2019-06-01_Mollie_Makes

MATERIALS
Q12m(13yds)of
preferredcorematerial
(weuseddriedgrass)
Q 17 1m(39^3 / 8 ") lengthsof
redplasticstring
Q 17 1m(39^3 / 8 ") lengthsof
turquoiseplasticstring
QSix1m(39^3 / 8 ") lengthsof
blackplasticstring
QThreelarge-eyed
needles
QRulerortapemeasure

Modernmakesviatraditional

techniques?That’swhatmakes

ourheartssing.Basketweaving

is oneofthoseartisanskillsthat

getspasseddownfrommakerto

maker,sowe’rethrilledtolearnthe

realdealandhelpkeepit alive.

Thisbright,shallowbasketis

coiled,Senegalese-style,withdried

grassesandplasticstringforthose

popsofcolour.Andyes,nowwe’ve

seenthiswecan’tsettleforless

thana basketgallerywalleither.

Overhandknot

Thissimpleknotis thestarting

pointwhencoilinggrassandis

usedtoattachthestitching

materialtothebundleofgrass,

knownasthecorematerial.To

makeanoverhandknot,wrapthe

stringaroundthebundleandhold

bothendsononesideofthe

bundle– youwanttheleftendto

beabout5cm(2")long.Crossthe

leftendovertherightend,creating

a loop,thenpassit under(through

theloop)andpulltightly.

Coiledbasket

(^01) Gather10-12strandsofyour
preferreddriedmaterialforthe
coreofthebasket,makinga
bundle1.5cm(^5 / 8 ") in diameter,and
oneredplasticstringforthe
stitchingmaterial.Begina round
basewith 11 rowsasfollows:hold
thebundleonethumb’swidthfrom
theendandsecuretightlywith
plasticstringin anoverhandknot.
Threada needlewithplasticstring.
Startcoilingthebundleintoa flat
circlearoundtheknot,stitching
throughthecentreofthecoilto
keepthegrassin place.Continue
tocoila circle,stitchingtheplastic
stringthroughthecorematerialin
thepreviousrow.Thestitchesare
about0.5cm(") apart.Oncethe
firstcoupleofrowsarecompleted,
it becomeseasierasyouhavemore
materialtogrip.
(^02) OnRow12,beginalternating 25
redstitcheswithtwoturquoise
stitches.Whenthebundleofcore
materialthinsout,joinin more
grassessimplybyaddingmore
strandsintothebundletokeepthe
diameterofthebundleconsistent.
Whenyou’releftwithonlya short
lengthofplasticstring,threadthe
endintothepreviousrow.Joinin a
newlengthofstringbythreadingit
a coupleofwrapsback– youmay
havetoholdit in placewhileyou
makethenextcoupleofstitchesto
ensureit stayssecure.
(^03) From Row 13 to Row 16,
alternate red and turquoise stitches
to create the flower pattern, while
shaping the basket by placing rows
directly on top of one another. To
shape the basket or bowl and to
build up the sides, place the coils
slightly above the previous circle.
Make sure you’re holding the core
material in the correct place and
using each stitch to hold it there.
HOW TO MAKE A COILED BASKET