Making Basket Bases

Basket bases are the most essential part of basket making. Basket bases not only make the foundation for the basket structures but can be used as table mats, small ones as coasters for tea cups and can be hanged on a door with an artificial arrangement made on it.

• To make a basket base, cut twelve pieces of #3 reeds 16” long, moistened and straightened; find the center of six reeds, pierce and slip on the awl.

Extend the incision about half an inch long in the six punctured reeds. Point one end of each of the remaining six reeds and slip through the incision in the punctured reeds withdrawing the awl after slipping through three or four reeds which will make space for the remaining two reeds.

• Select a pliable #1 weaver, moisten well and double so as to form a loop nearly in the middle. Hold one end of the loop firmly in the left hand and twist or roll the other end to keep the reed from breaking.

Place the twisted loop over the set of six inserted stakes. Bring the front weaver to the right across the front of the six vertical stakes weaver to the right back of the vertical set of six stakes and upward crossing the front weaver in the same space.

The cross pieces or quarters are now revolved from right to left bringing the left hand. Moisten the done work and repeat over two stakes.

• Continue exactly the same method of weaving, separating each stake carefully. Care also should be taken that the stakes radiate at equal angles, the weaving be close and strokes lay parallel.

Continue in this method of weaving until the woven diameter of the mat is four and one-quarter inches. Moisten the work well and bring the two weavers to the front in each of two consecutive spaces.

Introduce another weaver to the front in each of two consecutive spaces. Introduce another weaver in the next space and weave four rows of triple twist by bringing the left-hand weaver to the right in front of two stakes, back of one stake and out in the next space.

The second weaver now becomes the left-hand weaver and is treated exactly the same as the former weavers.

• After weaving four rows of triple twist, bring all of the weavers to the front of the mat and cut them off, leaving ends about three inches long and fasten as follows.

Take the left-hand end, bring to the right over two stakes and tuck under one row of weaving, leaving end at back of mat. Repeat this process with the remaining two ends. After all the weaving is complete, again moisten it and lay it straight on a flat surface.

If the kinks are still there, put it under some weight. You can paint it, glue glitter on it or even embellish it with adding silk ribbons or metallic ribbons. So wasn’t it simple yet awesome. Loved it? I know you did!!!

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