Modern Appalachian Basketry

In this three-day course, students will learn the traditional methods of hand-split white oak ribbed basketry in the Appalachian tradition, and will then apply these techniques to a stunning crescent shaped basket. Each student will be provided all tools and materials needed to weave their basket, including a 12” driftwood handle & pre-split, unprocessed raw white oak with which to cut and whittle into the frame of their basket. We will then weave in your hand whittled frame with white ash weavers. Students will leave the course with an understanding of how to choose and fell a white oak tree for basketry as well as how to split and process a log into workable material. There will be extensive hands-on experience processing white oak splits for frame basketry as well as step-by-step instruction on how to construct a modern Appalachian frame basket. Students will then walk away with a unique, 12” hand carved white oak and ash Crescent Basket to remember their time by. This course is suitable for all skill levels, however, does require a good amount of hand strength. Please inquire if you have any concerns.

Skills and Techniques:

• Understanding of how to select a suitable white oak tree for basketry using sustainable forestry management systems (provided in lecture format)
• Understanding of how to break down a white oak log into workable material for basketry (provided in lecture format)
• Knowledge of the anatomy of a frame basket & rules for how to construct a frame-style basket
• Hand-on experience whittling and preparing both flat & round ribs
• Hands-on experience attaching a basket frame to a non-hoop handle
• Understanding of how to apply traditional Appalachian frame basketry techniques to modern form
• Comprehensive hands-on experience constructing a frame basket & weaving it in with white ash weavers
• Filling in the frame with turn backs
• Seamlessly finishing off the basket

Materials Fee: $150 Paid directly to the instructor.

Special Tools or Equipment: Sharp Knife with 3”-5” blade, Awl, Scissors Secateurs or Garden Snips, thick leather work gloves, 24×24” Canvas cloth

Workshop Policies: Please be sure to read our policies before you register for a workshop which can be found here Workshop Policies