Basket-Weaving Crafts. Virve Boesch

the water for too long.

      You can use a basin, tub, or large container to soak your weavers. You can cut your spokes to size before soaking them. In most cases, you will want to keep the weavers as long as possible. To be able to dip them one by one, you can separate all your weavers and wrap them over one another, locking them by wrapping with the end of the weaver. Fill your container and immerse the rattan in warm water (or hot water to reduce the soaking time). You can place a weight on the rattan so that it remains immersed. Take it out of the bath and wipe it off gently.

      The weavers must remain wet for the duration of the work. During weaving, spray them with water from time to time. Dry the wet weavers fully after the work is done so that they do not get moldy.

       Upkeep, varnish, and dyeing

      Remember that rattan should be kept in a dry place and away from direct light. Regularly dust your objects to maintain them. Use a damp cloth to clean them. You can also add a little lemon juice in the water to sanitize them.

       Approximate soaking time depends on the diameter of the rattan:

      •#2.5 (2mm) or less: 1 to 2 minutes

      •#2.5 to #4.5 (2 to 3mm): 5 minutes

      •#5.5 to #8 (4 to 6mm): 10 to 20 minutes

      •#8 (6mm) or more: 20 to 30 minutes

      You can varnish or paint the items you make to protect them and ensure that they last a long time. A clear varnish is recommended, especially if you are going to display the object in a humid place. Some varnishes are specially designed for rattan, but you can also use a natural wood varnish. If the object is intended to come into contact with food, use a suitable food-safe varnish or oil. If you decide to paint your objects, work with a thin coat. Spray painting gives the best results, but you can also use a brush.

       Traditional structure

      It is important to understand the vocabulary of basket making and the classical structure of a basket, even if not all the objects you create will contain all of these elements.

      A basket’s structure starts with a base, often raised off the ground by a foot. The base is made of sticks of a thicker rattan, which serve as the weaving template around which you weave with thinner weavers. The sticks are gradually separated to form spokes (in round baskets) or stakes (in square baskets). You can either bend the spokes upward to become the spokes of the walls of the basket (the vertical pieces upon which you create rows of weaving) or add new spokes to the base and bend those up. The first small section of the basket walls that is woven directly above the base in order to secure the wall spokes is called the upsett. The woven spokes and weavers form the body. The last component of a basket’s structure is the border (also called the rim) along the top. You can also add a handle, a lid, and other closing accessories.

       Different types of basket making

      These categories will give you ideas about the types of objects you can create, but remember that you can mix techniques to create unique objects!

       Objects made primarily with rattan

      •Stake and strand basket making: The spokes (or stakes) and the weavers start with a base and comprise a body that is entirely solid. Weaving is dense, and there is no empty space between rows.

      •Openwork basket making: This is like stake and strand basket making, but the structure includes empty spaces and areas of visible spokes.

      •Rib basket making: The shape of the basket is determined by rigid hoops and spokes, or “ribs,” attached together to create the framework around which weaving is done.

      •Other types of basket making: These include coil basket making, interlacing, mixed techniques, and so on.

       Objects made with a structure or base of a different material

      Projects can also use a preexisting base, structure, or framework to define the object’s shape. This option is perfect for beginners, as it allows you to focus on weaving. An example is a premade wooden base with drilled holes through which you pass your weaving materials in order to get started.