The art of weaving willow 6

This is my sixth and final video on willow weaving.
By OLGA BRADSHAW
Published 18th Oct 2013, 16:37 BST

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Baskets from the Class of 2013 at Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme.Baskets from the Class of 2013 at Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme.
Baskets from the Class of 2013 at Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme.

Unlike the other women on the course, I kept my basket as flat as possible with the aim of recreating an old-fashioned strainer or large, flat serving plate with handles that can be used to serve bread, fruit or potatoes.

Baskets would have been lined with woven reed matting to help protect baskets and prolong their life. Thankfully, I live on a farm and I am surrounded by reeds, so I have access to a near endless supply of material to make matting, so I am expecting big things from my basket!.

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In the attached video you can see that the other women have created basic baskets with uprights that have been fully ‘upset’ to create a basket with graded sides.

Baskets from the Class of 2013 at Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme.Baskets from the Class of 2013 at Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme.
Baskets from the Class of 2013 at Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme.

The course tutor was Teresa O’Hare, of Orchard Acre Farm in Irvinestown and it was being supported by the Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme.

Inspired to take this form of craft further, I would be delighted to hear from anyone who remembers willow craft as part of their home life or if they have a relative who is skilled in old-fashioned hand crafting or can remember a relative handcrafting things for a living.

To contact me telephone the Londonderry Sentinel on 028 7134 1175 or email me at [email protected].