Willow Basketry North Fife

Summer School With Jane Wilkinson - Basket Maker

Decorative Willow and Felt Basketry, a course in Newburgh North Fife where attendants have made decorative vessels using traditional willow weaving techniques combined with felted strands. Over the 3 days people have learned how to make a circular willow basket using Scottish grown willows, and transform the structure by incorporating long brightly coloured strands of felt or fleece into the side weave. They have also be able to thread or tie found objects such as shells, twigs, feathers and beads onto the strands in order to produce sculptural vessels.

Jane Wilkinson makes traditional baskets, woven fences and coracles. She also produces contemporary willow work and has exhibited her craft throughout Scotland, the North of England and in New York. Jane has been weaving since 1995 and has been both chair and vice chair of the Scottish Basket Makers Circle. She has also judged the basketry class at the Royal Highland Show.
The course was one of many organised by twist fibre craft studio, other courses follow this summer. There are many publications on the subjects but nothing can match expert guidance from one who knows.

Baskets, some of the finished pieces made over the last three days in the Steeple Arts Project space.

A basket in the making.

Susan with work in progress.

Handmade Baskets by Susie Vaughan offers a fascinating, step-by-step description of how to make a delightful selection of strong, natural-looking and colourful baskets, mostly using materials, which have been gathered from hedgerows, woods and gardens. Firstly, she covers the few tools required, then goes on to give a detailed, illustrated description of materials which can either be gathered from the annual prunings of a wide selection of bushes, or those which are farmed and can be bought from specialist suppliers. Her detailed step-by-step description of making a basket is accompanied by numerous diagrams and full-colour photographs to help explain the finer points of detail. She then explores variations in design, both of the shape of the basket and the alternative weaving patterns that can be employed to make the finished work that much more special. Finally, a superb gallery of photographs of finished baskets is included to provide you with ideas and motivation to go on to more adventurous projects.Handmade Baskets