Of potential and baskets

TurboGirl

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2011
2,326
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Leicestershire
www.king4wd.co.uk
Did you say you have a great wheel, Toddy? Whatever you're using, it must have some jumbo flyer to take that gauge... unless you're spinning it by hand, it kinda looks like it from the picture winding round your palm and its so neat... MOST excellent! I'm having designs on the day lilies and pond plants now, poor HWMBO thought skin prep smelt bad, wait till he cops a noseful of retting.... ;)
 

Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
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Sorry, perhaps I should have been clearer.

The rope is hand made, no spindle or wheel. It's twisted and laid just using my fingers.

The flax I spun on a drop spindle.

I don't have a great wheel but I do have three spinning wheels, and one is a Scottish version of the Saxony flax wheel and it's provenance is accurate to 1746/7 :D and it still spins beautifully :D I have it's clock reel too :cool:

I still spin a lot just using a drop spindle however :) I can take that anywhere while the wheels are static.

I need to do a cordage tutorial sometime. There must be some on the forum surely ? The search engine is dire though. Does anyone mind of any threads that would give us a hint ?

cheers,
M
 

lannyman8

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 18, 2009
4,005
3
Dark side of the Moon
Mary thats awesome, your have a great skill there Mary, if only i could plat/twist/make cordage half that well.....

keep up the good work...;)

chris.
 

Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
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Thank you
Chris, it just needs practice. I once spent a month demonstrating this stuff every single day, now it just twists up for me :) It's astonishing the stuff that does make good cordage though :D

Redneck, do you mean the rope making or the basket from scratch ?

cheers,
M
 

Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
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You must have a fair few irises or do they have lots of leaves! :D

I haven't done any cordage work in a long time. It's a very therapeutic task, I think.

This stuff is from a clump about a foot in diameter. It's not the broad leaved flag iris, but the tall, small flowered, blue one.

cheers,
M
 
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Thank you.
Chris, it just needs practice. I once spent a month demonstrating this stuff every single day, now it just twists up for me :) It's astonishing the stuff that does make good cordage though :D

Redneck, do you mean the rope making or the basket from scratch ?

cheers,
M


The basket making Please, I'm fairly adept at cordage already but would love to try one of your baskets!
 

Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
39,133
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S. Lanarkshire
I'll twist up a short length tomorrow and pester HWMBLT to take some photos of how I start it off then. It's really simple this one :)

I like this kind because it's a, "pick it up and do a bit, put it down and get back to it later on", kind of basket :) and I am easily distracted and I get busy, but this one doesn't mind if I spend ten minutes or half an hour working at it and I don't need to keep it damp like willow or rushes.

cheers,
M
 

Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
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S. Lanarkshire
Courtesy of Son2....who's six feet tall and his Mum is only 5'2" so we've got a few odd angles

Take a small handful of the iris leaves.

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Sort out some strands so that the bundle is evenly balanced.

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Start to twist the strands and then allow to spin together into two ply cord. This loop is used to start the sewing thread without a knot.

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I've just made a short length just to show the start of the rope.

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Soft knotted at the end to keep the strands together and to stop them unravelling.

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Thread the needle with a doubled thread, leave the looped end as the longest bit. Pass the needle through the loop at the start of the rope.

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Before the thread pulls completely through pass the needle through the loop at the end of the thread too.

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Thread and rope joined neatly :)

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Coil a short length of rope, wrapped right round whatever central length you choose, and stitch through all three strands.

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Stitch into a parallel sided oval.

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Make a bit more rope, I didn't have enough, then

Bring the rope smoothly around the end and stitch through the nearest row and then into the rope you're joining onto the centre piece.

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Keep stitching, and there it is, the centre of the base for another basket :cool:

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cheers,
Toddy
 
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TurboGirl

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2011
2,326
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Leicestershire
www.king4wd.co.uk
Fabulous, Toddy, thanks sooo much! It looks a marvellously theraputic pastime, love the kinda organic way you just grow on the spun cord as needed :) Your tutes are super, lovey, really very informative and appreciated, please thank your cameraman too!
 

Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
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Thank you :) I'm just glad that it seems to be making sense. Like most of these sort of things, seeing someone make it right in front of you is worth a dozen explanations and videos, especially when you get to the hands on bit yourself.

I delight in watching folk actually make things, always something new to pick up from other craftsfolks :approve:

The cameramen are very patient, thankfully :) I'll say thanks again :D

atb,
M
 

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,886
2,138
Mercia
Toddy - I know its "beyond basic" - but I am rubbish at joining in new fibres - would love to see your way if you can ever find the time

Red
 

Toddy

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Jan 21, 2005
39,133
4,810
S. Lanarkshire
Finished sewing this last night and burned it off this morning :)

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Showing where I finished off the cordage at the right hand side of the handle. I thinned out, turned the ends into loops and spun and laid them. Then I simply sewed in through the loop at the end :)

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It was still a little rough looking, so I used a lighter and scorched off the wee ends sticking out.

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I've tried it on a belt through one handle, carried at my hip and it's very good indeed. Secure yet it hangs just right for filling with gathered stuff like haws, hips, berries and nuts :) Quietly pleased with it :cool:

Thanks for looking :)

cheers,
Toddy
 
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grey-array

Full Member
Feb 14, 2012
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Looks marvelous Toddy and thanks for the informative pictures ^^, You seem to be one hell off a source for wisdom on this forum.
Thanks for being that.
Yours sincerely Ruud
 

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