Willow Weaving Basketry

Fridays, 12.30pm-4.30pm

Learn to create useful and beautiful willow baskets using traditional weaving techniques. Tutor Donald Spy will guide the class through the process of willow weaving using a selection of Fife and Somerset willows.

Following on from the previous round basket class, this six week course is suitable for beginners or returners and will offer a choice of round or oval baskets. Whilst sharing many of the same techniques as round baskets, an oval base creates some exciting opportunities for a new processes and styles including serving platters, traditional shopping baskets, garden trugs, tool baskets, and more contemporary styles. You will be taught all the basic skills needed to make either an oval or round basket using the traditional ‘stake and strand’ process. Each class will focus on particular techniques with time for practice and questions.

This class is limited to 8 students and will cover:

• The anatomy of a basket and base and design considerations.
• Particular techniques for oval or round bases (continental slath, traditional underfoot methods, pairing weave, joining weavers) tension, and shaping.
• Upset, waling (three and four rod, pull down, chasing) and controlling uprights.
• Randing styles (French or English), side weaves and controlling shape.
• Types of borders and choosing the right border for your basket.
• Handle types (inset, bow, wrapped, solid).

This course is suitable for people who want to try willow basketry for the first time, and also for people who want to further develop their skills and practice.

What to bring

All materials and tools will be provided. The session includes a short break for refreshments. There is tea and coffee available at the centre, but we recommend you bring snacks or a packed lunch.

Please be aware that working with willow is hard work for the hands and brain, so expect to be a little tired by the end of your busy but enjoyable day.

About the tutor

Artist Donald Spy started making baskets in 2020 after 28 years in the Fire Service. Donald is passionate about willow as a sustainable materials describing it as ‘a beautiful material; light, flexible and very strong. Perfectly sustainable; it can be grown as a coppice for many years. It sequesters carbon, encourages wildlife and bio-diversity, and is fully compostable’. Donald grows some willow in Fife and sources the rest from Somerset. Donald uses traditional techniques to make making strong, useful and beautiful baskets with a variety of natural colours and textures. Donald makea one-off baskets for sale and to order which you can find for sale at Pillars of Hercules near Falkland.

We offer a 10% discount on weekly classes for students, people with disabilities, unemployed people and arts workers. Use code FAC175 at check out.