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/
Basketry - preparation of rushes for basket weaving
Expert: Carol Antrim - 10/1/2002
Question Dear Carol,
since I have many rushes on my piece of land I wonder if you could tell me how to prepare rushes for basket weaving. I took a course in willow basketry and am an absolute beginner.
Thanks for your help
Angelika
Answer Hi Angelika,
Welcome to the fun world of basket weaving...I'm always happy to hear of someone who wants to use naturals in their baskets, it is one of my favorite kinds of weaving.
Rushes and cattails are gathered and prepared much the same way. You want to gather them in the late summer/early fall when they have reached their full height but have not started to turn brown on the tips. Be careful with them as they will bruise and bend easily when fresh. You can hang them by the tips to dry so the air can circulate among them or strew them on the ground or floor under shelter, turning often...when dry they can be bundled and stood on their butt ends like willow.
To prepare for use, hose them down and wrap well in a wet towel to mellow, wrap tightly to exclude as much air as you can, some weavers put them thru a press to push out air in fact. Never soak them in water. Use within 24 hours or re-dry them or they will deteriorate.Rushes have a tendency to shrink when drying, you may need to "fill" a basket more after it has dried.
Rushes can be used in coiling, plaiting, twining, cordage,sculptural forms, chair seating, mats, decorative weaving with other materials for varying textural effects, and in making long braids that are then coiled around a form and sewn together to make baskets.
For more ideas on how to use rushes in basketry, see:
The Use of Cattails, Rushes, and Grasses in the textile Arts, by Ankaret Dean
Natural Baskets, edited by Maryanne Gillooly.
Fibre Basketry, edited by Helen Richardson
Baskets from Natures Bounty, by Elizabeth Jensen
Look under rushes, bulrushes and also cattails as they are used similarly.
