Construction calculators

Wicker basket made from willow branches. What you need to know about weaving willow baskets: materials, technologies, manufacturing process. Photo lesson on weaving baskets from wicker for beginners

Weaving from wicker and willow is a very exciting activity. In Belarus and other CIS countries, wicker weaving is very popular. Creating crafts from wicker with your own hands is not only exciting, but also useful. Knot weaving allows you to develop attentiveness and perseverance, and also improves fine motor skills of the hands. You can find many master classes for beginners, which describe step by step how to properly create a wicker basket from branches.

Weaving with wicker is a very exciting activity.

There are patterns for weaving baskets and vases. Those who like this activity can take special courses. There they teach you not only the basics of this craft, but also introduce you to all the subtleties and nuances of the weaving process.

So, the work consists of the following successive stages:

To begin, the rods need to be prepared. You should take an armful of willow twigs and place them on a flat surface. Preparing the material involves pre-drying it, but if a person uses purchased rods, then you can do without this.
The artificial basket should be made from pre-soaked rods. This should be done so that they become flexible. They need to be kept in water for at least 2 days. During this time they will become flexible enough and will not break.
Then you need to cut the twigs to their base. They are cut depending on the desired size of the basket. If you want to weave a small basket, then it is enough to use 30-centimeter twigs. Larger products are woven from 60-centimeter twigs.
Next, take 4 twigs for the base of the product. You need to make a slot in them. It is done in the middle, the length is approximately 5 cm.
After this, you can begin collecting the base. To do this, other rods that do not have slots are placed crosswise on 4 rods with slots. They should lie perpendicular.
Now the process of actually weaving the basket begins. Workpiece on the surface. 2 twigs are inserted into it. They will weave around other twigs, thereby creating the shape of the product.
To strengthen the base, weaving should be in pairs. All rods should lie in the same direction and not twist. Each willow twig should fit snugly against the other twigs.
After the master has managed to weave 2 rows, the rays of the base must be divided.
Working rods should be added as needed.
The weaving of the walls occurs using the method of setting up side posts.
When the walls are ready, you can begin making the handle of the basket. It can be made from 5 thin twigs.

Gallery: wicker weaving (25 photos)

How to make a basket from a wicker with your own hands (video)

Weaving from willow twigs: differences and secrets

In such a craft one cannot do without some features:

The twigs must be soaked in water for a couple of days, as this will make them flexible. Some even have to boil them.
If willow twigs lose their flexibility during work, they should be sprayed with water.
In such work it is important to use twigs of different thicknesses. For example, the base of the product must be made from thick rods.
Before using willow twigs soaked in water, you need to make sure that they are completely dry.
To make the product beautiful, it is important to ensure that all the twigs fit very tightly to each other. It is also important to place them to one side to prevent the rods from twisting.

If willow twigs lose their flexibility during operation, they should be sprayed with water

What tools might you need for the job?

The technique of wicker weaving is not always easy, so the master may need tools such as:

Awl.
Secateurs.
Mallet or nippers.
Pliers.
Templates.

Tip: the preparatory stage makes the work much easier. If you pre-dry the vine and soak it in water, it will be much easier to work with, and you won’t have to use some tools.

Harvesting vines

When to harvest?

The most favorable time for harvesting is autumn. The vines begin to be harvested when the leaves begin to fall.

The most favorable time for harvesting is autumn

How to make a cut?

The twigs are cut with hand tools, for example, pruners. An oblique cut is made. When making a cut, it is important to ensure that there is no contamination on the twig, because it can be damaged during cleaning. The cut should be smooth and there should be no wood flakes on it.

How to store them?

Thin rods are stored with thin rods, and thick rods with thick ones.

Do not store it in a damp place, as it will turn black and become moldy.

How to prepare a vine for work?

You need to use only clean vines for weaving, so if there is soil or dirt on it, you need to start cleaning it. Next, the twigs are cleared of bark. If you treat the vine correctly, it will become white and shiny. Only after this can you start drying.

Grapevine weaving: furniture

Vine furniture looks very presentable and expensive. It’s always nice to have such products in the house, so why not make something from this material yourself?

Master class on making a chair from a grapevine:

At the first stage, the material for work must be selected. A beautiful chair can only be made from high-quality material.
Next, the selected material must be processed. The vine is cleaned and the bark is removed. Then it is dried and soaked in water for several days. You should not neglect this preparatory stage, since without it it will not be easy to work with the rods.
The structure is being assembled. You need to decide in advance on the size of the chair. The vine is pruned according to the desired parameters of the product. The chair frame is made first.
After this, the legs should be attached to the frame. To ensure that the legs are firmly attached, in addition to the vine, you can use a rope.
Weaving occurs according to a simple pattern: horizontal twigs are superimposed on vertical ones, then braids are knitted and knots are woven.

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 the simple weaving method, 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 types of applied art that were widespread at that time began to decline. 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 does not require much effort, but when working on the knee with workpieces for large baskets, significant effort and hand support will be required so that the workpiece does not crack or break. A 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 braided, there are no such high demands on its appearance as on a handle ring. 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, 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 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 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 of different profiles (round, oval, flat) and colors are used for weaving. 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 the entire length by parallel weaving on each side. In this case, the ends of each twig (shingles or roots) are placed 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. Winter is recognized by all craftswomen as the best time to collect 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 excess 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 this, we take a thin willow rod 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.

Even in ancient times, wickerwork (chairs, boxes, various baskets) made of willow vine were found at excavations, which means that this craft can be considered to have originated from those times. In later centuries, the craft developed and weaving from this same vine began to be much more diverse; more precisely, they began to weave all sorts of pieces of furniture, products needed in everyday life, things for interior decoration, and various weaving patterns were invented. Those who want to learn how to weave wicker with their own hands should read a step-by-step master class on how to quickly weave beautiful baskets from ordinary willow, which is just right for beginners.

In Russia, with the development of railway construction, wicker weaving also developed, mainly woven containers (boxes) for packaging transported goods. In the 20th century, entire factories were built with large areas of willow, making baskets, furniture and much more. At all times, people wanted to bring something natural into the house, which is why wicker products made from natural materials were so valued; it is believed that objects woven from natural wicker have their own favorable energy, which contributes to the creation of a cozy and harmonious home.

Before you start weaving, of course, you need to prepare the tools and material for weaving; preparing the material takes quite a lot of time. It is necessary to cut a large number of twigs from the vine, but not all of them, but only young shoots that can bend and not crack when bent, and remove the bark from them. If it is impossible to remove the bark, you will have to do another operation. The willow vine should be soaked, steamed or boiled in water. After all this, it is necessary to dry the material. But many now just want to do weaving, so they buy already prepared willow twigs, although it is more useful for beginners to learn how to prepare the twigs themselves, this will help in their work. It is also useful for beginners to weave more and more in order to feel the flexibility of the vine, and then during weaving there will be fewer rods breaking.

Willow basket weaving technology for beginners

This cute basket can be used both in the garden and in the forest, having only mastered the technology of weaving willow baskets. It is convenient to put the harvest of vegetables, fruits, berries or mushrooms in an oval-shaped basket; moreover, the air in it is well ventilated, which is useful for food, including on a picnic.

Before the work itself, be sure to soak a certain amount of vine, with a reserve, in water or wrap it in a wet rag so that the rods become flexible and do not crack during bending.

The weaving of the bottom must be made in the shape of an oval; for this you will need to form a cross shape from pieces of rods 4-7 mm thick: 1 rod with a length of at least 6 cm, 5 pcs. length at least 13 cm, 3 pcs. – 25 cm. Although, if you want to weave a larger basket, the rods can be taken longer and the quantity will therefore need to be increased.

First, you need to take the longest sticks and split them in the middle with a knife and an awl; this operation must be done carefully so as not to split the stick completely. Smaller sticks are inserted into the crack, distributed at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other and fastened for a tight fit with a thin rod, which braids the combined sticks crosswise. The shortest stick is also inserted from either side into the crack.

Now we begin to braid the cross with thin rods in the simplest way, threading the rod either from above the beam of the cross, or from below. You can also secure the braiding rod in a crack. During weaving, it is necessary to move apart the rods that are close to each other so that the distance between the axes of the base is made more or less equal.

The extension of the rod occurs as follows; it must be hidden between the already woven rows.

You need to weave enough rows so that the bottom is 15 cm by 25 cm in size. If the ends of the beams of the cross are still visible, they must be cut off.

Now, to create the future ribs of the basket, you need to insert rods similar in thickness (about 5 mm) to the cross rods, sharpening the ends for ease of insertion between the rows. The distance between the ribs must be made the same.

It is also necessary to weave several rows in order to weave the bottom of the basket to the required size (30 by 40 cm).

The edge of the bottom can be braided with a “rope” pattern, i.e. you need to take two twigs and braid them, putting one on top of the ray, the other under the ray, moving on to the next ray, changing places, the twig that was under the ray braids on top of the ray, and the one that was above braids on the bottom. You can take two twigs on each side, the braid will look more expressive.

How to weave the walls of a basket after the bottom? The ribs must be bent into a vertical position, fastening everything together. For spacers, you can use a metal circle larger than the bottom of the basket itself. You can secure the spacer with wire to the ribs so that it does not move or fall.

The weaving continues on the walls of the basket, in the same way as the bottom was braided, reaching the spacer with weaving, it can be removed, because the shape will already be formed and the ribs will not fall apart. The ends of the twigs can be brought out to the front side, at the end of the work they will be cut off, or for greater accuracy they can be hidden inside, from the back.

The basket is woven to approximately a height of 25 cm, and then the upper edge is braided: a rib is taken and the second and third rib are bent, the end is cut off and inserted behind the third rib inside between the rows of the wall to a depth of 6-7 cm.

A couple of ribs should not be cut off, but left for the handle of the basket.

The weaving of the handle must be reinforced with a thicker rod, which must first be twisted, and the ends of the rod must be sharpened so that it can be easily inserted into the rows of the wall.

And now the rod is braided with 5-6 thin rods, also inserted into the gap between the rows of the wall; the same action must be done on the other side of the handle with another 5-6 thin rods. The ends of the rods, brought out, must be wrapped around the handle, so to speak, braided and secured.

Surely every home has at least a small basket woven from wicker. Our grandmothers still go to the market with these to this day, and most parishioners do not carry Easter eggs in them. The cost of such a basket is quite high and quite justified: the vine must be found correctly, and then woven by hand. The technique of weaving with wicker is not such a difficult matter, but it may well become your hobby.

Where can I get vines for weaving?

Your task is to find the right tree, the right period of the year, and properly prepare the collected twigs. The most suitable period for collection is from July to August, when the sap begins to slow down its flow through the branches. In principle, all types of willow behave equally well, with the exception of brittle.

Typically, the place where you can get vines for weaving is located in a suburban area near water. If you live in an industrial city or you definitely won’t find willow nearby, hazel, roots of trees and even some shrubs, and also bast with chopped bamboo will do just fine.

The wicker weaving technique involves processing the collected material as the first stage. If you collect it at the right time, peeling the bark and splitting it will be very easy. They also use the revival method, where they place the twigs with their wide ends in water for a couple of weeks and wait for green sprouts to appear. If necessary, the twigs are steamed and made as pliable as possible.

Types of wicker weaving

There are several options for weaving from willow vines:

solid(the twig completely fills the base with a continuous layer and there are no gaps or openwork details, used for household baskets);
openwork(light airy weaving with a large number of empty spaces, this option is suitable for decorative vases or bread bins, the most flexible material is needed here);
twisted(the branches are immediately woven and twisted together; it is usually used to decorate furniture);
figured(when the product has a somewhat free fantasy shape).

Weaving a box from a wicker

If we talk about wicker weaving for beginners, then it is best to get acquainted with the box:

Let's start from the bottom. The outermost bases will be made of pine slats, all installed in a plank to ensure a smooth edge.

We begin weaving with rope. Fold the thin rod in half and braid the base step by step.

Each time we add a long rod and make double posts.

For those interested in wicker weaving for beginners, it is important to remember one rule. As you work, you will have to build up the twig, here we work according to the following scheme: you should always build up butt to butt or top to top, and be sure to make an additional turn on the outer posts every three rows.

We do extensions only on the outside of the weave.

We will finish the bottom again by weaving a rope into two twigs.

We got the bottom and prepared the rods for the racks.

The base for the box is a rigid frame made of pine sticks with a round cross-section. The better you assemble the frame on nails, the smoother and neater the final appearance of the box will be.
We will decorate each corner element and at the same time strengthen it with so-called gloss tape.
We drive in a nail to start work and gradually begin to wrap around each of the three bases, tucking the end.
The first part of the work is completed.
And now on the wet bottom we use an awl to make holes for the twigs and insert them.

Next, we lift each rod onto the top crossbar and twist it around it.

In Rus', basket weaving was quite common. Almost every peasant could weave a good basket if necessary. Well, basket makers weaved baskets for every taste: small and large, round and rectangular, oval and conical, with simple and complex weaving, with and without lids. It was difficult to manage without baskets on the farm. They wore clothes to the river; taken on the road, setting off on a long journey; they harvested crops; We went mushroom hunting with them.

In modern life, baskets also find various uses, and it’s hard to imagine a real mushroom picker without them. And willow is best suited for mushrooms. The willow branches from which the basket is woven contain a large amount of tannins. Thanks to them, the mushrooms do not spoil for a long time, and the air passing through the rods as if through a filter is cleaned of harmful microorganisms. In addition, willow twigs absorb excess moisture and, thanks to their thermal insulation properties, protect mushrooms from overheating.

First of all, you need to prepare good quality raw materials. More than 170 species of willows grow wild in our country. The rods of many of them, after appropriate processing, are quite suitable for weaving. Willow wood is famous for its flexibility and high ductility. Only some types of willows, for example brittle willow, are not suitable for weaving due to their fragility. Of the wild willows, the most commonly harvested for weaving are young shoots of willow, willow, and willow.

Three-stamen willow, popularly called belotal, whitevine or simply vine, is a small shrub that grows along the banks of rivers, lakes and other bodies of water in almost all regions of our country. The leaves of the belotal are oblong, long and shiny. The bark is greenish-yellow on the outside and lemon yellow on the inside.

Basket willow, also called broom and white willow, is a shrub or small tree. One-year-old young branches are yellow or olive-brown. The leaves are long, lanceolate, smooth above, and silky-tomentose, whitish below. The eye vein running along the lip is yellow and sometimes slightly brownish.

Along roads, on the banks of rivers and ponds, or not far from housing, you can often find a large spreading tree, sometimes reaching thirty meters in height. This is white willow, or willow. The branches of the willow are green-yellow, the bark is covered with silky hairs resembling a whitish coating. You've probably seen more than once how in a matter of seconds, as soon as a gusty wind blows, the willow crown turns from green to silver-white.

In the old days, peasants harvested willow using the so-called topless method. They cut off the top of a willow tree growing near the house, which was used for firewood and various crafts. By autumn, the remaining part of the trunk was densely overgrown with young shoots suitable for weaving. Most of the twigs were cut off, and by the next autumn new ones grew in their place. They do approximately the same thing in modern basket production, breeding cultivated species of willow - twig-shaped, purple and others - in special areas.

For weaving, rods aged from one to two years are usually used. For small, elegant weaving, annual shoots are taken, which in some species of willows are thin and long, like a cord; for weaving large items, as well as for making basket frames - two years. Willow rods intended for weaving must be long, thin, flexible, viscous, straight-layered and split well along the fibers. It is necessary to harvest only those rods whose surface, after removing the bark from them, looks clean and glossy.

For baskets, try to prepare rods at least 60-70 cm long with a diameter at the butt (at the cut point) of 5-10 mm. Typically, willow shoots on one bush have approximately the same physical and mechanical properties. Therefore, before cutting twigs from a bush, first check the quality of one of them. If a willow branch has a core that is too large when cut, and even with a brownish-reddish tint, do not take twigs from such a bush - they, as a rule, are brittle. For our purposes, we need branches that have a small, barely visible core when cut. And, of course, you need to choose fairly straight shoots, without growths and knots.

It is possible to harvest vines for weaving baskets almost all year round.

But most often basket makers prepare it in the spring or autumn. The bark of spring twigs can be easily removed without pre-treatment. But if the twigs are cut at another time of the year, then in order to remove the bark, they need to be soaked or evaporated. In summer and autumn, the rods are soaked in running water from a river or stream; It is also possible in a barrel or trough, but in this case it is necessary to change the water every day. The harvested vine is tied into a bundle, a load - stones - is placed inside and immersed in water. To prevent the rods from being carried away by the current, they are tied with a rope to a peg driven into the bank. The rods are soaked for one to two weeks.

Instead of soaking, you can steam them. Then the processing time will be reduced from one or two weeks to one or two hours. Place the rods in a tank or trough, fill with water and put on fire. Bring the water to a boil and simmer for one to two hours. Then take out the rods, wait until they cool down, and remove the bark with a pincer (Fig. 5).

There are many designs of pinch pins, but the simplest of them is a metal slingshot driven into a massive bench, table or log. The squeezer can be made from two metal rods. Hammer pointed rods of the same length into a wooden base at the same time. Wrap them from below with thick wire, laying turn to turn, to a height of 5-7 cm. Spread the free upper ends - you get a slingshot.

To remove the bark from a twig, insert it with the thickened butt part into the pinch and, pressing the twig to the pinch with your left hand, pull it towards you with your right. If the bark is removed only from one side, pass the rod through the pinch again. Sort the cleaned rods by thickness. If you were unable to prepare thin rods, then split the thicker ones into strips - halves and quarters. Remember that wood that is too damp does not split well, so dry it at room temperature.

Etch or paint some of the rods intended for artistic weaving. A grayish-brown color is obtained if the rods are dipped in a solution of iron sulfate for a while; brown color - in a solution of potassium permanganate or in a decoction of alder bark.

If you want bright colors, use regular aniline fabric dyes or colored inks. For a bucket of hot water you need about four packets of aniline dyes. Add a few tablespoons of acetic acid to the paint solution. To ensure that the rods are well dyed, soak them in the dye for three hours. Then rinse with clean water and dry at room temperature. Immediately before weaving, soak the rods in cold water.

To weave a basket yourself, you need, first of all, to master the various types of weaving and methods of sealing the side.

The most common is simple weaving. In some cases, to speed up the process, it is performed in two or three rows at once (Fig. 1). Although simple weaving is quite quick and easy, its strength is not high.

A variation of simple weaving is weaving in inclined rows (Fig. 2). By alternating rows of multi-colored rods, you can achieve great decorative expressiveness.

Rope weaving (Fig. 3) is used in cases where special strength is desired in some areas of the basket. For example, in flower beds, intersecting or parallel rods are intertwined with a “rope”.

Checkerboard weaving (Fig. 4) is used mainly for decorative purposes. Rods of two contrasting colors are laid alternately as in ordinary simple weaving, only not through one riser rod, but through two.

The beauty and strength of the basket largely depend on the correct sealing of the side.

The easiest and fastest way is through one riser rod. The first rod is wound behind the second, the second behind the third, and so on until the last (Fig. 6).

The side is also sealed with two rods, only through two riser rods (Fig. 7)

or with one rod - through two riser rods (Fig. 8). Using these methods, the ends of the rods must be brought inside the basket, and the remaining ones must be carefully trimmed with a knife.

Sealing the side with a “pigtail” takes more time, but it gives the basket special beauty and expressiveness. To braid the braid, the edge is first closed in a simple way through one rod. In this case, all the rods are tied together with threads of three and intertwined as is done when weaving a regular braid. When braiding a braid around the side, the used rods are trimmed, closing their ends under the braid, successively including more and more new groups of rods into the weaving (Fig. 9).