How to prepare willow for weaving

I come across so many beautiful baskets in stores that I forget these items are often handmade. With a little bit of practice and patience, it’s not so hard… as long as you start small. After all, they don’t joke about bird courses as ‘basket weaving’ courses for nothing! I recommend preparing your materials (find local materials, then dry and soak them), then weaving them into small shapes or flat mats.

How to harvest basket willow rods from coppiced willow stools and use them for weaving willow baskets. Includes a video-tutorial to help you succeed.

Step-by-step directions by Cathryn Peters on how to process cattail leaves after gathering them for chair seat and basket weaving projects.

Willow is such a versatile tree. There are thousands of willow varieties. Within them are basket making varieties specifically grown for the qualities we need such as pliability, size, colour and ease to grow and harvest. We are very lucky that these varieties have survived and are still available to us for use. My Favourite […]

How to start growing willow for basket making. A question I get asked a lot is how do I get started growing willow? How much area do I need to plant? What varieties would you recommend? Let’s dive into all of that here. But firstly I want to say I do not have all […]

Information and advice on willow preparation, willow types, suppliers, harvesting. How to soak willow and how to properly prepare willow prior to using.

Storage, preparation and use of willow for weaving - Willows Nursery

Selecting and Preparing Willow For Weaving Baskets or Willow Garden Planters or Willow Fences

How to strip and prepare nettles for cordage making - A Bushcraft how-to article