http://www.archive.org/stream/howtomakebasket00blangoog/howtomakebasket00blangoog_djvu.txt
How to make Baskets
PREFACE
The twisting and weaving of Nature’s materials,
grasses, twigs, rushes and vines, into tisefal and
beautiful forms seems almost instinctive in man.
Perhaps it came to him as the nest-weaving instinct
comes to birds — ^for at first he used it as thev do,
in the building of his house. Later, shields and
boats were formed of wicker work, but how long ago
the first basket was made no one is wise enough
to tell us. To-day Indian tribes in South America
weave baskets from their native palms. South
African negroes use reeds and roots, while the
Chinese and Japanese are wonderful workmen in
this as in other arts and industries; but basketry
has come down to us more directly through the
American Indian. Generations of these weavers
have produced masterpieces, many of which are
preserved in our museums, and the young basket
maker need not go on long pilgrimages to study
the old masters of his craft. Here at last, as in
England, the value of manual training is being
realized, and basketry is taking an important place ;
VI PREFACE
following the kindergarten and enabling the child
to apply the principles he has learned there. He
still works from the centre out, and weaves as he
wove his paper mats, but permanent materials have
replaced the perishable ones, and what he makes
has an actual value.
Basketry also fills the need for a practical home
industry for children; so not only in school, club
and settlement, but on home piazzas in summer
young weavers are taking their first lessons.
Though they are unlearned in woodcraft, and have
not the magic of the Indian squaw in their finger-
tips, they can, and do, feel the fascination of
basketry in the use of rattan, rush and raffia. It
is hoped that this book may be a help in teaching
them “How to Make Baskets.”
CONTENTS
Preface . v
CHAPTER I
Materials, Tools, Preparation, Weaving 3
CHAPTER II
Raffia and Some of Its Uses . .11
CHAPTER III
Mats and Their Borders . . . .21
CHAPTER IV
The Simplest Baskets . . .27
CHAPTER V
Covers 33
CHAPTER VI
Handles 51
CHAPTER VII
Work Baskets 65
vii
VH^ CONTENTS
CHAPTER Vm **
Candy Baskets ...••• 83
CHAPTER IX
Scrap Baskets ...... loi
CHAPTER X
Birds* Nests 113
CHAPTER XI
Oval Baskets 127
CHAPTER XII
The Finishing Touch .... 149
CHAPTER XIII
How TO Cane Chairs . . . .159
CHAPTER XIV
Some Indian Stitches . . . .169
CHAPTER XV
What the Basket Means to the Indian . 181
[If you haven’t tried to make baskets, then you have missed one of the joys of this world.
It is very satisfying to go and pick tree branches, Honeysuckle the Grape vine trimmings or anything you can think of to use.
Even rag strips, can be used for the weavers or if small enough and the hook large enough crocheted into a basket.
So can used bread bags, hay binder twine, LOL, yes granny had to try everything.
One of my joys in this world.
There is no such thing as a ‘useless ‘ basket, for if you set an empty basket on the table, someone will put something in it within 24 hours, even if it is only the cat, moving her babies in or teaching them that it is a good place to play.
And unless you choose to use plastic, you will have a source of containers that are natural.
granny]
“Even rag strips, can be used for the weavers or if small enough and the hook large enough crocheted into a basket.”
This reminded me of a project I had decided to try when my kids were young. It wasn’t for a basket, but a rug. You always have socks that are missing a mate, or perhaps socks that are worn or too small. I decided to take all the socks and make a rug out of them. I cut each one in half from top to toe to make 2 pieces. After they were cut, I sewed the pieces together end to end to make long chains of sock pieces. Then my kids each took an end and I had them weave their chains over and under in a giant braid. They thought it was good fun. Later I coiled the braid and stitched it into the beginnings of a rag rug. We moved part way through the project and I held onto the bin of socks and braid for quite a few years. I never did get around to finishing it and eventually let it go rather than keep it taking up space and making me feel guilty for not finishing it. I still think it would be a good project to try again. However, if you use socks of a more uniform weight and material, you will get a more consistent fabric chain to work with.