Wicker weaving is the craft of making wicker products from wicker: household utensils and containers for various purposes, such as boxes, baskets, vases, etc., furniture (tables, chairs, chests, cradles), etc. By vine we mean any natural material of plant origin that can with certain processing it bends easily, and under normal conditions it holds its shape. The name of the material, “vine,” comes from the grapevine from which baskets were woven. Often the material for weaving is willow twig; it is used for weaving both in Europe and in Asia; in addition, in Asia they are woven from materials such as rattan and bamboo. The technique of weaving from vines can be very diverse.
History of the craft
Weaving as a craft has a long history and it arose earlier than metal and woodworking, which is due to the large amount of natural material and the lack of production tools. It dates back to the Neolithic era, or Stone Age, during which time in different parts of the world people began to make mats, vessels, baskets and tools for fishing and hunting. Weaving was used to build the walls of houses for housing and farming. According to one version, weaving was the ancestor of weaving.
During excavations in the tomb of Tutankhamun, two wicker chairs were discovered, which were well preserved and look quite modern.
In ancient Rome, patricians reclined on beds made of willow twigs. One of them, the manufacture of which dates back to the 2nd century AD, is kept in the Treve Museum.
In ancient times, branches of trees and shrubs, especially willow, as well as roots and other materials were used for weaving. The main type of wickerwork was baskets, varied in shape and purpose.
Artists of the Renaissance preserved in their canvases the perfection of interior and everyday life, woven from willow rods: carts, cradles, baskets, boxes, bread bins, which was achieved in the Middle Ages.
In Russia, baskets, tops, hems and other fishing gear were originally woven from wicker. By 1913, 37 thousand artisans in 17 provinces were already engaged in weaving, and in 1920 a catalog was released that offered carefully designed forms of bookshelves, armchairs, tables, six-seater benches, etc.
The largest centers of willow weaving were concentrated in the former Moscow province and Zvenigorod district.
The construction of railways contributed to the development of trade, and wicker products were excellent packaging for transported goods.
In 1840 in the Nizhny Novgorod province, in the village. Bogorodsk, a craft was organized where about 500 craftsmen worked, who weaved more than 240 thousand baskets per season. Weaving schools contributed to the development of crafts. One of the first schools to be opened in the 80s of the 19th century was at the paper spinning factories of the Voznesenskaya manufactory, 25 km from the station. Pushkino Yaroslavl Railway. The same workshops with industrial training were opened in Kyiv, Poltava, Cherkassy, near Kursk, and in Moldova.
Factories for the production of wickerwork began to be organized. Craftsmen have appeared who can satisfy the most demanding demands. Using simple materials and accessible methods of processing, folk craftsmen created highly artistic pieces of wicker furniture that clearly reflected the national features of everyday life and the artistic tastes of the peoples of various regions of our country. Wicker products were produced for both rich and poor segments of the population, at high and low cost, respectively.
The range of goods was very large: various furniture (armchairs, sofas, tables, chairs, whatnots, screens, beds, flower beds, etc.), travel accessories (chests, suitcases, bags, suitcases, toys, dishes, doll furniture, rattles ) etc. During the Great Patriotic War, cultivated willow plantations and cattail thickets fell into disrepair. Workshops and factories for the production of wickerwork were destroyed. After the end of the war, during the period of restoration of the national economy, wicker workshops began to open again at industrial plants, and previously operating factories were restored. The creation of plantations began.
The pioneers in the revival of the production of wicker products for various purposes in the forestry system were the Ivanteevsky breeding experimental and demonstration nursery and the Soroca forestry enterprise (Moldova), which were a school of excellence in this type of fishing.
One of such places where wicker weaving is a traditional craft is considered to be the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region, where there are entire villages and towns whose names are associated with basket weaving. These are Big and Small Vyazyomy (where baskets were woven, that is, knitted), named after the Vyazyomka river, along which different types of vines grow. This is Petelino, where loopers lived and worked - that’s what people who weaved baskets were called in the old days.
Nowadays, wicker weaving has lost its former prevalence, but is still a favorite pastime of many villagers from the Danube to the Volga.
Photo types of basket weaving
Wickerwork became especially widespread in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the 19th century In Paris, Tiroten's company produced wicker baskets for various purposes, which were in great demand, wicker furniture, strollers for dolls and other products. They were made from thin debarked willow vine and covered with various dyes, gilding and silver. French varieties of vines were exported to Sweden and Germany. In the 50-70s of the XIX century. in West Prussia and Bavaria, vine cultivation is becoming one of the new, developing industries.
In 1890, a group of Austrian and German architects carefully explored the possibilities of cane - a soft and economical furniture material that held inexhaustible possibilities. Their experiments led to the serial production of wicker upholstered furniture.
The shapes of wicker furniture continued to improve. The designers of one of the famous art schools in England, J. Fletcher and K. Crumpton, presented works of wicker furniture at the exhibition, which became the standard of quality and beauty and gained such popularity that they filled clubs, houses, cafes and palaces.
Preparation of materials for weaving baskets
Learning how to weave willow baskets is not enough. Initially, you need to select and prepare the material correctly.
The most important thing in this type of fishing is to understand the types of willow and prepare twigs of exactly the type that is suitable for weaving. Initially, before they began to specifically cultivate willow varieties suitable for weaving, people used wild willow twigs. Many people still use them today, but with the development of the handicraft industry, they began to cultivate species of willow, from which they can obtain larger quantities of high-quality vines. It was found that willow of the Salix genus, which includes about 300 species, is most suitable for weaving. There are many species of willow growing in Moldova, including Salix, which is popularly called willow, willow, and vine. Willow grows near water, in wet meadows, and the places where it grows in abundance are called “brooms.” Willow can grow as a tree, shrub and subshrub, sometimes reaching very great heights.
There are many types of willow: "white willow" or willow, American brown willow, green, yellow, red or purple, gray willow, brittle willow. The latter grows well in the wild on various clay and sandy soils, and its shoots can be used to weave large-sized household items. There are certain methods and criteria for assessing the quality of willow for weaving, depending on the size of the leaves and the length of the stem.
Collection and storage of willow vines
Is willow shoots pruned manually or mechanically at the end of October? early November, simultaneously with the onset of vegetative dormancy. The vines are collected annually; only annual shoots are used for weaving. This is followed by sorting the willow vines according to quality into groups, which will accordingly be debarked or used unpeeled. Unpeeled ones can be used for various household works - gartering grapes, knitting sheaves, making large baskets, etc.
After collection, the willow twigs are cleared of leaves, dried and sorted, and then tied into bundles, fastened in two or three places.
Bunches of vines that have not been cleared of bark are stored outdoors under a roof, in a well-ventilated place. Knittings are placed crosswise, leaving a distance between them, in rows or vertically (in piles), so that there is access to air. It is necessary to periodically check vine stacks for mold damage.
Green, unpeeled willow twigs are the simplest material for weaving various items needed in viticulture and vegetable growing. They are also called gray products, i.e. unrefined.
Willow fence
The second group of willow twigs, which are cleared of bark, is intended for more elegant utilitarian and decorative wicker products (bread bins, fruit baskets, Easter baskets, sockets, shelves, furniture, etc.), and in order to obtain higher quality wicker and a variety of colors, it is boiled and bleached or dyed.
The first operation in processing vines for weaving is boiling after sorting. As a result of boiling, the woody part of the vine acquires a beautiful, uniform natural color. Boiling makes the subsequent peeling process easier.
Unpeeled vines are boiled in large cauldrons at temperatures above 100 °C or in special high-capacity installations. The average boiling time is from 8 to 12 hours and depends on the variety of willow or the drying time of the vine. To determine whether the vine has been boiled for enough time, take out several twigs and check how easily the bark can be removed from them. The boiled fagots are removed from the cauldron and placed vertically to allow the water to drain and dry.
Cleaning the vine from the bark is done manually or using special machines for stripping the vine. One such machine in 8 hours of operation can clean up to 300–400 kg of rods, while manually in the same time you can clean much less – 30–40 kg.
There is also a process for splitting the vine, both peeled and unpeeled, which is used as needed, depending on the thickness of the twigs, economic efficiency, etc. Previously, this was done manually using a special knife with three sharp blades, and now - on a special splitting machine and grinding the vine to give it greater plasticity.
Drying and storing peeled wattles
It is best to use the vine immediately after debarking, because it is then more flexible. But if this is not possible, then after boiling and removing the bark, the rods must be dried naturally, including in the sun. After this, the vine acquires a pleasant dark golden color. The method of drying indoors at a temperature of 20–25°C for several days is also used.
After drying, the vines are stored in wicker and well-ventilated storage sheds on stands that allow access to air. For better drying, the bundles are installed vertically in the shape of a diamond. Sheds for storing vines are usually woven from thick rods (or metal mesh), on a wooden frame and covered with slate or other roofing material; The walls inside are lined with cattail mats to provide ventilation and prevent moisture penetration. Such well-ventilated sheds for storing objects are also suitable for storing finished wicker products. In peasant farms where a small number of products are produced, weaving takes place immediately after cleaning the vines and sorting them according to quality.
Basket weaving with detailed descriptions.
Weaving from willow, willow or vine is approximately the same.
Willow grows everywhere on the banks of rivers, ponds, and swamps. A wide variety of things are made from this cheap material: trays, vases, baskets, baskets and even stylish garden furniture.
You will need
Willow twigs;
- knife;
- wire cutters;
- beater;
- column;
- template (pan or bucket).
Instructions
Prepare material for weaving. Harvesting willow can be done all year round, but the best vine is in the spring before flowering begins. At this time, the branches are flexible and pliable, and it is easy to remove the bark from them. Also, very good material grows by August, by which time the willow grows long and even shoots.
The best rods for weaving are annual shoots with a diameter of 10-12 mm. Cut the willow branches with a sharp knife. Remove the bark from them immediately. Then leave the cleaned rods in the air for 5-7 days to dry.
If you are harvesting the material in the fall, or the branches have dried out before you plan to remove the bark, the twigs should be soaked for several days and then steamed in hot water. After this, immerse the willow branches in cold water and remove the bark.
You can weave from solid twigs or from so-called ribbons, that is, willow branches split into strips. This can be done with a simple sharp knife or a special device - a cleaver. The thickness of the tapes depends on the product and how you intend to use it. For small baskets intended for storing various things, ribbons 2-3 mm thick are suitable, and products for collecting berries, fruits, mushrooms or storing need to be woven from strips 5-7 mm thick, or from whole rods.
To weave a basket, take 8 rods. Make cuts in 4 in the middle, fold them together and insert 4 rods into the split. This way you will have a base cross.
Take 2 thinner rods and begin to braid the crosspiece in a figure eight, that is, one rod is on top of the base, the second is on the bottom. Make 2-3 rows.
Spread all the base rods. You will get 16 rays. Add another branch so that the number of rays of the base is odd. Continue making the bottom, braiding each beam with two rods in a figure eight. When you get the bottom of the required diameter, add one more to the 16 rods of the base (there is no need to add to the 17th), secure them in the bottom. There should be 33 rods in total.
Choose a template to weave with. This can be an ordinary saucepan or bucket. Place it on the bottom and bend the branches of the base upward. Gather them into a bun over the template and tie them.
Then the racks need to be braided with a double or triple rope (figure of eight) in the same way as the bottom was braided. Try to place the rods as close to each other as possible. Adjust them to each other with a special device - a mallet. It should be massive enough and at the same time narrow so that it can fit freely between the racks. If the working branch runs out, substitute the next one, and hide the ends inside the product.
After you have weaved the walls of the basket to the required size, remove the template and seal the side of the product. To do this, place the rack behind the 2 subsequent ones and insert it between the bars of the basket wall. Then do the same with all the other racks. Cut off the excess protruding ends of the vine with a knife.
Attach a handle to the basket. Take a rod and sharpen it on both sides. Insert it into the sides of the basket. Now take a bunch of thin rods and insert them next to the handle base. Wrap a bunch of willow branches around the warp rod, trying to keep them as straight as possible. Braid to the end of the handle and tie it with a knot. Cut off excess parts of the rods with wire cutters or a knife. How to weave from twigs
You will need
Rods;
- knife;
- pruning shears;
- awl.
Instructions
In winter or early spring, prepare material for weaving. Willow and walnut twigs are suitable for this, but willow grows everywhere, and you can obtain raw materials within a year after planting. You will need twigs up to 1.5 cm thick at the root and sticks 2-4 cm thick. The twigs should be flexible, straight, dense wood and smooth surface. They are cut with a sharp knife or pruning shears at the root and put into bundles.
To weave a simple basket, take three sticks. Split them slightly. Insert three more sticks into the resulting hole. Place them with the curved side up so that the bottom is slightly convex and stands firmly on the plane. This way you will have a base for the bottom.
Insert two thin rods into the slot and begin tying them around the crosspiece in a circle. One rod is from below, and the second is from above. Weave two rows in this way. Next, move the cross sticks apart and braid each of them with twigs. If the rod runs out during work, then extend it with another one. To do this, cut the rod diagonally, lift the end, attach a new one to it, bend it around the stick and press it.
Having weaved a bottom of the required diameter, cut off all protruding ends of the sticks. Stick the racks into the bottom, helping yourself with an awl; their number should be equal to the number of sticks on the cross. If you want the basket to expand at the top, then insert two rods at a time.
To make a handle, take a thick rod and knead it on your knee. Sharpen one end, insert it into the product and mark where you want to cut the other end. Sharpen it too and push both ends into place. Next, insert a thin flexible rod nearby and wrap it tightly around the handle. The basket is ready.
Video Statistics: 0
It is believed that wicker weaving is one of the oldest crafts, predating the art of pottery.
Our ancestors mastered the skills of weaving, perhaps, before they learned to hunt and fish.
The easiest way was to twist the branches and leaves of plants on hand to get a container for collecting roots, berries and mushrooms. Later, by coating wickerwork with clay and firing them over fires, a clay promise was obtained. In many ancient paintings you can see a lot of wickerwork: baskets and vases, cradles and swings, suitcases, furniture, toys and much more. In any local history museum there will be exhibits that reflect the local features of the use of vines, reeds, bast and other natural materials.
Nowadays, wicker weaving is a type arts and crafts, which almost anyone can master. Products made from wicker are not essential items, but they are found in almost every scrap, are used in everyday life and bring practical benefits. It’s hard to imagine a mushroom picker without a basket, and wicker furniture has always been a chic addition to a barn.
A nice feature of this type of art is its accessibility. Material for weaving can be found very easily. More than 150 species of various willows are found on the territory of Russia. True, not all of them are suitable for weaving, but you can always find suitable material. Willows can be divided into two groups: trees and shrubs. Willow bushes are more common; they grow along the banks of rivers, lakes, in wetlands, and in parks. It is very convenient to harvest material in areas under high-voltage lines and near railways, since scheduled pruning of trees and shrubs is constantly carried out. A year after pruning, the best twig grows on the stumps, suitable for weaving. We offer you several practical lessons that may open up new opportunities for you and allow you to spend your time profitably.
Rod and its blank for weaving
Various materials are used for weaving. Most often this is willow vine, but sometimes others are added to the main material to create decorative elements. In addition to willow twigs, stems of reeds, rushes, cattails, linden bast, rattan, hazel and turf, as well as willow bark removed from the twigs, which will later be used for hoops, are used for weaving.
There are several terms for harvesting vines. In the autumn-winter period, the material is harvested after the leaves have fallen, from late October to April. The twig collected during this time reaches the required ripeness and uniform woodiness; the wood of such a twig is still elastic, but already elastic and strong, which means its bark is suitable for weaving. Boiling is necessary to remove the bark. The spring-summer harvest period is from May to August.
This is the time of sap flow and vegetation. A twig cut during this period can be easily cleared of bark without additional processing, but the wood at this time has not yet reached sufficient maturity, and the twig often breaks. When harvesting vines, it is always worth checking its quality. To do this, take one rod from the bush and bend the butt 90° through a large pale (photo 1) or wind the rod around the pale, starting from the tip (photo 2).
If the rod does not break, you can trim it. It is done with a garden knife or pruning shears at an angle of 45 degrees; you need to leave four buds to the base of the rod.
Tools and devices needed for wicker weaving
The set of tools is simple and is likely to be found in every household.
1. Awl. To make wickerwork, a set of awls of various diameters is used. An awl is necessary when weaving bends and installing handles; it is impossible to do without it when decorating the edges of a wicker product. The edge of the awl is dulled so as not to injure yourself while working.
2. Knife. When weaving bowls, a garden knife is used. They use it to trim the ends of sticks and twigs, cut off knots, and plane them.
Z. Secateurs. The main tool for working with vines and for harvesting material. It is better to use two tools: one for collecting material, the other for working while weaving. This will preserve the service life of the tool and allow you to make neat cuts when working with the vine.
4. Wire cutters. They are used to cut off the protruding ends of the rods in the finished product.
5. Mallet(izer, beat). A metal or wooden mallet is used when weaving large products to compact the walls. An uncleaned rod dries out over time and weakens the entire structure of the product. To prevent this from happening, you should periodically knock down the already woven part and ensure that the density is uniform.
6. Pliers used for pulling rods in hard-to-reach places and removing broken, already braided rods.
7. Round nose pliers necessary for bending the rod, especially in weaving the bottom and bends.
8. Templates allow you to weave the walls smoothly and accurately, and adjust the increase and decrease in the diameter of the wicker product.
Types and methods of weaving from wicker
Usually weaving is done from left to right. The working rod is almost always the left one. There are several types of weaving. The most common types are:
Simple weaving
This weaving uses one rod. The risers go around one by one: one from the back, the other from the front (photo 3). Continue this way until the end of the rod. The next rod is joined to the previous butt to the top, simply placing one next to the other at the riser inside the weave. When joining the thin ends, both old and new are woven simultaneously between three risers (photo 4). For simple weaving along a closed contour, an odd number of risers is required. In this case, on one circle the riser will be braided from the outside, and on the next – from the inside. Simple weaving is convenient for braiding bottles and vases. In this way, semicircular, corner and rectangular bottoms are made.
Two-strand rope
Weaving is carried out alternately with two rods at once. With this method, the rods not only intertwine the risers, but also intertwine with each other, forming a “figure eight” and increasing the reliability of the product (photo 5). The first braid rod, let's call it A, is placed from the inside to the first riser, the second riser is wrapped around the outside, the third – from the inside. Rod A is brought out between the third and fourth risers (photo 6). The second rod B is placed to the adjacent, second riser from the inside. The butt of rod B should be located below rod A. Rod B goes around the third riser from the outside, the fourth from the inside and is brought out between the fourth and fifth risers (photo 7).
Thus, the left and right rods of the rope are obtained. Continue to weave with the left rod, braiding it to the right one step at a time. They weave like this until the end of the circle or until the end of the rods, depending on which ends first (photo 8).
Three-strand rope
This weaving is used to increase the strength of the product, as well as to make the transition from the horizontal base to the vertical sides of the product.
To perform weaving, rod A is laid behind the first riser, then it goes around the second and third risers from the outside, and the fourth from the inside (photo 9). The end of the rod is brought out. Behind the adjacent riser on the right, rod B is inserted under rod A (photo 10), in the same way they go around two risers from the outside and one from the inside, then bring the rod out. The third rod C is treated in the same way as with rods A and B. As a result, three working rods are obtained (photo 11).
Start weaving with the left rod, then repeat the same manipulations with the other two: two posts on the outside, one on the inside, the rod on the outside. This is how they weave until the end of the first row (photo 12).
The transition to the second row should be smooth. To do this, instead of the left rod, take the right one. They go around two risers from the outside and one from the inside, the rod is taken out (photo 13). Then they work with the middle rod, then the left. Three protruding rods will form, which will be the beginning of a new row (photo 14).
Layer weaving
This weaving is done with several rods through one stand (photo 15). To weave one layer you will need a number of rods equal to the number of risers. It is necessary to take rods of the same length and thickness. Weaving begins with the butt end of the rod, which is inserted between the risers. They braid the second riser from the outside; the third - from the inside; fourth - outside; the fifth - from the inside, etc. This weaving resembles a simple one, but the rod needs to be directed upward diagonally at an angle of 10-15 degrees. The greater the slope and the number of rods, the higher the weaving layer. Each new rod is inserted to the left of the previous one and weaved between the next risers, alternating weaving from the outside and from the inside (photo 16). Thus, the product is woven around the entire perimeter.
Increasingly, people are trying not to purchase household items in stores, but to make them themselves. For example, they are interested in how to weave a basket with their own hands so that it can perform its immediate functions and look great in the interior of the room where it will stand.
It’s quite possible to make a basket in which you can put:
- Linen;
- Products;
- All kinds of items;
- Garbage.
Moreover, everyone will probably like the manufacturing process, since it involves the participation of imagination and wonderfully develops the imagination.
Basic materials
First you need to choose the appropriate material for the basket. Willow twigs are considered the best option.
Before starting weaving, it is advisable to soak the willow branches using a saline solution. This will make them more elastic. You should immediately prepare for the fact that the soaking process will be lengthy.
Another material that can be used is barley or wheat straws. A straw rope is also suitable. In general, straw is considered a fairly convenient material to work with, as it is highly flexible. Baskets from it:
- turn out almost airy;
- look beautiful;
- They have a golden color that is pleasing to the eye.
Sometimes baskets are made from birch bark. The workflow is also not considered too complicated. You just need to prepare the raw materials and dry them properly. Items that are woven from birch bark delight not only with their beautiful appearance (since they have unique patterns), but also with a long service life.
Paper basket
Finally, the simplest source material can be ordinary paper. For example, old newspapers. In this case, the basis of the basket will be tubes made from newspapers. The paper sheet should be cut vertically in two, and using a knitting needle, twist the above-mentioned tubes.
One tip must be held while twisting the paper diagonally. The other corner is covered with glue. A large number of similar blanks are made. The length of the tubes is ensured by their connection to each other. For beginners, at first the tubes come out unsightly, but once you get the hang of it, everything will start to work out at the highest level.
When the required number of blanks are made, they can be painted with water-based stain or water-based paint. It is recommended to paint each of the tubes separately. Although if this is inconvenient or does not work out, you can paint the product completely.
In fact, even a child can handle making such a craft. Moreover, children will certainly enjoy such interesting and useful work. It is useful, first of all, because it develops imagination and improves finger motor skills.
Basic Rules
First of all, before weaving a basket, you need to determine what dimensions are needed and what shape it will have. Experienced craftsmen advise choosing a rectangle shape and medium size.
First the bottom is made. The base could be, for example, a shoe box. You just need to cut out its bottom, which will serve as the bottom of the future container.
The ends of the tubes are glued to the cut out cardboard, after which weaving begins. Each of the rods rises up, and only one side remains. The tubes are secured using a clothesline or clothespin.
The tube that remains should be used to braid the vertical tubes. Connection and extension occurs using glue. Of course, you won’t be able to achieve the desired result in ten minutes, but you won’t have to spend too much time either.
Coating the finished product with varnish is an opportunity for an additional decorative effect and ensures a long service life of the basket. However, you only need acrylic varnish.
Universal material
By the way, a basket made of paper, twigs or straw can not only be used for its intended purpose in your own home, but also given as a gift to someone you know and even relatives. Surely, they will be happy with such a gift, since today shopping baskets are not cheap, and such an item will allow you to save on your purchase.
The same newspaper tubes are, in general, a multifunctional and universal material, no matter how simple it may seem outwardly. For example, it is known that unusual bottles and other objects can be made from papers that can become interior decoration and perform certain functions in the household. Finally, even the simplest hearts and stars cut out of paper can become high-quality decor.
That's why more and more people are interested in how to weave a basket with their own hands, using paper or any other materials. And they manage to achieve what they want without much effort.
The abundance of forms and applications of baskets is endless; many technologies and materials are used for their manufacture. Let's try to understand this topic and pay some attention to the types of baskets.
Purpose of the cart
What association do you have when you think of a basket? What image emerges? Seriously, in front of my eyes is a png icon of an online store with purchases that have not yet been completed. But we are, of course, not talking about e-commerce here.
The very word “basket” today already implies so many things at once that it’s amazing. The classic idea of a basket can be described as a container with a handle in which it is convenient to carry and store some things.
The kindest thing that comes to mind is a basket in the hands of Little Red Riding Hood, who is bringing pies to her grandmother (strange, I thought pies were usually brought from grandmothers, am I not confusing anything?). So, a basket is another name for a wicker basket made of bast or twigs.
Let's also add the name of the object, which in one way or another can mean a basket - an urn. Let's not mention urns containing ashes. Something positive... The ballot box! I can hardly imagine such a thing made from birch bark or wicker... A trash can for papers! Fine. I imagine an openwork basket in the office next to the table. Yes, that's it! - Recycle Bin on the MS Windows desktop.
Additional names for this amazing item tell us about the wide scope of use of baskets in human life, including modern life.
I have no goal to list all the possible uses of the basket, but according to their purpose, they can be classified quite simply:
- Aesthetic (decorative) purpose - as decoration. For example, a basket of flowers will be a great addition to an interesting composition. Baskets for fruits and sweets when setting the table carry comfort and romance. Beautiful baskets can be made from almost any material, but not every material is able to retain its aesthetic properties for a long time.
- Utilitarian purpose. Storing and transporting everything that can be placed in a basket are direct functions of baskets. Starting from berries and mushrooms, which do not wrinkle in the basket and are perfectly transported in a wide variety of volumes, to garbage and dirty laundry.
The purpose is very conditionally divided, because you always need to strive for aesthetics, even with utilitarian necessity - dirty laundry in a wicker basket made of willow will be hidden until the moment of washing behind a beautiful openwork pattern of golden rods and will not lie stale.
Don't forget about another purpose of the basket - as a gift. In this case, it can be both decorative and utilitarian. If a basket is made “with soul” with your own hands, it can become an incredibly valuable gift.
Types of baskets
In fact, we have already begun to consider the types of baskets and divided them according to their purpose, even giving some examples. Additionally, baskets can be classified according to material and manufacturing method.
Baskets and objects that serve as baskets were made by artisans all over the world from any available material. This is the main requirement. Of course, without a single birch tree in the nearest visible forest, there is no need to think about weaving a birch bark basket.
But, if you think about it, you can find a lot of available material for making not only baskets, but also other household items.
Based on the material, I dare to highlight the following most popular types of baskets:
- Plastic baskets. Undoubtedly, plastic is the most popular material today, as it has low cost, high strength and universal availability. Humanity consumes an unlimited number of tons of drinking and other products in plastic containers. This material can be safely used.
- Baskets made of wicker. A wide range of materials called vine (willow, grape and others) allows us to produce practical and aesthetic baskets of various sizes and shapes.
- Birch bark baskets. A less popular type, because this material cannot be obtained everywhere and not at any time of the year, but in terms of aesthetics and utilitarianism, these baskets can seriously compete with more popular types.
- Baskets made of wood tape (shingles, splinters, wood chips). Very interesting and difficult to make products. They have rather rough and simple shapes due to the limitations of the material, but are very durable and captivating with their simplicity (fresh, undarkened large-checked items look especially great).
- Baskets made of other materials. This includes, for example, paper baskets and even metal ones. Not every material in this case can be processed manually, but I think it’s worth mentioning them.
Since I mentioned manual production, called craft, we can group baskets according to this criterion:
- Hand made. The most famous hand-made method is basket weaving. But baskets can also be sewn, glued and even knitted!
- Industrial production.
You can divide baskets by shape, but this is a completely empty exercise, since the variety of shapes is very large. Here you can select baskets with one handle and two, square and round, with lids and open tops, for picnics and for tame glamorous dogs... and a bunch of other types and subspecies...
I propose to consider several typical representatives of the basket family to complete the topic of classification of baskets.
Basket for collecting mushrooms and berries
The characteristic features of this basket are its small size, comfortable handle, as well as durable walls and bottom. The main thing in such baskets is not to tire the owner during a long walk, not to crush the gifts of the forest and to bring them home safe and sound.
A basket made of birch bark or plastic bottles is ideal for berries here, because the walls of such products are smooth and even.
A basket made of wicker or even shingles can be perfect for mushrooms. True, with the latter you will have to put up with additional weight, and such baskets quickly get wet, which makes them even heavier.
But the openwork sides of the wicker basket have many natural holes, which will allow cockroaches to jump out and stay at home, refusing the temptation to get to know you better.
I decided to write a few separate paragraphs for this species. Here we can talk about a beautiful openwork basket made of wicker, in which a housewife will put her purse and umbrella, and then bring home fruits and something for tea in it. Absolutely a win-win option.
On the other hand, a farm goods supermarket can provide its customers with wonderful baskets to carry their purchases to the checkout. Stylistically, this move looked very organic in some cases.
Imagine large baskets, round or in the form of boxes, in which you can put temporarily worn clothes before washing or children's toys.
Outlandish baskets made, again, of wicker or even twine, always with a lid and of a large size with an interesting pattern, will look great even in modern designs.
A pair of handles on the sides would be a good idea for these baskets so you can safely move all the contents to a new place.
An equally popular and interesting type of basket. A characteristic feature is a double lid, most often attached in the middle and opening from the sides.
On the river bank, laying out a blanket and placing fresh vegetables and other dishes on it from a basket, you can get ready for a long, wonderful vacation under the warm summer sun, which the author of the article dreams of while sitting in the office in mid-February, when it’s minus twenty-eight outside...
Delicate velvety birch bark is even more appropriate here than vine, because a basket made of wicker will require containing products in individual bags: ants and flies can easily penetrate the basket through the openwork mesh.
Basket for carrying firewood (wood log or fireplace basket)
I’ll end this review with another interesting basket. The most amazing thing about it is its shape, which is structurally a bottom with a handle, that is, it has no walls.
In such a basket you can bring several logs for the fireplace or stove so as not to stain or injure your hands when carrying them. The most important thing about it, of course, is the strength and comfort of the handle.
Again, baskets made of willow twigs look beautiful, ideal for weaving such shapes. However, the rod can also be extremely fragile. Then shingle baskets will be more than appropriate here.
Comparison of techniques and materials used for basket weaving
I analyzed the properties of wicker products, including baskets, made from different materials, and this allowed me to formulate some conclusions that may be useful to novice craftsmen in mastering weaving.
- Willow basket weaving has the greatest range of basket shapes and sizes, as well as their utilitarian uses. Here you can find baskets for mushrooms, for children's toys, dirty laundry, tools, confectionery, shopping baskets, flower baskets and many others.
- Baskets woven from birch bark are most suitable for bulk products, since the material allows you to create vessels that can even hold water! The openwork surface of wicker baskets is less suitable for collecting and transporting berries, unlike birch bark.
- Baskets made from wood tape are most suitable for carrying rough objects (for example, logs of firewood) that can damage delicate and velvety birch bark or fragile openwork vines. We used such baskets to carry wet rugs washed on the river: the water would drain while you carried things home.
- Baskets made from wood tape are most prone to loss of aesthetic appearance and are complex not only in the manufacturing technique, but also in the preparation of the material.
- Plastic baskets are available due to the prevalence of the material in almost any locality. At the same time, plastic is least susceptible to destruction under the influence of various factors (moisture, temperature changes). Plastic also allows you to weave baskets of the most daring colors, while other materials are limited to their natural colors, and with painting they lose their charm and natural charm.
Well, traditionally, I appeal to my respected readers with a request to comment on the material and, if possible, send me photographs of their products, which I could publish here.
That's all for me, good luck and creative inspiration to everyone!
- Forward
Insufficient permissions to comment
A basket woven from wicker is very functional and useful in the household. It can be used when going to the forest to pick mushrooms or berries, or put vegetables and fruits in it. You can also go to the store with such an elegant basket. A basket made of wicker can also be used to store various items, such as umbrellas. Ultimately, making baskets from wicker can become an additional source of income. Preparing vines for weaving baskets has its own secrets and subtleties, which you will learn about in this section of the article. In general, weaving large and small baskets from ordinary wicker seems like an impossible task for beginners, but you just have to try and you will succeed.
Many housewives who want to get such a basket for their household are wondering how to weave baskets from wicker with their own hands and whether it is even possible. Answer: of course it is possible! All you need is a little patience and materials that can be found very easily.
We will prepare material for further work on the product
Most often, needlewomen use willow or blackberry branches to weave such baskets. Willow branches suitable for weaving have orange, red or purple bark and bend easily to form a 90° angle without breaking. Winter is recognized by all craftswomen as the best time to collect branches. The basket is woven using dried twigs. Before you start weaving a basket, we advise you to soak the twigs, this will make them more flexible and it will be easier to weave baskets. Please note that if there is bark left on your branches, you will have to soak them for one week so that the bark can be easily removed.
Weaving a wicker basket for beginners with a description of the process
To create such an amazing basket you will need:
- Cooked willow or blackberry twigs
- Sharp knife
- Secateurs
The first step is weaving the bottom. We take 8 twigs, make a hole of about 3 cm in the center of four of them. We insert the other four twigs into this cut. The result was a cross. Now take two twigs, insert them into the same cut and begin to braid four twigs from the base. After weaving two rows around four twigs, start braiding each twig individually. Try to ensure that the rods lie evenly, you should get an even wheel. Now that you have woven two more rows, you need to add new rods. We take a twig with a pointed end and insert it into the last two rows between the other twigs. Now we bend it, and carefully cut off the old, finished rod. We recommend replacing the next rod further around the circle.
After you have braided two more rows around the twigs, start weaving, moving the twig around the warp twig inside and out. Continue weaving until you reach the desired size for the bottom of the basket. Next, to make everything work out, add one more to the 16 base rods. Place it in the last row between the rods.
Now we begin to weave the walls of the basket. To weave the walls we will need willow branches of medium thickness. It is necessary to again take the pointed thick end of the branches and place a new branch along each base rod. It is important that the concave side of the branch faces down. We cut off the ends of the old rods and continue to weave with new ones. We bend the new twig under two adjacent twigs to the left and down, then turn it up. Continue bending the remaining rods in this manner. Now, you will notice that the last two twigs cannot be bent, you just need to twist them around the first ones. Next, we need to tie the rods together so that they do not fall out. Then we take three new rods, bend the leftmost one to the right in front of the other rods located nearby, hook it behind the third rod and go back. We repeat the same with the other two rods. Now add one rod around the circumference of each post. A post is a branch that goes from the bottom upward. Place the rod behind the post rod and pass it to the left in front of the post, now behind the third one and bring it forward. We repeat the same with the next rod.
We continue to add twigs until the entire basket is woven. Next, start weaving from any rod only to the right, in the same way - forward, back, forward. On the right, take another rod and do the same, braiding the basket around the circumference. Returning to the very beginning, we take the rod that is located below and begin to weave again. We continue to weave in this way until the twigs are braided to the very ends. Now we carefully cut off the excess ends of the twigs and close the row with three twigs. At the end, we bend the rods of the racks and weave them down.
The last step to creating a chic basket is weaving the handle. To do this, you need to take a thick shoot of willow or blackberry, bend it and imagine how long you need the handle. Cut off the excess end. Just be careful in your measurements; if you cut off more than necessary, the basket will not turn out the way you want. Next, we sharpen the ends of the branches and insert them from opposite sides between the rods. Now we push five long shoots next to the handle. They are needed to wrap our handle with them. Pass the excess ends of the shoots under the edges of the basket. We perform this operation on both sides. After this, we take a thin willow rod and begin to wrap it around the ends of the braid. We hide the ends after several turns and trim the twigs.
That's all you need to know to create an exclusive basket with your own hands. By following these simple steps, you will not only get a useful container for storing various products, but also a wonderful decoration for your home!
Thematic video selection on the topic of the article
In this section you will be presented with video tutorials on weaving baskets from wicker. They will very clearly explain to you some subtleties that were not mentioned in the article.
