Reedworks.co.

uk
angela@reedworks.co.uk
Ferndene
Carmyllie
DD11 2RH
07854 484747

Warning: Basket Weaving is a

highly addictive activity. If you
require any help regarding this,
please feel free to contact me
at the above number for help.
This includes technical support
as well as support for your
future addiction.
Im not joking!

Baskit includes: 20 x 12mm dark coloured stakes cut 29long, 15 x 12mm light
coloured stakes cut 32 long (stakes). 1 x 20mm dark strip cut approximately
62 long (handle). 1 x 88 16mm strip (rim). long strip raffia (rim filler). Long
strip 4mm half round reed or no1 round reed (lashing). Several strips 8mm light
coloured strips (weavers) All stakes are marked in the middle on the wrong
side for your ease.
Required tools: Strong clothes pegs, Strong scissors, Awl, Small towel, Water
bottle, Deep basin or dish pan for soaking reed.
Instructions: Soak all 35 stakes and 62 handle for ten minutes in luke warm
water. After ten minutes of soaking, remove the stakes and lay out the long
strip with the wrong side up (pencil mark in middle). With the light coloured
stakes, weave all of them with wrong side up in an over/under pattern making
certain that the middle pencil mark is on the long middle stake (handle) Your
pattern will look odd because although this is a twill weave, you will need to
weave the middle handle stake in an over/under pattern for strength. It looks
funny but youll be grateful after as this will help keep your finished basket
more even weighted and strengthen the handle.
Now begin the twill weave by beginning the weave to the right of the thick
middle stake. Follow my row by row pattern below:

This first stake to the right of the middle: over two, under two, over two under two ending the row on an under one
Second to the right: over one, under two, over two under two
Third to the right: under two, over two, under two, ending the row on an over one
Forth to the right: under one, over two, under two, over two
Now simply repeat row five as row one. Row six as row two. Row seven as three, Row eight as row four. Row nine as
row one. Row ten as row two.
Moving to the left of the centre stake, just do the same but in reverse:
First row to left: under two, over two, under two, ending the row on an over one
Second row to left: under one, over two, under two, over two
Third row to left: over two, under two, over two under two ending the row on an under one.
Forth row to left: over one, under two, over two under two
Repeat row five as row one. Row six as row two. Row seven as three, Row eight as row four. Row nine as row one.
Row ten as row two. The finished base should look like the picture on the right. A simple twill weave.

Now you need to soak the base and one of the long light coloured weavers for about
five minutes so have a cup of coffee and relax
Your break is now over. Gently fold over each of the spokes on all four sides (second
picture down on left). Do not force them or they will crack. Simply fold around your
hand to increase the flexibility. The first few rows you weave will not hold the stakes
upright so dont be discouraged if the basket is quite loose. You can tighten it after the
first four rows.
With your weaver, run your finger along the length of it and decide which side is the
smoothest. Visually, the good smooth side will simply look nicer and the bad side will
be a bit rough and splintery. For some weavers it will be tough to tell so dont worry if
you get it wrong. With the good side on the outside of the stakes begin your first row of
over two/under two weave (third picture down). Use a clothes peg to hold the start in
place as it will slip out of position otherwise. In fact, use as many clothes pegs as you
want as this will help hold everything together. It will help especially if you also clip the
corners with clothes pegs as this helps to hold everything in place. When you make an
entire round all four sides, overlap the end of the weaver and tuck behind the next two
stakes and snip the weaver. Be careful not to snip too short. If the end is a bit long,
dont worry because it can be snipped and hidden behind a stake later.
Move to a different side of the basket now. Each new row will begin in a different
place so that it blends better. On the second row you will again do an over two/under
two weave but you must step one stake to the right each time. (Actually, you could
step to the right or left each time depending on which way you want your twill to go. It
is up to you. Just remember that you have to keep it consistent unless you want a zigzag pattern)
Now, weave the rest of the rows in the same manner. Keep the over two/under two
weave for each row but step over one stake each time. Make certain that you soak
each long weaver about five minutes before using it. Use the water squirt to keep your
basket moist as this will keep the stakes from cracking.
After the forth or fifth row, your stakes will be standing quite straight and you may
decide to use fewer or no clothes pegs at all. Make certain the rows are packed
down well and there are no gaps. Use the awl to help.

When you are satisfied that your basket is tall enough, have another wee coffee
break and re-soak just the top of the basket for about ten minutes (picture below
left). When the stakes are well soaked and flexible, fold over each of the outside
stakes and clip with a clothes peg (steps pictured below). Now trim each of the
inside stakes flush with top of basket.

Remove the clothes pegs one at a time and cut the stake to a point (left). Tuck the stake around the top and
into the inside weavers. Use the awl to pry the weavers just enough to ease the stake in place. Repeat this
until all the stakes are tucked away.
As the stakes are quite thick, some of them will splinter at the fold. Dont worry as this will be hidden when we
put the rim on the finished basket.
Your fingers might be a bit sore by now but dont worry, youre almost finished.

It is time to work on the handle. I have given you quite a

long handle strip to work with so if you choose to shorten
the handle you can easily do so. With one side of the
handle, cut the strip thinner at about two to three inches on
the end. It doesnt have to be straight or pretty as this will
be tucked into the inside to provide strength and be
hidden. It is simply easier to work with a thinner reed.
Pull the thin end through the weavers on the inside of the
basket. Now, back track and pull the rest up through the
weavers looping it at the bottom. Trim the top of this point
flush with the basket so that it will be hidden in the rim. With
the other side of the handle tuck the end onto the outer
part of the basket but hide it behind weavers keeping the
end flush.
Now it is time to soak the remaining reed (the filler, rim and
lashing). You know what Im going to say now. Have a
wee coffee break If your nerves can cope with all the
excitement.

This next step looks much trickier than it actually is. Take out the rim which has been soaking and line the
inside of the top of the basket making certain the smooth side of the reed is on the top. Overlap the end
about two inches and cut. Use the remaining rim strip to line the outside. During this, you will have to use
the clothes pegs to hold everything in place whilst you work the rim around. This will involve a lot of
clipping, unclipping and clipping again as each of the three rim parts will be added separately to make
certain the lengths are correct. After the inside and outside rim is added, place the raffia filler as illustrated.
It is time for the lashing as pictured on the left. At any point of the rim, tuck the lashing on the inside of the
rim and clip with a clothes peg. With the awl, gently pry between the gap of your weave below the rim.
Insert into this gap the lashing and pull everything together as illustrated.
Continue to loop around and pull the whole rim gently into place with the lashing. This will also secure the
handle into place.
You will have to keep everything moist so make certain your squirt bottle is handy throughout this process.
When you have lashed all the way around the basket, tuck the remaining lashing down into one of the
inside weavers and trim any overhanging bits. Now, your basket will appear a wee bit hairy as wood
always splinters into fine hairs. Simply trim the hairy bits and be proud and buzzed from all of the coffee
you drank. Your basket is complete.

You have completed a work of art. To keep your treasure

beautiful forever, simply shower it once a year. This removes dust
and replenishes your basket with essential hydration. Always allow
the basket to dry well before storing. You dont want it to sit in
damp as mildew will attack it. Also, bright sunlight will fade the
colours so place it in an area where the light is gentle and indirect.

Twill we meet again!