arts Center.Western Red Cedar Bark and Sweet Grass Sedge Twined Spray Bottle Cover, with Red and White Corn Husk False Embroidery and Overlay. Woven under the instruction of the Ancient Arts Center.Made this one in a class taught by Matt Tommey, who also works with invasive species. This is woven with Kudzu and Poplar bark.This was a random project of my own. Cedar bark, cattail leaves, and yellow-flag iris dyed black with oak gall ink and iron.Random bark container made in the forests of Los Angeles. Willow bark, stitched together with yucca, and a yucca leaf rim.This is a rattan pack basket kit that I wove in a class taught by Jill Choate.This is a goose that I wove in a class taught by Donna Sakamoto Crispin. Materials are reed and cattails.Yellow Cedar Bark Pouch.
One Comment on “Basketry”
Hi, I am so inspired by your work. I want to make invasive plant art in Westchester County, outside of NYC and am just researching how to get started and came across your page. Keep up the great work!
Hi, I am so inspired by your work. I want to make invasive plant art in Westchester County, outside of NYC and am just researching how to get started and came across your page. Keep up the great work!