Question for the basket makers.

[crosslandkelly]

I've just cleared a minor infestation of Black fly from a small Willow in my garden, so I also took the opportunity to thin it out.
This has left me with a load a load Willow rods ranging from 6mm to 18mm and about 1800mm to 2400 long.



Do you think there is enough here to weave something. How long should I dry it for. should I split it?
I'd like to do something with it, rather than throw it away.
Thanks.

 

[Toddy]

It's very useable
However, because it's green, when it dries it will shrink. Now, that's fine so long as you're aware of it when you make something.

What kinds of things do you like though ?
It would make easy wreaths, bird feeders, dreamcatchers and tension trays, just as it is, or it will make good hedgerow type basket (John Fenna has posts up showing them) too.
If you make a basket, mind the shrinking bit, that will slacken the joints, etc., but you can strip some of the bark off and use it to bind the handle joint for stability too.

It's fun to work with is willow

M

 

[crosslandkelly]

Thanks Toddy.

 

[Toddy]

There are other things you can do with willow though, from plant climber frames to building the structure to be covered with mud and fired, that makes a clay oven
Fishtraps, benders, coracles, hurdles, are all rather satisfying to create

M

 

[Robson Valley]

My brother made a huge fruit basket from willow wands such as you have.
Very nice. Elegant in the corner of his kitchen.
Then all the leaf buds decided to sprout! I had to hunt for the bananas in the bushes.

 

[bobnewboy]

If you want to weave with it, keep it wet or at the very least covered wth a damp sack. Once it dries it will shrink a bit but it also loses some of it's flexibility which wont be regained by soaking later. Split the wands/ rods one at a time as you weave them into something as they will dry quickly while you are working with them.

Cheers, Bob

 

[crosslandkelly]

Thank you all for your replies.
Toddy, I like the idea for a fishtrap, I think I can manage that.