Products made from wicker can last for decades, filling the house with comfort. They are appropriate not only in a village hut, but also in a city apartment. Are you ready to learn a new hobby and learn how to create masterpieces?
Wicker weaving – ancient art, the oldest baskets date back to 6500 BC. IN cultural heritage In almost every corner of the planet, wickerwork is mentioned. Baskets, trays, boxes and baskets are very diverse and beautiful, literally attracting the eye. Wicker items were used so widely that they were even reflected in canvases famous artists. Today, ancient techniques of wicker weaving have returned and joined the list of fashionable hobbies.
Cradle
From household utensils to designer items
The use of baskets and wicker furniture has greatly expanded the scope; these are no longer just country accessories, but full-fledged residents of modern city apartments. Now these things are used not only as household or utilitarian items, but also as bright design accents. It should be noted that harvesting vines for weaving does not cause any harm environment, but on the contrary, rejuvenates willow thickets.
They practice this craft with equal success in rural areas, and in big cities. An undeniable advantage is that there is no need to buy raw materials for work; it is quite possible to prepare it yourself. There are plenty of willow thickets in almost all regions of our country. For those who love long walks in nature, harvesting will only bring pleasure.
How to prepare vines for weaving
However, it is possible to buy raw materials for this hobby, although this industry is just gaining momentum. You can weave not only from willow, but also from walnut twigs, wood and other fairly flexible species of trees and shrubs. You should choose long and not very thick shoots; they should not branch.
Both unbarked (not cleared of bark) material and peeled material are used. Unbarked twigs are mainly used to make household products: fences, baskets for vegetables or mushrooms. More elegant, small things are made from debarked material. These can be various kinds of vases, crackers, laundry boxes and a huge variety of other products.
You should not prepare a rod for weaving in the summer. At this time it is often brittle due to rapid growth. To avoid disappointment, harvesting is carried out in the spring or autumn. In winter, it is also quite possible to do this, but the work will be difficult due to snowdrifts and frost. The twigs, cut in the spring, are cleared of bark without preliminary preparation, the autumn twig is first boiled, then cleaned. The processing is simple, but will take time.
The weaving process quickly captivates and draws in, the natural material in your hands takes away negativity and bad mood. And the finished thing, made with your own hands, will delight you with both grace and convenience.
Where to start weaving
In order to try to make your first basket, you need to be patient. Natural material does not yield as quickly as, before laying it in even rows, a considerable number of blanks will be broken. You need few tools, they are very easy to get, and they are inexpensive. To get started you will need:
- awl;
- pruner;
- stationery knife;
- side cutters;
- The spray bottle will help to moisten the rod during operation so that it does not break.
Classic products begin to be woven from the bottom, then the walls are woven, folds and handles are made. When taking your first steps in this craft, it is advisable to start with a simple round basket.
Before making it, you need to familiarize yourself with just a few weaving techniques:
- weaving a round bottom;
- ropes;
- layered weaving for walls;
- design of product bending.
The weaving should be periodically pressed down and compacted so that it does not end up being too loose. It is necessary to ensure that the rods lie evenly and tightly, without overlapping each other.
Having mastered the basic techniques of weaving from wicker, the craftswoman can move on to openwork or other more complex things. You can decorate baskets with various braids, weave in other materials, such as straw, birch bark or wooden beads.
The flight of creative thought in this matter is guaranteed! The finished product is coated with varnish, preferably water-based. It is environmentally friendly and odorless, and the treated item can then be successfully used in the kitchen or nursery.
Modern uses and examples of wickerwork
Wicker weaving is a very flexible skill; its use is limited only by the imagination of the master. Fashionable landscape designers specially order sculptures made of vines to decorate the site. Wattle fences, which can be made independently, are in increasing demand. The elegant and cozy rocking chairs deserve special attention.
Possession of this accessory speaks about the status of the owner and his achievements. You can design and make designer jewelry and gifts for holidays, such as New Year.
Cradles made of wicker occupy a special place. Natural, unprocessed material is perfect for children's rooms. Babies fall asleep really well and calmly in a wicker cradle.
Various shelving baskets will suit almost any interior; they are very convenient for storing small items that you have to keep at hand all the time.
Every housewife will find many opportunities to use such products in her home. For a modern lady with an imagination who knows how to weave from wicker, the issue of gifts to loved ones immediately becomes easier. It is unlikely that there will be such a thick-skinned person who will not appreciate a woven little thing especially for him, the author’s and so warm.
Baskets woven from willow twigs are very durable. They are all created through self made, and you need to have a certain skill and theoretical knowledge in order to weave a truly high-quality basket with your own hands. In this master class we will show you how to do it.
To make a basket from willow twigs you will need:
- willow shoots;
- pruner
Step 1. Willow shoots for making a basket must be collected of high quality. It's not difficult to check. It is enough to bend the rod at an angle of 90 degrees. If it springs back and returns to its previous position, you can safely put it aside as material for the basket.
Step 2. The willow twigs must be dried. To do this, they should be placed in a dry place and left for several weeks. Before work, they will need to be slightly moistened again. If the twigs are without bark, a couple of hours will be enough, but twigs with bark should be soaked for about 4 days.
Step 3. To create a small basket you will need to cut 8 large and equal length rods. IN in this case The length of the blanks was 30 cm.
Step 4. Make a 5 cm long cut in the center of the four prepared rods.
Step 5. Insert the remaining four rods into the slots made.
Step 6. Take two thin and long willow rods and insert them into the slots.
Step 7. Braid the warp rods with the first two circles. To do this, entangle thin branches around, drawing them parallel to each other from below and above and crossing them at the end of the stripes.
Step 8. Divide the warp rods in the form of a fan and begin to braid each of them in a manner already known to you.
Step 9. Gradually add new rods by inserting them into the previous ones.
Step 10. Weave the bottom of the basket in this way to the desired diameter. In this case it was 20 cm.
Step 11. To form the walls of the basket you will also need thick willow twigs. Insert them one at a time into the existing weaves around the large bottom rods. Cut off the ends of the latter with pruning shears.
Step 12. Bend the rods of the side walls of the basket up and secure them by tying them with ribbon to make it easier to knit the basket further.
Step 13. Insert thinner rods into the base of the basket and, using the technique already familiar to you, begin to braid the basket with them, forming a product of the height you need.
Step 14. To form the edge of the basket, bend the thick rods, weaving them with thinner ones into a braid.
Step 15. Cut off the excess twigs with pruning shears.
Step 16. If you wish, you can also make a handle for the basket. To do this, insert a flexible and dense rod into the holes in the weaving of the side walls of the basket, having previously sharpened its ends.
Step 17. Take several thinner rods, secure them in the side walls of the basket and braid them around the handle.
Step 18. Braid the handle again with the same number of rods, passing them into the resulting gaps.
Step 19. Bend the thin rods of the handle upward and braid them on each side with a thin rod, wrapping it in tight turns and passing the end in the opposite direction.
Wicker weaving is very ancient look handicrafts. This kind of weaving is quite fascinating. And although some are now replacing wicker with ordinary newspaper tubes, wicker weaving remains quite popular among modern needlewomen. In this article you will find a master class on weaving from ordinary wicker, which is perfect for beginners.
Before you start weaving things from wicker, learn a little about harvesting wicker. Harvesting vines for weaving requires special knowledge. Usually the vine is harvested in winter; it is necessary that the vine is made from mature wood. Next, you need to process the vine: peel it from the bark; to make this process easier, you need to immerse the vine in hot water, hot water, not cold, bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. To choose the right vine, look at the color of its bark; if it is red or orange, you can test it for strength: bend it to form a right angle; if the vine has passed these tests, you can safely take it for yourself.
We weave products from wicker with a description of the work for beginners
A wide variety of baskets and vases are created from vines. There is also do-it-yourself weaving of wicker furniture. But to weave furniture, you need great desire and experience in this matter. For beginners, it’s better to get by with a regular basket, which can also be very useful in everyday life.
To weave with wicker you will need:
- Hot water container
- Sharp knife
- Willow twig
First you need to weave the bottom, to do this decide what shape it will be. In our case, the bottom will be round. So, let's begin!
We take five sticks and make holes in the middle of them into which we insert the other five sticks. This is how we got the cross. We insert the braiding rods into the same holes and begin to braid the center with a rope of two rods. We weave two rows like this. Next, we move the two rods apart, leave the central one in place, and braid the two again. And again we weave two rows like this. Now we braid two rows of one twig.
Having finished spreading the risers of the cross, we begin to braid them with layer-by-layer weaving, as shown in the photo.
We insert under each riser the tip of a rod selected for layer-by-layer weaving, and continue weaving until we reach the desired size of the bottom.
In order to weave the walls of the basket, you need to lift the rods and begin to braid them. Raised rods are called risers.
There are many weaving techniques. The most common is with a rope. This is what we will weave our basket with. We will do this with a rope of two rods, i.e. two rods. The previous rod presses the next one on top and, bending around the base rod with inside, goes outside. Then the same is repeated with the second rod and so on. Weave like this, gradually expanding your basket. Be sure to imagine how tall your product will be and, having reached half, insert into the weaving the ends of the rods bent in half, which will serve as the handles of your basket. Such handles most often consist of three or four twigs.
Next, continue weaving the walls of the basket. When you reach the desired height, braid the side of the basket and its handles, this will give the basket completeness and prevent it from breaking quickly. Weaving this edge also has its secrets. To properly weave an edge, you need to take any riser and insert it behind the next two with an exit to the outside. Next, take the next riser and do the same. And so on, with everyone else. We carefully cut off the excess twigs with a sharp knife. And that’s it, your wicker basket is ready!
Please note that it is important that the rods lie as close to each other as possible. To do this, many craftsmen tap them with a mallet while weaving.
And this is a basket created by layer-by-layer weaving. This weaving is also very popular among needlewomen. For things with layered weaving, we will need the same number of twigs as risers. This weaving is done simultaneously with all the rods: each rod bends around the next riser from the outside, then the next riser bends around from the inside and leads out. We repeat the same thing in turn with each rod involved in weaving. Weave this way until you reach the desired height. In the same way, gradually expanding if it is a basket.
Thematic videos on the topic of the article
Weaving from vines is shown in the videos below. You will find many secrets that will be very useful to you in your work.
From a vine that will be of interest to beginners in the field of this art. You will receive answers to the following questions:
- How to collect and process rods for weaving, vine harvesting.
- Where to start learning to weave from wicker.
- What tools does a beginning braider need?
Wicker weave- an art known since ancient times. Since ancient times, our ancestors have woven a wide variety of baskets, furniture, fences and even buildings from this material. Despite the development of technological progress, which has brought plastic dishes, basins and other utensils necessary in everyday life into our lives, wicker things continue to be in great demand. Moreover, tired of everything artificial, people began to value more natural things, made from natural materials, which is what the vine is. Products woven from wicker retain the energy of the sun that nurtured them and the warmth of the master’s hands. They fit perfectly into the home, bringing comfort and peace to the home. That's why more and more more people prefer wicker furniture and interior items woven from willow branches.
How to collect and process vines, harvesting vines
Willow grows on almost all continents. There are many types and forms of willow. Almost all of them are suitable for weaving. You just need to properly assemble and process the rods. They need to be harvested between November and February. During this cold period, sap flow in the tree stops. A clear sign of this is the absence of leaves on the branches. Both thin and thick one-year-old shoots are cut using a well-sharpened knife or pruning shears. The twigs should be long and not branched. The cut should be made at an angle, leaving 3-4 buds intact so that new branches can grow from them next year. This type of pruning is good for the tree if done correctly.
More experienced wicker weavers do not collect twigs with their own hands, but buy them, preferring to spend more time directly creative process wickerwork. Other craftsmen, if possible, grow vines on their own plots, which is even better. It is better for beginning braiders to assemble the rods themselves in order to get up to speed and gain knowledge and experience in vine harvesting.
Willow weavers use both peeled and unpeeled willow twigs. Fences and other items intended for long-term outdoor use are woven from uncleaned twigs. Over time, cleaned rods acquire a warm yellow-orange color. Things made from such rods look more presentable and elegant. Sometimes wide rods are split into 3 or 4 parts with special splitters, obtaining so-called “tires”. The tires are later made into a thin strip by cutting off the core. Such tapes are used by experienced craftsmen when weaving furniture and other products.
Of course, there will be tires for beginners 
difficult to do. They will do this later, having gained some experience. Anyone can peel the twigs. In order for the twigs to be easily cleaned, they must first be thoroughly boiled for 1-2 hours. It is better to use a container in which the rods can easily fit along their entire length. Twisted rods in a small pan will retain its shape after cooking, which will introduce some inconvenience into the weaving process. After the rods are boiled, they need to be cleaned. Some craftsmen use a special tool for this - pincher.
A novice braider can 
make do with your own hands. You just need to peel the rods, starting from the thick end, gradually peeling off the peel towards the thin end of the rod. If it is not possible to clean the rods immediately after they are cooked, you can leave them in water for a day. If you remove the rods from the water, the peel will dry out and they will have to be boiled again. After cleaning the rods, they need to be dried in the sun. Dried twigs are sorted by length and width and tied into bundles. This will greatly facilitate the process of selecting rods during weaving.
Where to start
After the material for work has been collected and laid out on the shelves, you can proceed directly to weaving. For those who are encountering this type of skill for the first time, you need to start with the simplest -. It is the bottom that is the basis of many wickerwork. It is this that will often appear in the braider’s future works.
Immediately before weaving, the rods selected for the bottom should be soaked for 15-30 minutes in hot water. This will give the rods flexibility. You need to be prepared for the fact that not everything will work out at first. For many beginners, the rods often break and crack. This is fine. In time there will be experience gained, and your hands will learn to feel the rod. It is necessary to emphasize that the better the rods are soaked, the less they will crack. During the weaving process, you also need to wet the rods and the product from time to time so that they do not lose flexibility.
After weaving the bottom has been mastered, you can move on to using the same bottom. During basket weaving, basic weaving techniques and techniques will be mastered: ropes, bends, handles, locks, etc. Each new job will be better than the previous one. This is the path to the pinnacle of mastery.
What tools may be needed for weaving with wicker?
Here is a set of tools that every beginning wicker weaver will need:
- scissors and pruning shears for cutting twigs;
- container for boiling rods;
- pliers, clothespins, tweezers, awl, knife, blades, rags - will be needed when weaving;
- pencil and ruler;
- jigsaw, drill, drills, plywood - some products may contain wooden parts that will need to be prepared using these tools;
- stain, varnish and brushes for painting finished products.
But the most important tool is the braider’s hands and his perseverance. Modern wicker weavers make a wide variety of household items. Among them you can find not only simple baskets and trays, but also elegant jewelry boxes, glamorous handbags for ladies, openwork hats, chests and even huge statues. Fortunately, the artist’s imagination has no limits, as the photographs of the works below speak for themselves. ( click on photo to enlarge)
Wicker weave It takes a lot of time, but the result is worth the effort. As a mother of a small child, I know how precious every minute of free time is. I think you can devote more time to weaving or any other hobby of yours by purchasing Meries premium Japanese diapers for your child at Mercy.ru. While your baby is sleeping soundly, you will have an extra minute.
I wish you creative success and may your wildest fantasies come true in the process of weaving into the most exclusive items!
Willow baskets are ideal for collecting and storing mushrooms and berries, fruits and vegetables, and other things that are found on the farm. In addition to being a wonderful addition to the interior, willow baskets can be used as an additional source of income. If you would like to have such a basket in your home, but have never done wicker weaving before, read this master class on weaving willow baskets for beginners.
Terminology
First, we need to know some words that are used in weaving. First, the rods that radiate out from the center of the bottom of the basket are called spokes. Next, when you bend these rods upward to begin weaving the walls, they are called uprights. Actually, only these two terms should be known in order to understand what is being said in our master class.
Collection and harvesting of willow
Willow twigs can be found in rural areas, but if it is not possible to visit a village or village, you can order willow twigs through special online stores. If you nevertheless decide to collect willow branches yourself, then you need to know a few secrets so as not to make a mistake. Firstly, the willow branch must bend 90 0 without breaking. Second, the best willow branches often have red or orange bark.
After we have collected the rods, we need to dry them thoroughly. If this is not done, the basket will very quickly lose its shape. Before starting weaving, thoroughly soak the willow branches; this promotes greater flexibility, which is undoubtedly a huge advantage when weaving baskets and other things from willow branches.
Weaving tools
To create baskets from willow branches we will need:
- Secateurs
- Ready willow branches
As you can see, there are very few materials, and besides, they can be found in almost any home.
Progress
Our master class will use the classic technology of weaving willow baskets. Almost all masters weave using this technology, sometimes adding their own elements that are not very different from the data.
First we will learn how to weave the bottom of a basket. For this we need eight rods, in four of which we make holes. We insert the other four twigs into these holes.
Now we need to select the two thinnest willow twigs to start weaving the bottom. We insert their ends into the slots so that one rod is on top of the four rods of the cross, and the second is on the bottom.
Next, we begin to braid four knitting needles with two thin rods. We weave so that they change places, i.e. the twig that was initially on top, after braiding the second four knitting needles with it, will be on the bottom. And the one that was below will therefore be on top. We continue to weave two rows like this.
Now we braid one knitting needle at a time with the same thin rods, bending them evenly so that it looks like a wheel. We continue to weave like this.
If you notice that your thin twigs are running low, they will need to be extended. In order to extend the twig, you need to take another, equally thin one, sharpen the end and insert it between the twigs of the last two rows. Then carefully cut the old rod and continue weaving. We advise you not to extend two rods at once; it is better to extend the first one first, and after the row of weaving, the second.
After weaving a few more rows, we move on to simple way weaving, i.e. you simply go around the outside and inside of the knitting needle with a twig. But in order to start weaving like this, we need to add another knitting needle. There is nothing complicated about this, just place it between the twigs of the last two rows using an awl or a thick nail. Continue weaving in this way until you get the desired bottom size.
If the bottom suddenly becomes concave, do not be alarmed, this is even good, as it will give the basket stability. To get a concave bottom, simply press on the knitting needles while weaving.
Now we begin to weave the walls of the basket. We take 17 willow shoots and insert them into the weave along each knitting needle. Please note that it is best to insert it so that the concave side of the branch faces down.
Carefully cut off the ends of the old twigs and take a new stand. We bend it to the left, then down under two adjacent twigs. Then we turn it upward. We do the same with subsequent rods.
Just twist the last two rods around the first posts and tie the posts on top to make it easier to weave and the rods don’t fall out.
Now we take three more rods and place them along three adjacent posts.
We bend the leftmost rod to the right in front of two posts and behind one third, then we return forward again. We do the same with the other two twigs. We weave two rows like this, now our racks are firmly fixed and will not fall apart if we untie them.
Next we weave the walls of the basket. To begin with, you need to add one thin twig to each rack. We place the rod behind the rack, then pass it forward, pass it behind the third rack and bring it forward again. Now you need to add the next rod and do the same steps. Add more twigs until you have covered the entire basket. Please note that at this stage you need to weave to the left.
To weave the sides of the basket, take any rod and continue weaving as before. Then we take the next rod on the right and repeat. After the first round, you will be faced with the question of which rod to start weaving with. The answer is this: start weaving with the rod that is at the bottom.
We continue to weave in this way until our twigs run out. Now we carefully cut them off and take three new rods. We continue to weave the basket as before, if necessary, increasing the height of your basket in the same way.
In order to braid the side of the basket, take one of the rods of the racks, bend it down and to the right. Then we bring it in by two rods of the rack, we take it out again by two rods, then we bring it in by one rack and we take it out again. Now with the stand on the right we repeat these steps.
Finally, push the ends of the last pair of posts in and out of the edge and carefully trim off the excess rods.
Video master classes
Basket weaving is quite a fascinating activity; we suggest watching several video lessons to reinforce the theory.
The most interesting articles:
How to weave a basket
In the recent past, the ability to weave baskets taught in every family. They wove shoes, baskets, bodies for sleighs, carts, and individual pieces of furniture from wicker. But along with the old way of life, many of the then common species began to decline. applied arts. Gradually, wicker weaving almost disappeared from our everyday life. And then it turned out that the basket for collecting mushrooms and berries cannot be replaced with any bag or bucket. In a wicker basket, the contents are well ventilated, and potatoes, for example, are easily freed from sand - it spills out through the holes. Wicker boxes and baskets are convenient and practical.
Today, due to interest in antiquity, as well as an increase in free time and the desire to make things with your own hands “for home and family,” weaving, like other types of applied art, is experiencing its rebirth.
Which basket to start learning weaving with?
In our opinion, you need to start learning weaving with a simple basket, a durable and beautiful design, which is called cat(photo above). Making such baskets is not difficult. They are distinguished by their capacity, strength, stability (which is especially important when picking berries, mushrooms, potatoes), and are easy to carry (on the arm bent at the elbow). A skillfully made koshik looks beautiful, filled with the gifts of nature, fits well into the interior of a modern apartment, making it more comfortable and homely. In the kitchen and in pantries, onions, garlic, cranberries, potatoes, etc. are stored in baskets.
Amateur weaving does not require a special tool or workshop. All you need is a knife, a piece of wire and pliers.
What are baskets made from?
Branches and twigs are used as material for weaving baskets. First, blanks for the rings are selected. These are branches or shoots of willow, buckthorn, bird cherry, oak, hazel, etc., without damage, knots or other defects. One ring will serve as the handle of the basket, and the other as the base. After inspecting the workpiece, you need to work it on your knee, slightly bending it and securing it with your hands. A loose ring is a compressed spring, and if one of the ends pops out, it can hit hard.
If the workpiece bends well and does not form any breaks, then a ring can be made from it. To do this, at a distance of 8-20 mm from the end of the branch (depending on the diameter of the thickened part), a smooth cut is made from the outside. The same is done on the thin end of the workpiece, but from the inside. This is necessary so that the thickness of the ring around the entire perimeter is approximately the same. After this, the ring blank is overlapped. First, tie the ends with twine, and then, having made cuts on both sides, carefully tighten them with wire.
Bending a small ring special effort does not require it, but when working on the knee on workpieces for large baskets, significant effort and hand support will be required so that the workpiece does not crack or break. The skill is not developed immediately, and therefore, if you fail, you should not despair.
Having made the outer ring, proceed to the inner one. Since it is entwined, then to it appearance do not have such high demands as for a ring-handle. Having made both rings, put them aside and start working on the ribs.
The living lower branches of 10-20-year-old Christmas trees serve as durable material for the ribs of the basket. Having removed such a branch from small twigs and needles, it is worked on the knee, cut to the required length and cleared of bark. The same is done when making ribs from other types of trees or shrubs. The length of the main ribs should be more than half of the inner ring, and the additional ribs should be slightly shorter. The rib should bend evenly along its entire length. To do this, its thick end is cut off, just like the blanks for the ring.
Materials for weaving baskets
The materials for weaving basket baskets are willow twigs, walnut shingles, wire, PVC tubes, etc. The most common and easily accessible are willow twigs. Many willows grow along rivers, in meadows and in low places. However, not all rods are suitable for weaving. Annual shoots 60-80 cm long are used, and the thickness is selected depending on the size of the basket. Twigs prepared in spring and summer can be put into use immediately, while those cut in winter are first warmed up.
The workpiece is cleared of bark, knitted in bunches and stored in a ventilated barn or attic. In winter they are steamed. This rod bends well and is very convenient to work with. If there is a lack of twigs, as well as to make the baskets lighter, the shoots are split in half. Potato baskets are usually woven from unpeeled twigs. Willow wood is used for rings and ribs, and thinner rods are used for weaving.
Sometimes hazel is used to make baskets and boxes. For this, hazel sticks 1.5-2 m long are harvested at the age of 4-6 years. Their diameter at the butt should be from 15 to 30 mm, and the sticks themselves should be straight, without knots or damage. The hazel shoot is cut off with a knife or cut down with a hatchet at the very base, so that the butt part does not receive cracks.
Typically, material is prepared for several baskets at once. For beginners, we recommend cutting off a few extra blanks, since not every one will turn out into a ring or make shingles the first time.
To make a small basket (for 3-4 liters of berries), it takes 2 hazel blanks for rings and 4-5 for shingles and ribs. Hazel has no waste, since after removing the shingles, the core is used for ribs.
The shingles are obtained as follows. The hazel is first slightly bent at the knee along its entire length, and then an incision is made with a depth of 1-2 annual layers per ¼ of the length of the stick’s circumference. From the cut, as a result of bending, the shingles peel off.
Willow basket weaving for beginners, with pictures and videos
The hazel is taken under the arm and the shingles are carefully peeled off along the entire length. As you gain skill, this operation is performed more and more confidently. The main thing is to “feel the layer.” In the same way, shingles are torn off from the opposite side and from the sides.
The hazel shingles are completely removed from the entire workpiece. After peeling it with a knife, it is immediately used for weaving, since when it dries it becomes brittle. Making hazel shingles requires experience. Therefore, it is better to start weaving your first cat from willow twigs. In addition to willow rod and hazel shingles, the roots of pine, spruce and other trees are also used for weaving. Usually roots 0 to 10 mm are used. They are carefully removed from the ground and, without tearing them off, begin to be lifted in one direction and then in the other. Thus, sometimes it is possible to obtain a root 3-4 m long. It is split in half; peeled from the bark and used for weaving. Weaving from roots is quick, the products are light and elegant.
Nowadays, wire is sometimes used for rings and ribs, and artificial materials are used for weaving. different profiles(round, oval, flat) and colors. These materials, unlike natural ones, are recommended to be used during the initial acquaintance with the design and weaving of baskets - for educational purposes. This braid is easy to unravel, and the material can be reused many times. Baskets woven using plastic materials look elegant, but they have significant drawback: It’s much more pleasant to pick and take a handful of berries from a bag made from natural materials.
Four steps to weaving a basket
- Braiding the cross.
We insert one ring at a right angle. Then we take the prepared rod (shingles, root) and, holding one end between the rings, we braid the cross, as shown in the photo. We tuck the end in and tighten it. We also braid the second cross.
- Next, insert the first three ribs on each side with sharp ends. We braid them first on one side and then on the other. We check whether both halves of the cat are symmetrical. To do this, tie a cord around the middle of the rib. If the contours of the future basket are successful, weaving continues. When the distance between the ribs increases, additional sections are inserted into the spaces between them.
- At the end of the weaving, when all the ribs are inserted, it may happen that the inner ring of the weaving comes to an end, but there is still a gap in the middle. In this case, it is necessary to align the basket along its entire length by parallel weaving on each side. In this case, the ends of each twig (shingles or roots) are laid under the rib and cut off.
- When braiding the last rows, threading a twig between the ribs is reminiscent of sewing with a needle: it is pulled with force so that there is uniform density and symmetrical alternation. Finishing of a woven product involves removing burrs, cutting off the long ends of the rods, and cleaning with a file or sandpaper.
Try to weave the simplest cat basket. This is not just useful, but also a very exciting activity.
Weaving wicker baskets for beginner needlewomen
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 baskets from wicker for beginners seems like an impossible task, 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.
Let's prepare the material
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. The best time Winter is recognized by all craftswomen for collecting 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.
Basket making work
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 up from the bottom. 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 extra ends of the twigs and close the row with three twigs.
Wicker weaving for beginners: simple instructions
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 that we take a thin willow twig 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
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.