Christmas Round Basket with French Randing
Materials:
8” x 12” D handle
½” flat, flat 11 stakes 24” long
½” flat, flat weavers and 1 rim row (approximately 29”)
“2 Rd 6 long pieces dyed red
Long pieces of natural for twining the bottom
¼” FO 24 pieces cut 12” (12 dyed red, 12 dyed green)
¼” FO Natural long piece for optional handle wrap
3/8” flat, flat Rim row filler approximately 29”
5/8” flat, oval Approximately 60” for inside and out rims
Seagrass Approximately 30”
11/64” flat, oval Long piece for lashing rim.
Mark center of wrong side of all stakes and soak. Take 5 stakes and mark again on each side of the center at 2”. Mark the center of the base of the “D” handle. With the “D” handle horizontal, place the first stake over the center mark on the handle clockwise at 12 o’clock, the next at 10 and the third at 2. Place the fourth stake at 11 and the fifth stake at 1. Center marks for all stakes should be together and the 2” marks should form a neat circle around the center mark.
Crease a long piece of #2 round reed and start twining at the 10 o’clock spoke. The first row of twining should be aligned at the 2” marks. Weave approximately ten rows until you can easily fit another spoke in between the 10th and 11th spoke. Starting with this spoke, you will now add a spoke between each of your original spokes. Continue to twine until you have a round base complete on the handle from side to side.
Upset the spokes. Weave 3 rows of start and stop weaving packing each row as you go.
Weave 3 rows of three-rod wale in dyed #2 round reed.
Dampen colored stakes and squeeze out all excess moisture. Starting at the handle, place a 12” piece of the ¼” flat oval under the handle, over the next stake, under stake, over stake, under stake, over stake, and tuck in behind at a diagonal. Rotate colors and follow this U1, O1, U1, O1, U1, O1, U1 pattern until there is a colored piece originating between each stake. Colors should be alternated. After rows are packed, the weaving should provide a solid band of color.
Weave another three rows of three-rod wale in dyed #2. Weave another 2 rows of stop and start weaving. Weave rim row using ½” flat, flat. Pack rows. Cut and tuck spokes. Use 5/8’ flat oval to form inside and outside rims. Use seagrass as filler between rims>
Optional: Handle Wrap
Select long piece of ¼” flat oval. Secure end between rim and handle. Wrap handle about half way with natural. Secure piece of red, green, and red under the wrap. Alternate wrap over and under colored reed to form pattern. Pattern used here is a three, two, one, two rows of wrap then reversed one, two, three.
Tidewater Basketry Guild—Round Basket
Open to the Public Class