Basket weaving secrets

How To Master The Art Of Basket Weaving

Basket weaving is weaving of unspun vegetable fibers. Baskets can be made of different materials like wood, leaf, vine or any other fiber that can be fashioned into any desirable shape.

Basket weaving is an extremely satisfying and relaxing activity that allows you a free flow of all your creative juices. The end product in form of a basket gives you a lot of satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

According to archeologists the oldest known baskets are probably 10,000 to 12,000 years old and found in Egypt. Basket weaving has changed its forms, materials, techniques, over these years. Conventionally, basket makers used to gather and then prepare their own raw materials. But you may also purchase your materials. Reed is the most commonly used material for basket weaving. With changing times, flat reed has been replaced by other materials like oak, hickory splits, cedar, willows, cattail and ash.

There are generally basic five types of basket weaving. The first is the coiled basketry that generally uses rushes and grasses. A bunch is stitched in a spiral oval or round shape. The second type of basket weaving known as Plaiting uses those materials that are ribbon like and wide like yucca or palms. Similar materials are plaited together and the pattern can be checker or crossed. The third type is twining that uses elements from roots and tree bark. In this type two or more materials are made to encircle another base material. Wicker and Splint baskets use materials like cane, reed, oak, willow and ash.

The origin of names of different types of basket has always been controversial. In earlier times, baskets were typically named according to their uses or according to the region in which they were prepared. A fascinating fact about the centuries old craft of basket weaving is that, though many other such similar crafts have become mechanized, till date, no one has ever created a machine that can weave baskets. They still continue to be handmade even in the most mechanized countries. In fact, no one has even been able to improve the original and most basic procedure of basket weaving.

Today, basket weavers range from the perfectionist who still cut their own trees to make the customary practical baskets, to the artist-cum-basket weavers, who are more interested in the art of weaving and their attention is more on aesthetic sense of the baskets and who use every material you can imagine that range from unusual stuff like horsehair to the commonly used reeds and bamboos. Beginners on basket weaving should experiment with the different types of techniques and materials and then in due course settle down on one or two preferred methods or styles.

Basket weaving can be quite addictive. It is a great way to express your creativity and is quite a fascinating as well as absorbing job. The best reward of basket weaving is when you gift them to a loved one and receive a lot of compliments in return.

How To Make Simple And Attractive Printable Basket Weaving Patterns

Basket weaving is one of those few occupations, which people do as hobby too. The joys of making your own basket are simply unparalleled. It is really quite fun and interesting.

The job involves a variety of work, each of them equally fascinating. First of all you have to select the material with which you want to make your basket. Generally used materials are bamboo, birch bark, wood from black ash tree, cedar, palm trees, pine needle. While some of the exclusive baskets are made from unusual materials like porcupine quill, horsehair, cattail and devil's claw which is a type of plant.

Then there are many different types of basket making techniques. You can divide those techniques in basically 4 categories. First of all you have coiled baskets where a bundle of rods or strands are weaved together to form a spiraling round or oval form. Encircling a base material by two or more any flexible elements like roots, cedar bark, reed etc can create twined type. Woven baskets have rigid stakes with flexible elements oven in and out to form a weft. Materials like willow, paper, and wood splint can be used. Lastly we have the technique called plaited which is made by weaving together like materials at right angles in horizontal, vertical or diagonal orientations.

You can create a pattern out of your imagination or take the help of available patterns from magazines, Internet etc. There is a range of patterns both complicated and simple to choose from. If you are just starting on basket weaving then a very good option for you is printable basket weaving patterns. All you need to do is search the net for any suitable pattern, print it and get it on your basket.

Following is an example to make a simple yet attractive printable basket weaving pattern. Firstly obviously you have to select a pattern according to your choice of basket and it's material. Then print out the pattern on a gloss paper of good quality. You can either choose a paper basket on which the design can be easily pasted or choose any other suitable material that allows paper to stick to it. For the paper basket, cut out the outlines carefully. Crease along all the fold lines. Then you need to fold the sides of your paper basket up and fold the tabs towards the inside of the basket. Glue the tabs and paste your printable basket weaving pattern on it carefully and neatly.

This simple activity can be a great idea of craft and design for kid's activity. Weaving complicated cannot be possible for kids but they will definitely enjoy selecting and pasting the printable basket weaving pattern on a pre-made basket.

Basket weaving is quite a technical job but it is also very relaxing and soothing. The finished basket gives you a great sense of accomplishment. Above all it is an inexpensive way of making beautiful gifts, which people love to receive and give.

Mohamed Fowroj is an expert and author on the subject of basket weaving FREE 5 part mini ecourse on basket weaving.

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