These are the simplest of things to make, use up scrap materials, can be made with anything from willow to dockens, and are very useful indeed.
The little one that I show being made here takes about ten minutes, and will keep a hot pot off the tent floor, insulate a pot or mug from the chill of the ground, can be used as a plate or a steamer or draining tray.
Larger ones make dry comfortable seats or kneeling pads, boot racks, dish drainers, a dry bit under a hammock to put your stocking feet down onto, will stop a hot stove sinking through snow or provide a dry bed for a fire or a prop for one of those disposable bbq's.
As I said, useful
Basically make a hoop. Cross two sticks through it and then fill in alternatively weaving pieces above the cross stick and then below. Trim the ends so they stick out a bit, thin the tips of the cross piece and thread back through. Finished, secure and takes little time.
Offcuts of willow from basketry making, one long rod.
The rod made into a hoop.
The cross piece in place.
Next two weavers are threaded through. Notice they're threaded over, the cross is under.
More weavers threaded into place. They could be cut to length when they're threaded.
Finished threading weavers in until the gaps are filled.
Tided off the ends of the weavers, leaving the original cross rod until last.
Trimmed the cross rod to 7 or 8 cms.
Cross rod thinned down and threaded back on itself. Not necessary but it stabilises things.
Pared ends pushed parallel with the rod, nice and tidy and secure. Finished tray
The biggest one I've made was about 70cms and it lasted for about three years
I generally use willow, it's food safe, but I have used dockens in season, privet and split hazel (very firm ), marram grass and cat tail rushes for the weavers. It's one of those useful what do you have sort of makes.
The knife is a Bruseletto Troll and is another firm favourite
cheers,
Toddy
The little one that I show being made here takes about ten minutes, and will keep a hot pot off the tent floor, insulate a pot or mug from the chill of the ground, can be used as a plate or a steamer or draining tray.
Larger ones make dry comfortable seats or kneeling pads, boot racks, dish drainers, a dry bit under a hammock to put your stocking feet down onto, will stop a hot stove sinking through snow or provide a dry bed for a fire or a prop for one of those disposable bbq's.
As I said, useful
Basically make a hoop. Cross two sticks through it and then fill in alternatively weaving pieces above the cross stick and then below. Trim the ends so they stick out a bit, thin the tips of the cross piece and thread back through. Finished, secure and takes little time.
Offcuts of willow from basketry making, one long rod.
The rod made into a hoop.
The cross piece in place.
Next two weavers are threaded through. Notice they're threaded over, the cross is under.
More weavers threaded into place. They could be cut to length when they're threaded.
Finished threading weavers in until the gaps are filled.
Tided off the ends of the weavers, leaving the original cross rod until last.
Trimmed the cross rod to 7 or 8 cms.
Cross rod thinned down and threaded back on itself. Not necessary but it stabilises things.
Pared ends pushed parallel with the rod, nice and tidy and secure. Finished tray
The biggest one I've made was about 70cms and it lasted for about three years
I generally use willow, it's food safe, but I have used dockens in season, privet and split hazel (very firm ), marram grass and cat tail rushes for the weavers. It's one of those useful what do you have sort of makes.
The knife is a Bruseletto Troll and is another firm favourite
cheers,
Toddy
