Saturday, January 26, 2019

Guidelines For Making Basketry Kits

By Ruth Thomas


Basket weaving has been practiced ever since time. It is an easy craft that requires naturally grown materials and simple tools. Making baskets is a hobby that can help you pass time when you are free. With basketry kits, you will be able to gift your friends or add beauty to your touch. When interested in making some, the mentioned are guidelines that will help you.

There are various tools you will require for weaving the container with ease. For instance, a scissor and a sharp knife is required to cut osiers. For chipping off the ends, you will need side cutters. A rounded nose pliers is important for kinking stakes prior to bending them. Other items required are measuring tape, knitting needle, clothe pins and protective water cloth for the work.

The principle of weaving is the same regardless of whether you are working on a willow or cane. There is no difference between these techniques. Young willow shoots are termed as osiers which are normally cut into different sizes and colors for making baskets. They are prepared in different ways as some are cut while still thin whereas others are allowed to be thick to provide different weights appropriate for both heavy and light work.

In weaving, there are two basic weights you ought to work with. They are the cane mostly used for stakes that form the structure and skeleton of the container or the heavy and thick osier. In a single piece of work, more than a single thickness of stake may be required. The heavy one is used for crafting the bottom part while the lighter one is used for the sides.

Soaking and dampening of the weavers and stakes must be done before they are used. This allows them to be easily manipulated and will prevent them from cracking or breaking. After they have been soaked for thirty minutes or so, they should be removed from the water and wrapped in a damp cloth for a short while. The osiers to be used for stakes ought to be kept straight while weavers can be soaked in the coil and only straightened before they are used.

The base of the container is important and it is what makes it strong. Traditional basket weaving is normally made of cane or willow throughout, even the base. There are a number of ways you can create the base depending on the shape. You may choose an oval, square or round base. The difference between the round and oval base is determined at an early stage by the number of stakes.

An easy way to weave the containers is through randing. As you are working around continuously, it is important that you use an odd number of stakes that will ensure the pattern immediately comes out in the next row. If working with an even number, utilize two separate weavers. Randing is mostly used for large areas of crafting.

Another method that you can use is pairing. It makes use of two weavers together since they are twisted around one another. Waling is a method that is used at intervals for controlling the shape of the basket towards the top. Remember to over-estimate the size of stakes instead of under-estimating as an oversize can be easily trimmed.




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