About Carol Antrim Expertise I can answer most questions about basketry techniques, and how to or where to find instructions/instructors. Also most questions about the materials used in basketry, either preparation and/or sources. I cannot answer questions regarding value or appraisal of baskets. Nor can I address questions about locating cheap wholesale baskets for gift basket businesses, or how to fill such baskets or conduct such businesses.
Experience I have been weaving baskets since 1986. Studied with Native American basket makers from several Woodland tribes as well as with teachers from coast to coast and Canada,Japan and Russia. Have taught basketry in Indiana, Ohio, New York, Montana, Michigan and Tennessee. Had acceptances in shows and won awards in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, including purchase awards to the permanent collection at Minnetrista Cultural Center. Twice had baskets at the Indiana Governor's residence in the Indiana Arts and Artist Program, and was in 'Innovation--Baskets and Beyond' an invitational at The Firehouse Gallery in Damariscotta, Maine in 1999. My work can be viewed at http://cantrimbaskets.com/
Organizations Member of the Virtual Basketmakers Guild http://home.sprynet.com/~cpantrim/
and the Indiana Basketmakers Association http://www.indianabasketmakers.com/
Question Hi, Carol. I am a brand new beginner to basketry, and I am having a great time. Easy to learn, but tough to master, and an endless variety of colors, patterns, and materials. I'm not going to get bored doing this!
My question is this: I have made a nice 7-inch round basket, but I used rather small stakes, and had to pile on a lot of them to get the shape correct. Now the bottom of the basket is too thick and it won't stand properly. How do I flatten out the bottom of the basket so the pile of stakes in the center comes up and allows the basket to sit properly?
Thanks
Amy C.
Answer Hi Amy,
Welcome to the world of addictive basketmaking...It's wonderful! I've been at it for many years and am still learning and trying to master some areas and chafing because there is not enough time to explore other areas of it.
I'm guessing what happened with your basket is that those spokes lying on the top of the heap just do not have enough length to let those under them expand upwards...if you have a ton of spokes you almost have to pop the bottom before you cut and tuck.
But there is an easy fix. Attach a footer to the basket. Footers used to be quite common when baskets were actually used everyday...they took the wear and tear and were easier and quicker to replace than a whole basket. Lots of ways to make footers. The simplest to explain is make a circle of heavy round reed, or usually I just I use a hoop, and lash it to the base of the basket. Go around first one way and then go a second time, but the other way, so the lashers cross each other. For a 7 inch basket I'd probably use a 5" hoop...actually I'd probably take the basket to the craft store and try it on various sized embroidery hoops until I found a size that looked good and that's what I'd go with.
There are also woven footers you can make, but I don't think I can explain them with out graphics. I've come across instructions for them when studying the older traditional baskets, those by Native Americans and the immigrants...you might find some in the very early instruction books.
A way to handle a *pile of spokes* on future baskets...do the spokes in layers. Take about 1/4 of the spokes and lay in the starburst pattern, weave until you can lay a new spoke between each and weave those in...when you are once more to the point you can add spokes, add the last group and weave for several rows until this last group is firmly caught. Then go back and cut the middles out of the last group only...I usually leave about 1/2 inch extending out of the weaving...makes a nice design element when you look down into the basket and also reduces all that bulk in the middle.
Hope these ideas help, let me know if I can help you more,
Carol
